Zwift, the international online fitness platform for cyclists, has announced the return of the Zwift Games, with the competition running from February 16 to March 29, 2026.
The virtual cycling event features five main stages and a new sixth bonus stage, designed to introduce more of the Zwift community to the platform’s racing environment.
For the 2026 edition, Zwift has created five new routes across various virtual worlds. Each stage will last for one week and utilizes the Zwift Racing Score system for categorisation. This system replaces previously used FTP-based categories with a 1–1000 scale, intended to match riders with others of similar skill and fitness levels.
Available categories include open, advanced, and women-only options. The series is structured to increase in difficulty as the weeks progress. The featured routes for the main stages include:
- Stage 1 – Kaze Kicker, Makuri Islands (16.8km distance, 134m virtual elevation)
- Stage 2 – Hudson Hustle, New York (20.3km, 216m)
- Stage 3 – Cobbled Crown, Richmond (24km, 288m)
- Stage 4 – Peaky Pavé, France (30.6km, 368m)
- Stage 5 – Three Step Sisters, Watopia (37.8km, 587m)
The new Bonus Stage, running from March 23–29, 2026, offers two distinct formats. The ‘Crit Cade’ in Crit City is a gamified race using steering, power-ups, and hazard pads. Alternatively, the ‘Epiloch TT’ in Scotland provides a traditional 11.1km individual time trial against the clock. While these results have their own online rankings, they do not affect the overall General Classification (GC) for the Zwift Games.
A dedicated website will track participant progress, displaying GC standings for the primary five stages along with individual results. The platform has also introduced Zwift Games Power Metrics, allowing cyclists to compare their race performance against their 90-day personal bests.
In preparation for the competition, Zwift is hosting ‘Road to Glory’ guided group rides from February 9 to February 20, 2026. These sessions are aimed at newer racers, and cover racing basics such as event mechanics and the strategic use of power-ups.
Shimano, Oakley, and Wahoo are official partners for the 2026 event. Participants can earn in-game rewards based on completion:
- Oakley Sphaera Strike Glasses (1 stage)
- Zwift Games 2026 Kit (3 stages)
- Oakley Velo Stelvio Helmet (5 stages)
- 6,000XP bonus (6 stages)
A make-up week is scheduled for March 30 – April 5, 2026, where the first five stages will be on rotation for those who missed an event or wish to improve their standing.
