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Darkfest 2026 is nearly upon us, and the work has started to prep the course for what promises to be another mind-melting edition of one of the premier freeride events in the world. As if the playground wasn't already gnarly enough, the team is now putting in a whole new feature dubbed the "Rocket Launcher," which looks interesting to say the least. The event takes place March 14-22, 2026 - we can't wait to see what another year of progression will bring!
The latest build update from South Africa:
More of Theo please. He’s such a natural clown in a good way. Every time he laughs it makes me laugh to.
Sam Reynolds with the next build update:
"In this episode we build surely our biggest airtime jump of all time — an extension off the left side of the Rocket Launcher that we’re calling The Falcon Heavy 🚀
The crew gets to work shaping, stacking and dialling in the massive new feature that’s set to take DarkFest progression to the next level. Bigger, faster, and way more airtime. Building jumps of this size takes serious planning, plenty of dirt moving, drainage solutions and a whole lot of skills.
Watch as the line begins to evolve and the Falcon Heavy starts to take shape beside the Rocket Launcher, as well as watching Theo try to win SA Downhill champs and keep the jersey! And his hair... This one is going to be huge."
Filmed and edited by Arthur Schlander & CA Greenwood.
Theo is good for the sport
it may be the last darkfest I heard in the ride comp podcast
First hits!
Oh my golly gosh. That is the crazy club. Welcome to Darkfest 2026. Can you please show some side views of the jumps with a person standing there to give you a perspective of the MEGA SIZE of the earth works. This is in my opinion the BEST EVENT of the year. Sam and Theo shaking with fear.
Early sessions:
How about this angle by Matt Macduff??? Sickest shot ever!
Bienve making the 110-footer and the new Falcon Heavy jump look casual:
😲😲😲
I don't care that it's not really a competition, Cornflakes wins Darkfest and it's not even close.
Darkfest 2026 is a wrap, but there's plenty more content to come! Here's the event report from the organizers, along with a set of absolute bangers to drool over while we wait for the official edit to drop as well.
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The dust has finally settled over the farm, the tools are down and the 10th-anniversary of Darkfest presented by Monster Energy has officially gone down as the biggest, fastest, and most festive week in big air history.
What started as a massive vision for the Falcon Heavy line and Rocket Launcher landing became a reality through the sheer grit of the world-class team of C-dog and the Trails Crew. Their tireless work in the South African heat - shaping those lekker lips and hand-packing every landing - provided the ultimate canvas for the world's best riders to push the limits of gravity.
This week wasn't just about the jumps; it was about the community. From the first sunset session to the final public day, the energy was fueled by the mixture of the world's best riders having a whole week of unlimited riding and filming and all of the partners and sponsors who helped us turn this farm into the epicenter of big air and good times.
The Darkfest 2026 Awards:
After a week of absolute carnage and progression, the riders have spoken. Here are your 2026 award winners:
King of Darkness: Alessio 'Cornflakes' Tonoli
Queen of Darkness: Natasha Bradley
Insta360 Best Clip: Matt MacDuff (Candy Bar Flip)
Muc-Off Filthiest Style: Vero Sandler & Alessio 'Cornflakes' Tonoli
Mavrix Moment: Vaea Verbeeck & Alessio 'Cornflakes' Tonoli
Kenda Mind Bender: * Elias Ruso (Double Flip on Falcon Heavy)
Robin Goomes (Flip Can on the Step-Up)
DeWalt Best Run: Tom Isted & Natasha Bradley
Coming Soon: The Full Highlights Edit
The cameras have been rolling non-stop, capturing every mind-bending maneuver and filthy line. While the event week may be over, the content is just beginning.
Stay peeled- the official Darkfest 2026 Highlights Edit is dropping soon, featuring the best tricks, the heaviest crashes, and the pure vibes that made the 10th anniversary unforgettable.
Sam Reynolds, reflecting on the week’s success:
"I am absolutely blown away. To see how far we’ve come in 10 years is insane. This week, the riders took everything we built- the new Rocket, the Falcon Heavy-and absolutely destroyed it. A massive thank you to the Trails Crew for the blood and sweat they put into the dirt, and to our sponsors for believing in this wild dream. We’ve crowned our King and Queen, but honestly, everyone who dropped in this week is a legend. Get ready for the highlights, because you won't believe what these guys and girls pulled off!"
I forget which/who's "Day [X]" video it was in, but that 360 unlookback (to give it the proper bmx name) 4th photo from top is absolutely bonkers. I can't tell who it is, but it's SO sick.
It feels a little like Darkfest this year (just looking at it from the videos that have been on people's channels so far) has progressed beyond "how many flips/spins we can do" to riders prioritizing more stylish riding and tricks. That's the stuff I love to see so I'm stoked about it!
Official highlights package just dropped! Let's go!
Looks awesome! Darkfest always goes way bigger than you expect, and that “Rocket Launcher” feature already sounds pretty nuts.
I’ve been thinking it’d be cool to actually catch an event like this in person instead of just watching clips. I was poking around SeatGeek a bit to see what kind of events are out there around that time. Even just being there watching it live would be insane. Can’t wait to see the footage from this one.
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