Prices and hours checked November 2026
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels
The Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup returns to Beaver Creek Resort from December 3 to 13, 2026, with seven races across two weekends: four men's races from December 3 to 6 and three women's races from December 11 to 13.
All racing finishes at the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, and grandstand admission is free. The event is organized by the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, and the official site is bcworldcup.com.
When are the 2026 Birds of Prey races?
The 2026 schedule published by the Vail Valley Foundation lists seven races, the most ever held on the Birds of Prey course in one festival.
Men's weekend:
- Thursday, December 3, 11:00 a.m.: Men's Downhill
- Friday, December 4, 11:00 a.m.: Men's Downhill
- Saturday, December 5, 10:30 a.m.: Men's Super-G
- Sunday, December 6, 10:00 a.m.: Men's Giant Slalom
Women's weekend:
- Friday, December 11, 11:00 a.m.: Women's Downhill
- Saturday, December 12, 11:00 a.m.: Women's Downhill
- Sunday, December 13, 11:00 a.m.: Women's Super-G
The women's downhill on December 11 is a later addition. The schedule first announced in January 2026 listed six races, with the women racing only on December 12 and 13.
The expanded seven-race schedule, with a second women's downhill, is the version the Vail Valley Foundation published in October 2026. The festival schedule also lists women's downhill training on December 9 and 10.
Start times and the race program can change with weather and snow conditions, so confirm the day's program at bcworldcup.com before you go.
Why is the Birds of Prey course so demanding?
Beaver Creek built the Birds of Prey course in the summer of 1997 in preparation for the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships. It was designed by Olympic downhill gold medalist Bernhard Russi of Switzerland.
According to the official race history, the course starts west of the top of Chair 8 and finishes at the bottom of Red Tail, at the meeting point of Chairs 10 and 11.
The numbers explain its reputation. The downhill drops 2,470 feet (757 meters), with an average gradient of 31 percent and a maximum gradient of 63 percent.
The first competition on the course ran December 2 to 6, 1997, and Birds of Prey went on to host World Championship racing in both 1999 and 2015. The women raced the downhill course for the first time in 2024, and they return in 2026 for a full three-race weekend.
For 2026, a new automated snowmaking system serves the lower third of the course, the section most exposed to variable early season conditions. The Vail Valley Foundation announced in October 2026 that its 10 stick guns and six fan guns can start automatically when temperatures allow.
How much are tickets?
General admission to the races is free, and the grandstands at Red Tail Stadium are free on a first-come, first-served basis. The Vail Valley Foundation notes that few events on the World Cup circuit keep their grandstands free, and a dedicated legacy fund helps keep it that way at Beaver Creek.
Paid VIP hospitality is optional. The official VIP page lists single-day tickets at $550 for Thursday, $600 for Friday, and $750 for Saturday and Sunday, with a heated tent, buffet food, drinks, indoor seating, and live race coverage on big screens.
A higher Birds Eye View tier adds a private elevated viewing area, with single-day prices listed from $1,250 to $2,000. Some Birds Eye View options for the women's weekend were already marked sold out when this guide was written. All VIP prices are listed as subject to change, and sales are final.
Where do you watch, and how do you get to the stadium?
All races finish at the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, in the Red Tail Camp area on Beaver Creek Mountain. The finish stadium is where you see racers cross the line, the awards follow the racing, and the crowd is at its loudest. Public concessions and restrooms are available at the venue.
Plan your travel to the stadium like this, per the official plan-your-visit page:
- Spectator parking is in the Elk and Bear lots at the base of Beaver Creek.
- Free shuttles run from the base parking area to the Vilar Performing Arts Center and the Birds of Prey Way expo area in the village.
- Free race shuttles depart from the Covered Bridge in Beaver Creek Village often throughout race days.
- From the shuttle drop-off at the race finish, it is a five-minute on-snow walk uphill to the stadium.
- Allow one hour of travel time from the base of Beaver Creek Resort to the stadium so you do not miss the start.
Wear layers and footwear with good traction, because the walk to the stands is on snow and December temperatures at the finish area are cold. ADA access to the venue is available on request through the number listed on bcworldcup.com.
The official 2026 visitor information routes spectators by shuttle, so if you hope to ski to the venue, check bcworldcup.com close to race day for any updated access instructions.
How to watch on TV and streaming
If you can't make it to Beaver Creek, NBC Sports has the U.S. rights. NBC Sports says every alpine World Cup race this season streams live on Peacock, which is a paid subscription, and selected races also air on NBC and NBCSN. Full races stay on demand on Peacock afterwards, and NBC says U.S. World Cup races will also be on YouTube on demand.
The Birds of Prey TV schedule on bcworldcup.com lists these windows, in Eastern time (subtract two hours for Beaver Creek):
- Thu, Dec 3, Men's downhill: 1:00 p.m. on NBCSN
- Fri, Dec 4, Men's downhill: 1:00 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN
- Sat, Dec 5, Men's super-G: 12:30 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN, then NBC on delay at 5:00 p.m.
- Sun, Dec 6, Men's giant slalom, run 1: 12:00 p.m. on Peacock
- Sun, Dec 6, Men's giant slalom, run 2: 3:00 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN
- Fri, Dec 11, Women's downhill: 1:00 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN
- Sat, Dec 12, Women's downhill: 1:00 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN, then NBC on delay at 5:00 p.m.
- Sun, Dec 13, Women's super-G: 1:00 p.m. on Peacock
The organizer's grid shows only NBCSN for the first downhill on December 3, while NBC Sports says every race streams on Peacock, so check the Peacock schedule that morning. NBCSN is only available through some TV providers. This coverage is for viewers in the United States, and the broadcast schedule can change with the weather, just like the race times. Sources: NBC Sports and the Birds of Prey race page.
What else happens during the festival?
The racing anchors an 11-day festival, and most of the village programming is free. The Vail Valley Foundation lists free live music in Beaver Creek Village nearly every day of the festival, plus athlete autograph sessions, live bib draws, sponsor activations, and family activities.
Two ticketed tastings bookend the racing. Beers of Prey returns for its 11th year on Saturday, December 5, and Cheers of Prey, a new cocktail and mocktail tasting, debuts on Saturday, December 12.
The headline concerts are split between Beaver Creek and Vail. Nathaniel Rateliff plays the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek on December 5 and 6, and both shows were announced as sold out.
ILLENIUM plays Vail's Dobson Arena on Friday, December 11, during the women's weekend, with special guests St. Mary and Paws. If you are combining the concert with a day in Vail, our guide to Dobson Ice Arena covers the venue and its regular skating schedule.
The Vilar also screens Warren Miller's 77th film, Days Off, on December 4, and Mountains of the Moon on December 10.
How do you plan a race trip?
Beaver Creek sits about 30 minutes east of Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and about 2.5 hours west of Denver International Airport (DEN), according to Beaver Creek Resort. Book lodging early for either race weekend, because the expanded two-weekend format fills the valley.
VailVacay does not list Beaver Creek lodging, so if you base in Vail instead, you are one valley over from the racing and well placed for the December 11 concert and for skiing on the days between races. Our Vail Mountain listing covers the terrain on that side of the valley.
If you plan to ski as well as spectate, having performance ski rentals delivered to your lodging in Vail or Beaver Creek saves a rental shop trip on a short race weekend.
Pick your weekend by discipline. The men's weekend has the only giant slalom and two downhills in four days. The women's weekend pairs two downhills and a super-G with the ILLENIUM show in Vail. Either way, arrive at the Covered Bridge early and leave the full hour the organizers recommend for the trip up.
Check the calendar
Race times, training days, and festival additions can shift as December approaches, so check the VailVacay events calendar for current dates and fixtures before you book travel, and confirm the final daily program at bcworldcup.com.