Crankworx Rotorua is an annual international mountain bike festival held on the slopes of Mt Ngongotaha at Skyline Rotorua. Part of the global Crankworx series — one of the most prestigious mountain biking circuits in the world — the Rotorua stop brings together professional riders from around the world for a week of racing, slopestyle, and community events. Now in its twelfth year, Crankworx Rotorua has established itself as one of the highlights of Rotorua’s events calendar and a key reason why the city holds gold-level IMBA ride centre status.
Practical Information
| Location | Skyline Rotorua, 185 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua (Mt Ngongotaha) |
| When | Annually in March — 2026 dates: March 11–15 |
| Duration | 5 days of events + national championship weekends |
| Spectator access | Many events are free to watch; festival passes available |
| Tickets | crankworx.com/rotorua/passes/ — festival passes and event-specific tickets |
| Part of | Global Crankworx mountain bike series |
What Is Crankworx?
Crankworx is the world’s premier mountain bike festival series, with stops at locations across Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. The Rotorua round is one of the most popular, combining world-class trail infrastructure with the city’s unique geothermal and cultural setting. Professional riders compete across multiple disciplines during the week — from technical downhill and speed-based air events to creative slopestyle and crowd-favourite pump track racing. The event also includes categories and races for amateur and youth riders alongside the elite competition.
Events at Crankworx Rotorua
The 2026 event (March 11–15) includes the Specialized Kārearea Downhill, the Air DH presented by Rotorua Canopy Tours, the Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships, Slopestyle, and Pump Track racing. The event also partners with Cycling New Zealand and MTBNZ to host the MTB National Downhill Championships during Crankworx week, with Cross Country (XCO/XCC) and Enduro Nationals held the following weekend (March 20–22). This combination makes the Rotorua March window one of the most significant weeks in New Zealand mountain biking each year.
The Venue
All events use the Skyline Gravity Park trail network on Mt Ngongotaha — the same gondola-accessed downhill park that is open to the public year-round. The 12-kilometre trail network, 200-metre vertical drop, and gondola uplift system are purpose-built for exactly the kind of racing Crankworx brings. The event’s consistent use of this venue over more than a decade has also driven ongoing trail development, with Crankworx-specific lines and features added to the Gravity Park over the years.
Where to Learn More
Crankworx Rotorua – Official Site — event schedule, athlete information, results, and festival pass booking.
Crankworx Rotorua – Events — full list of events and disciplines at each year’s festival.
Skyline Rotorua – Mountain Bike Park — the Gravity Park venue used for Crankworx events, open to the public year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Crankworx Rotorua?
Annually in March. The 2026 event runs March 11–15, with MTB National Championships held at the same venue the following weekend (March 20–22).
Where is Crankworx Rotorua held?
At Skyline Rotorua on Mt Ngongotaha (185 Fairy Springs Road). The events use the Skyline Gravity Park trail network, which is also open to the public as a year-round downhill MTB park.
Can spectators attend for free?
Many Crankworx events can be watched from spectator zones without a ticket. Festival passes are also available for purchase — check crankworx.com/rotorua/passes/ for the current options.
What events happen at Crankworx Rotorua?
The festival includes Downhill, Air DH, Slopestyle, Whip-Off, and Pump Track events. In 2026 it also hosts the NZ MTB National Championships as part of the same week.
Is Crankworx only for professional riders?
No — while the headline events feature professional riders, the festival also includes participatory categories, youth events (Kidsworx), and community riding activities.
How long has Crankworx been in Rotorua?
The 2026 event is the twelfth year of Crankworx Rotorua, making it one of the longest-running stops on the global Crankworx circuit.
Crankworx is the highlight of Rotorua’s mountain biking calendar. See the cycling tracks in Rotorua hub for year-round riding options — including the Skyline Gravity Park where Crankworx events are held.
