Travel
The best Red Bull events to visit this year
Whether you're there to watch some world class athletes or participate yourself, these are the Red Bull events (and cities) to hit from summer 2023 and beyond.
Unless you've been a hermit for the past few decades, you'll know that Red Bull organises hundreds of adventure and sporting events worldwide.
And when not showcasing the talents of some of the world's biggest athletes (i.e. dropping Kriss Kyle out of a helicopter on his bike), or inviting the best of the best to compete in a grand spectacle (i.e. the world's best BMX athletes cutting up the Utah desert in Red Bull Rampage) many events even invite the public to compete, giving them wings to put their own skills to the test.
Case in point: Red Bull Conquer the Castle, a wildly popular obstacle race series which this year returned in two locations in Ireland (Cashel and Castle Irvine), welcoming hundreds of participants to take part in this fiendish sprint challenge. Keep an eye out for news on a return in 2024.
Sebastian Marko / Red Bull Content Pool
© Sebastian Marko / Red Bull Content Pool
So, if you're looking to get away with a trip abroad this summer, autumn or winter, why not mix it in with a Red Bull event? It's surely a win-win. Read on to see some of the best events and series you can visit this year, along with a couple of extra travel tips..
Expect more events to be added before the year is up. And if you don’t make these events in 2023, there’s always 2024…
01
Red Bull Kumite: Johannesburg, South Africa – 1-2 July
Red Bull Kumite
© red bull contentpool
The event: Tempted to dip your toe into the world of esports? Red Bull Kumite is an iconic event welcoming the world’s finest fighting game players to compete on Street Fighter 6, a no-nonsense title everyone can appreciate. Moreover, this year the tournament is taking place in South Africa for the first time ever — at the University of Pretoria in Johannesburg, to be specific. Watch on as pros and even amateur qualifiers hadouken the hell out of each other over two days: July 1’s Last Chance qualifier will give under-the-radar talents a chance to shine, and the following day’s finale will see who has the brawn and the brains to claim the top prize. Esports in its purest form, this event is not to be missed.
Downtime: Who says the only Bison you’ll see is on Street Fighter 6? With stunning nature reserves only an hour's drive away, including Pilanesberg National Park, which houses everything from crocs to elephants to rhinos, you're never far from big wildlife on a trip to Joburg. For those after more city centre-based exploits, you're in for a treat: Go waterskiing at the artificial beaches in Sun City, put your archaeologist hat on and head to The Cradle of Humankind or simply dig into the incredible food on offer in some of the many restaurants scattered across this one-in-a-kind place.
02
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, various locations — now until 19 November
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Championships, Mostar
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Covering what seems like every corner of the earth, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series — which began in Boston earlier this year and will wrap things up in Auckland this November — is one of those events that gives you a newfound respect for the daredevils who hurl themselves off implausibly high platforms in some of the wildest locations around. If you’re looking to make the leap yourself (metaphorically of course) and want to check out the likes of Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland and Romania’s Constantin Popovici in the flesh, you've plenty of great places to choose from...
Where to watch it: Boston and Paris have already been ticked off, but here's a list of the spots the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be making a splash from July 2023...
- July 2, 2023 – Polignano a Mare, Italy
- August 3, 2023 – Takachiho, Japan
- August 19, 2023 – Stockholm, Sweden
- September 9, 2023 - Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina [pictured above]
- November 19, 2023 – Auckland, New Zealand
03
Red Bull Hardline: Machynlleth, Wales – 15-16 July
Jackson Goldstone rides his way to victory at Red Bull Hardline 2022
© Nathan Hughes
The event: Approaching nearly a decade of big air beauty, Red Bull Hardline is returning to the rolling Welsh hillsides of the Dyfi Valley with some of the planet’s best MTB athletes for its ninth year. As gnarly as it is handsome, riders will take on one of the most progressive downhill tracks ever constructed. Whether you’ve previously attended one of Hardline’s previous offerings or fancy getting trackside for the first time, it's not to be missed. 30 incredible riders. Two days of intense action. Packed out crowds. It doesn’t get better.
Downtime: Granted, when you approach the postcard-pretty outpost of Machynlleth, its cute Victorian clock tower peeking out of lush greenery, you might think it any run-of-the-mill market town. Except it’s far from that. Visit the site of where former Prince of Wales Owain Glyndŵr held Parliament in the early 15th century, and you’ll find a heritage centre to immerse yourself in Welsh history, culture and language. Meanwhile over at MOMA Machynlleth you'll have enough modern art exhibits to keep you stroking the underside of your chin for days. Before all that, however, there's the opportunity to get out into nature and do some biking yourself, hitting some of the trails and MTB routes in the area.
04
Red Bull Romaniacs, Sibiu, Romania, 25-30 July
Some hard Enduro action at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
The event: Imagine competing in a duathlon all the while clad in overalls and a helmet. Now imagine having to throttle a heavy bike over the countryside for hours upon end, often forced to heave it over obstacles using arm power alone. Encompassing five days of full throttle competition, Red Bull Romaniacs, a classic in the hard enduro calendar, could well be the most physically exerting sporting competition on earth. Britain’s Graham Jarvis was the last winner in Romania, and you can bet competition will be fierce when riders head into the Sibiu countryside.
Downtime: If you want to fit in a short city break, Sibiu is just the place. A UNESCO World Heritage Site as charming as it is quirky, it’s brimming with architectural wonder including the iconic houses with eyes, so named after the distinctive dormers on roofs legend has it were built to scare the populace. Culture vultures have a lot to feast on, too, including the Brukenthal National Museum, consisting of an art gallery and classic books library set inside a palace with the same name, and the ASTRA National Museum Complex, a 15 minute drive into the picturesque countryside Sibiun traditional Folk Civilisation. And while you’re out in nature, 2.5 miles from the city you can find the 2,400 acre Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park, which is practically begging to be hiked.
Bonus tip: Get there a day before the event, on 24 July, and you can see the enduro motorcycle parade of riders take over Sibiu, passing landmarks including the Bridge of Lies and the city’s clock tower before entering a large square. By this point your engines will be revving in anticipation for the next five days of elite riding.
05
Red Bull Batalla National Final: Mexico City – 25 August
34 min
Imparables: Red Bull Batalla
Follow the behind-the-scenes story of 2020's most ambitious and most-watched live music competition.
The event: The current and triple Red Bull Batalla champion, Aczino, is from Mexico and won his third title in Mexico City in December of 2022, so where better to experience this unique Spanish language rap battle event than in Mexico City? If you're not familiar with this hugely popular and long-running event, this is how it works: first, there's an application phase, where participants from across the world submit freestyle videos via the official Red Bull Batalla app. A panel of judges then review all of the submissions and select the best MCs in each country that advance to a national final or regional qualifiers. A select set of competitors also automatically qualify for the World Final, after finishing in the top three at the previous World Final. This year's World Final will be held in Colombia for the first time in 20 years, too, so that's another option to consider, and with events all over the world you've got lots to choose from. Get a full lowdown of what it's all about in the film above.
Downtime: Mexico City is a haven of art and design. Once a month museum goers can enjoy exhibits after dark as part of a citywide programme, and with over countless art galleries and historical places of note, there's a lot to check out, including the longtime home of Frida Kahlo. Naturally, there's enough world class cuisine to keep your belly full for days (why settle for a buffet hotel breakfast when you can pick up tamales from a street vendor?), and if you know where to look there are some truly unforgettable experiences on offer, like the little floating district of Xochimilco, where people float through canals on jewel-encrusted boats and you can try and sample life on the water for yourself.
06
Red Bull BC One World Final, Paris, France — 21 October
B-girl India BC One World Final 2022 New York
© Little Shao / Red Bull Content Pool
The event: There will certainly be no 'love' lost when the Red Bull BC One World Final takes place on the hallowed Roland Garros, the home of clay tennis in Paris. The 20th edition of this event follows on from last year's explosive finale in New York, and once again the planet's best B-boys and B-girls will pull off some of the most exciting moves you can set a beat to. And with the French capital set to host the first ever breaking event at next year’s Olympic Games, there couldn’t possibly be a more appropriate place to stage it.
Downtime: Ok, we all know how to do sightseeing in the City of Light (shop until you drop at the world's best fashion stores, grab a croissant somewhere chic between queuing for historical sights, visit the Eiffel Tower or Sacré-Cœur at sundown for the best views across the city). We're not going to teach your grandmother to suck frogs legs. Instead, we suggest you uncover the French capital's connection with all things breaking by heading to La Place, a designated cultural venue entirely dedicated to the culture of hip-hop, incorporating a programme of dance, rap, DJ'ing, beatbox and graffiti. Read more about other hip-hop spots to visit while in Paris.
The 7 best hip-hop spots to visit while in Paris
07
Red Bull King of the Air, Cape Town, 25 November - 10 December
Marc Jacobs, Red Bull King of the Air 2021, Cape Town, South Africa
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
The event: Catch some winter sun in a jaw-dropping location this year with a trip out to Cape Town for the best kitesurfing competition on earth. This year marks the 11th edition of Red Bull King of the Air being hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, and with plenty of elite athletes competing for big air and bigger tricks under the shadow of Table Mountain you won't forget it in a hurry, no matter which day you decide to attend. Word of warning: depending on weather reports, the event could move dates at the drop of a Red Bull cap, so be sure to keep an eye on the official event page here.
Downtime:Cape Town. So goo d they named it, well, once. Perched on South Africa's rugged Western Cape, it's not only beautiful to look at from above with a few sundowners but is jam-packed with things to do for thrillseekers as well - including, but not limited to, world class surf spots, fearsome zip-lines (Cape Canopy Tour will take you through the Hottentots Holland mountain at super speed), skydiving experiences and even Great White Shark cage diving. In short, if it's white knuckle you're after you've come to the right place.