The X Games is introducing a new format for choosing athletes. Beginning in 2026, skateboard and BMX athletes will no longer receive invitations to participate in the event. Instead, prospective athletes will be drafted in the new X Games League (XGL) Draft.
And, it doesn’t appear like mountain biking will be a part of the action.
What About X Games Real MTB?
Mountain biking in the X Games has been a history of trial and error — an on-and-off-again sort of relationship. It was introduced to the legendary event in 2013, with a slopestyle event. That year, Brett Rheeder stood at the top of the podium. Second and third went to Brandon Semenuk and Andreu Lacondeguy, respectively.
And, just as quickly as it came, mountain biking disappeared from the X Games.
But it came back in 2021 as Real MTB. Instead of an actual competition, selected athletes submitted a 90-second edit. This allowed riders to showcase their unique talents and riding styles at the trails, features, and zones that suit them best.
That year, Veronique Sandler, Danny MacAskill, Brage Vestavik, DJ Brandt, Brandon Semenuk, and Cam Zink all submitted videos. And if you haven’t guessed it, Semenuk took gold, with a video segment that showcased not only his incredible talent but also his versatility, as he rode everything from a dirt jumper to a DH bike. (Seriously, take a look at his part!)
And then, it disappeared again.
However, Real MTB returned in 2024, with Tom van Steenbergen, Matt MacDuff, Dylan Stark, Kade Edwards, and Remy Morton submitting parts. That year, the gold went to van Steenbergen.
As 2025 rolled around, we once again noticed mountain biking missing from the X Games. And it doesn’t look promising for 2026. The announcement of the new XGL draft format made no mention of mountain biking.
Draft Night XGL
The draft for the summer X Games will be held on March 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. The event will kick off with a red-carpet event at Cosm in Hollywood Park for invited athletes in skateboarding and BMX. Following the social festivities, the draft will choose from the 150 invited athletes.
Here’s how it’ll work.
Athletes will have the opportunity to be drafted to one of four “Clubs.” Each club must consist of both skateboarding and BMX athletes. The draft will consist of five rounds, with each club choosing one male and one female athlete per pick.
At the end of the draft, 40 of the 150 athletes will have been selected to a club, creating four 10-person teams. Those not “drafted” will have an opportunity to act as “free agents” during the summer X Games tour.
Both clubs and individual athletes can accumulate points at each stop on the tour. The highest-scoring clubs and individuals will then have the opportunity to compete in an X Games Championship. To acquire points, each club must compete in these separate disciplines:
Skateboarding
- Street
- Park
- Vert
BMX
- Street
- Park
- Dirt
The event is open to the public. You can also watch it live on ESPN+ on the ESPN App and via YouTube from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PT.
So, what do you think? Is the X Games something you’d like to see mountain biking in? Or does mountain biking already have enough competitions and events of its own?
