DarkFEST 2026
Sat Mar 21, 08:00 - Sat Mar 21, 17:00
Hellsend Dirt Compound
ABOUT
DARKFEST 2026: 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION READY TO ROLL INTO TOWN
Darkfest is officially back! In 2026 we are celebrating a decade of dirt, danger, and world-first hucks. What started as a DIY mission to build the world’s biggest jumps has evolved into the ultimate proving ground for freeride mountain biking—and the 10th-year edition is set to be the most legendary session yet!
A limited batch of tickets will be up for grabs to hang out on Saturday 21st of March at The Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg farm near Stellenbosch.
Saturday 21st of March: 8am to 5pm - General Admission Tickets available from R380 per person, but why not upgrade your ticket to hang with the Athletes in Loco's Lounge?! This ticket gives you access to Monster Energy's Triples event on Friday 20th March from 16:00 at Hellsend Dirt Park, to experience 25 of the worlds BEST BMX and free-riders . Limited to 25 tickets only.
*Note that riding is dependent on a number of factors especially the weather with gusts of wind and unpredictable weather playing a big factor in the course being ridable on the day or not. Stay tuned for “Green Light" announcements via DarkFest Socials when conditions will be prime for viewing riding.
Returning to the iconic Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg Wine Farm, the 2026 event will see the world’s elite riders converge on the gnarliest course ever sculpted. From the legendary 110-foot gaps to the massive step-ups that have defined a generation of freeride, the 10-year anniversary is about sending it through the epic line and celebrating the progression of the sport with some legends, newbies and wildcards thrown in!
The 2026 Darkfest Invited Riders List:
Sam Reynolds (Uk), Clemens Kaudela (At), Sam Hodgson (Uk), Vero Sandler (Uk/Nz), Lukas Schäfer (Ger), Paul Couderc (Fra), Theo Erlangsen (Rsa), Kaidan Ingersoll (Usa), Edgar Briole (Fra), Daniel Ruso (At), Elias Ruso (At), Tom Isted (Uk), Matt Macduff (Can), Tomas Lemoine (Fra), Finley Kirschenmann (Usa), Lucy Vaneesteren (Can), Vaea Verbeeck (Can), Alessio Tonoli (Sui), Dan Paley (Uk), Ike Klaassen (Rsa), Bienve Aguado (Esp), Brendan Fairclough (Uk), Chelsea Kimball (Usa), Dylan Lamb (Rsa), Cami Nogueira (Arg), Kaos Seagrave (Uk), Graham Agassiz (Can), Chance Moore (Can), Matt Jones (Uk), Robin Goomes (Nz), Szymon Godziek (Pol), Talus Turk (Usa), Vinny T (Fra), Vinny Armstrong (Nz), Louis Reboul (Fra), Natasha Bradley (Uk), Jack Schliemann (Rsa)
"I can't wait for the big 10-year Darkfest this year! It’s going to be bigger than ever! We’ve spent a decade pushing the boundaries of what a mountain bike can do, and to see where we are now—with the world’s best men and women sending these monster hits—is just insane. The vibes are going to be through the roof."
— Sam Reynolds
Stay tuned for more updates and announcements via the Darkfest Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Please note: The organisers of Darkfest cannot be held liable in the event that riders are unable to ride the course.
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