Santa Monica, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2025) — Red Bull Heavy Metal, one of the most influential events in modern street snowboarding, will return in 2026 with an expanded format and a renewed commitment to showcasing the sport at its highest level. This season introduces two U.S. regional qualifiers, each sending one male and one female rider to the main event in downtown Boston.
Following a standout 2025 debut that drew thousands of fans and widespread acclaim, Boston City Hall Plaza will host the 2026 main event on February 21. The event will take place from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET, with gates opening at 2:00 p.m. ET. The single day contest will spotlight the most progressive riding in the sport, giving spectators an up close view as the world’s best snowboarders push the limits on the plaza’s natural terrain. Qualifying events will be held in Minneapolis on January 17 and Pittsburgh on January 31. Viewing is free and open to the public for all events.
The 2026 courses will stay true to the event’s roots by prioritizing real street features over traditional park-style elements. In Boston, the Loon Mountain Terrain Park Team will truck in approximately 300 tons of snow to build three unique riding zones integrated into City Hall Plaza’s renovated architecture and expanded public space.
Red Bull Heavy Metal will feature a talent field that spans the full spectrum of snowboarding, from riders who compete on global circuits to video part athletes who rarely enter traditional contests. The full rider list will be made public leading into the main event. “Red Bull Heavy Metal brings riders who are not traditionally contest riders out to compete,” said competition director Joe Sexton. “Street snowboarders don’t always enter competitions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t producing some of the heaviest riding. In the original Red Bull Heavy Metal contests, it was exciting to see the people from my favorite videos riding in a contest.”
First launched in 2002, Red Bull Heavy Metal set itself apart from other rail jams by gathering the who’s who of snowboarding to compete on the most challenging terrain that city streets naturally offer. After nearly a 20-year hiatus, the event was revived in 2022 in Duluth, followed by stops in Detroit, Saint Paul and Boston.
“Since the comeback of Red Bull Heavy Metal, it’s been amazing to watch how much the event has grown,” said last year’s Boston winner, Benny Milam. “Now with qualifiers, up and coming riders who are looking to make a name for themselves can earn their spot onto the main stage and show the world what they're made of."
Red Bull Heavy Metal’s legacy exists in video-part riding and rail innovation led by a generation of riders who built street snowboarding into what it is today. The 2026 season honors that history by providing a platform designed to elevate the next generation of talent and introduce more people to the sport.
For more information check out the Red Bull events page here