PRESS RELEASE

Louisville Welcomes the Nation’s Top BMX Racers for USA BMX Derby City Nationals

Top BMX athletes will take to Derby City BMX Sept. 4-6, competing for critical national points at Stop No. 25 of the 2026 USA BMX National Series and Stop No. 7 of the 2026 USA BMX Pro Series.

TULSA, Okla. (Aug. 31, 2026)—Louisville will have a front-row seat to some of the country’s best BMX racing Sept. 4-6, as Derby City BMX hosts the 2026 USA BMX Derby City Nationals. With the event serving as both a USA BMX National Series and USA BMX Pro Series stop, the weekend comes at a pivotal point in the season, with riders chasing crucial championship points and rankings and just three Pro Series stops remaining. Across three days, the track will be a study in controlled chaos: riders launching out of the gate, battling for every position and making split-second decisions that can mean the difference between the podium and the pack. For spectators, it’s an up-close look at the speed, skill and unmistakable community that make BMX racing so addictive.

The Derby City Nationals mark stop no.25 of the 2026 USA BMX National Series and stop seven of the 2026 USA BMX Pro Series. The three-day BMX competition will be held at Derby City BMX at 3000 Freys Hill Rd in Louisville. Races begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. 

“This year has been one of the most exciting at Derby City BMX,” said Joel Pena, track operator of Derby City BMX. “Our volunteers have worked hard to prepare for the Derby City Nationals, including installing brand-new asphalt turns that will create a smoother, faster and more consistent racing surface.”

“Personally, what I'm looking forward to most is watching many of our Beginner League riders experience their very first USA BMX National event,” said Pena. “We've spent the summer introducing many new riders and families to the sport, helping them build confidence and learn the fundamentals of BMX racing. Seeing those kids line up on the gate for their first National race and realizing they belong there alongside riders from all over the country is incredibly rewarding.”

Pro racing at the Derby City Nationals kicks off on Friday with a high-stakes UCI C1 category event, marking a monumental milestone for the sport as the official road to the LA28 Olympics begins. As the very first event in the United States within the 2028 Olympic Ranking and Qualifying window, elite riders will be battling not only for crucial USA BMX Pro Series championship points and their share of the season's lucrative purse, but also for vital international qualification points needed to earn a spot on the world stage in Los Angeles. With Olympic dreams officially on the line starting on Day 1, every gate drop in Louisville promises to deliver an extra layer of intensity and world-class competition.

The USA BMX Pro Series continues on Saturday and Sunday as the proving ground for the sport’s top professional racers. A season-long test of skill and resilience, top BMX riders compete throughout the season for points towards the championship, it’s crunch time for gaining points in the 2026 ranking. Heading into the Derby City Nationals, Kamren Larsen (710 pts), Molly Simpson (790 pts), and Tyler Smith (620 pts) pace the Men, Women, and Vet Pro divisions under the series scoring system. Drew Polk (570 pts) and Payton Ridenour (700 pts) remain in hot pursuit of the top spots for 2026. USA BMX has awarded over $237,000in total purse money this season with Molly Simpson leading the earnings with $15,765 in YTD earnings, fueled by a dominant 6 Answer BMX Holeshot bonuses.

“USA BMX Derby City Nationals has been a signature Labor Day weekend event in Louisville for more than 40 years,” said Greg Fante, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission. “The event continues to grow, attracting some of the top BMX athletes in the country, along with thousands of riders and their families from across the nation. We’re proud to welcome them back to Louisville and look forward to another exciting weekend of racing at the BMX track at E.P. ‘Tom’ Sawyer State Park.”

While visiting Louisville, fans can experience some of the city's iconic sports attractions, including the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Muhammad Ali Center and the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. To plan the perfect trip, visitors can click here for additional information on attractions, lodging and dining. The full Derby City Nationals schedule can be viewed here. For more information about attractions, dining and events in Louisville, view Louisville CVB & Louisville Sports Commission at https://www.louisvillesports.org/. 

WHAT

USA BMX Derby City Nationals

WHEN

Friday - Sunday, Sep. 4-6, 2026

• Friday: Racing begins at 2:30 p.m.

• Saturday: Racing begins at 9:30 a.m

• Sunday: Racing begins at 8:00 a.m.

WHERE

Derby City BMX 

3000 Freys Hill Rd

Louisville, KY 40241

COST               

• Free admission

• Parking is $10 per day

MEDIA

Interviews and visual opportunities are available with local BMX riders and/or a USA BMX representative. To secure, please contact Alayna Dalgleish at [email protected] or 360-703-8602. Photos from the 2025 Derby City Nationals held in Louisville can be found here. The full BMX image library can be found here. Please credit USA BMX if photos are published.

About USA BMX

Established as the American Bicycle Association in 1977 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ABA is the nation’s largest cycling organization with more than 70,000 members with combined racing and freestyle events at more than 300 sanctioned BMX tracks across the United States and Canada. ABA empowers and elevates the early stages of bicycle development by creating opportunities through facility development, programs, and national events. As a result, ABA has developed a structured blueprint. A cyclist can progress from humble beginnings on a balance bike to becoming a BMX Olympian by establishing these roots. 

Through STEAM, scholarships, freestyle amateur events, the national series, the Olympics and new facilities built across the United States, these four pillars under the USA BMX organization will impact young riders and families: USA BMX Foundation, USA BMX Freestyle, USA BMX Racing and ABA Ethos. 

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Organization: USA BMX

Event Name: USA BMX Derby City Nationals

Series: 2026 USA BMX National Series (Stop #25), USA BMX Pro Series (Stop #7)

Sport: BMX racing, cycling, action sports

Primary Location: Derby City BMX, Louisville, KY, USA 

Venue Address: 3000 Freys Hill Rd, Louisville, KY 40241 USA

Event Dates: September 4-6, 2026

Contact (Media): Alayna Dalgleish | 360-703-8602 | [email protected]