Concerts in Vail and Beaver Creek add to two weeks of music, tastings, and free activities surrounding the Audi FIS Ski World Cup races
Beaver Creek, Colo., Oct. 6, 2026 — ILLENIUM and Nathaniel Rateliff will headline the biggest Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup festival ever, Dec. 3-13. Rateliff plays back-to-back nights at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Dec. 5 and 6 during men’s race weekend, and ILLENIUM takes the stage at Vail’s Dobson Arena on Dec. 11 with special guests St. Mary and Paws during women’s race weekend. Tickets for ILLENIUM go on sale Friday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. MT on AXS. Both Rateliff shows are sold out.
The performances add to a two-week entertainment lineup that also includes ski film screenings at the Vilar, more than a dozen free concerts in Beaver Creek Village, the return of Beers of Prey, the first-ever Cheers of Prey, and more.
“Nathaniel Rateliff and ILLENIUM capture the full range of what this festival has become, from an intimate night at the Vilar to an arena show with all the energy and adrenaline of race day,” said Dave Dressman with the Vail Valley Foundation. “This event has always been so much more than just the ski races, and the festival atmosphere and activities continue day and night throughout the two-week event. Bringing these shows to Vail and Beaver Creek turns Birds of Prey into a true valley-wide celebration of our community’s ski racing legacy.”
The Denver-based artists each bring a distinctive sound to the festival. Rateliff’s album South of Here with The Night Sweats won Album of the Year at the 2025 Americana Honors & Awards, while ILLENIUM has been a defining act in electronic music for nearly a decade and recently released his sixth album, Odyssey.
The ILLENIUM concert, co-presented by the Vail Valley Foundation, AEG Presents, Town of Vail, and Vail Mountain, will be one of the first performances at Dobson Arena following the Town of Vail’s $55.4 million renovation.
Two Weeks of Racing and Entertainment
The 2026 Stifel Birds of Prey features a record seven races across back-to-back weekends of men’s and women’s competition in Beaver Creek. Off the racecourse, the Vilar’s festival lineup also includes two showings of Warren Miller’s 77th film, Days Off, on Dec. 4 and a Bindu Sky Memorial Fund screening of Mountains of the Moon with the music of the Grateful Dead performed live on Dec. 10.
The fan-favorite Beers of Prey is back for its 11th year on Dec. 5, and Cheers of Prey makes its debut on Dec. 12: a cocktail and mocktail tasting event showcasing libations from local bartenders. Tickets for Beers of Prey, Cheers of Prey, and shows at the Vilar are available at bcworldcup.com.
The festival lineup also includes free live music in Beaver Creek Village nearly every day, featuring everything from folk and funk bands to Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton tributes. Additional Birds of Prey festivities, including athlete autograph signings, live bib draws, and family activities, will be announced soon.
Grandstand admission for the races remains free on a first-come, first-served basis, making Birds of Prey one of the only stops on the World Cup circuit where spectators can watch the world’s best ski racers at no cost. VIP tickets and packages are on sale now.
2026 Stifel Birds of Prey Free Live Music Schedule*
Thursday, Dec. 3 | Men’s Downhill #1
- 4 p.m. | The Hip Snacks
Friday, Dec. 4 | Men’s Downhill #2
- 2 p.m. | The Great North Special
- 4 p.m. | The Staples (Chris Stapleton tribute)
Saturday, Dec. 5 | Men’s Super-G
- 2 p.m. | Parton Me (Dolly Parton tribute)
- 4:15 p.m. | Future Joy
Sunday, Dec. 6 | Men’s Giant Slalom
- 1:30 p.m. | The Runaway Grooms
Wednesday, Dec. 9 | Women’s Downhill Training
- 5:30 p.m. | The Laughing Bones
Thursday, Dec. 10 | Women’s Downhill Training
- 4:30 p.m. | Rumours Colorado (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
Friday, Dec. 11 | Women’s Downhill #1
- 2 p.m. | Big Richard
- 4 p.m. | The Sam Grisman Project
Saturday, Dec. 12 | Women’s Downhill #2
- 2 p.m. | Rattlesnake Milk
- 4 p.m. | MOONLGHT
Sunday, Dec. 13 | Women’s Super-G
- 1:30 p.m. | Scott Rednor Band
*Set times subject to change.
Media registration
Media registration for the 2026 Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup is now open. Media professionals planning to cover the event or seeking to receive regular communications must complete the Media Accreditation Form by Nov. 20, 2026, to be considered for event accreditation.
Media accreditation is for the races only and does not include access to ticketed events and performances. Those wishing to cover ticketed performances should contact Chief of Media Julie Block at jblock@vvf.org.
For more information on media accreditation as well as transportation, parking and lodging options, visit bcworldcup.com/media-registration.
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About the Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup
The Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Beaver Creek Resort has become legendary in the ski world. Beaver Creek Mountain is home to the formidable Birds of Prey racecourse, challenging an international roster of top athletes for one or two weekends of racing that typically feature Men’s Alpine super-G, downhill and giant slalom competitions, and in select years Women’s Alpine super-G and downhill competitions. The event is organized by the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, in close partnership with the FIS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Vail Resorts, the Beaver Creek Resort Company, Beaver Creek Resort, the U.S. Forest Service, Stifel, CELSIUS, Nature Valley, Purina Pro Plan and other partners. Learn more at bcworldcup.com.
About the Vail Valley Foundation
The Vail Valley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit with a mission to provide leadership in arts, athletics, and education, and address community needs to enhance our valley as a place to live, work, and visit. The organization’s work in education is through Youth Power, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation which provides programs from early childhood to college and career to support youth and families every step of the way. The VVF puts on several annual events including the GoPro Mountain Games, Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup races, Vail Dance Festival, and Bulleit Hot Summer Nights and Town of Eagle ShowDown Town free concert series. The organization manages the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, hosting over 150 events annually. The VVF also operates Eagle River Valley Childcare, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation focused on enhancing early childhood education and development services across the community.
Vail Valley Foundation is grateful for our cornerstone partners: Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort Company, GoPro, Nature Valley, Constellation Brands, CELSIUS, Diageo, Lucid, Lifetime Home Remodeling, and Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate. To learn more, visit vvf.org.
About Beaver Creek Resort
A renowned resort with intimate alpine villages, a World-Cup mountain pedigree, spectacular hospitality and detail-oriented guest service, Beaver Creek is the luxury destination where families fall in love with skiing and riding. Relax, indulge and explore during any season, with more than 40 in-resort and slope-side culinary offerings, elegant village boutiques and cherished daily traditions like Cookie Time. Explore more than 2,000 acres of diverse terrain, from McCoy Park to the Birds of Prey World Cup racecourse, accessed on the Epic Pass. Just 30 minutes east of Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and 2.5 hours west of Denver International Airport (DEN), Beaver Creek offers luxury ski-in, ski-out accommodations throughout three villages. Visit BeaverCreek.com for additional information.
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