Zwifts biggest community racing series is back for 2026 and its bringing more routes, more racing formats, and more ways for riders of all levels to jump into the action. Running February 16 through March 29, the 2026 Zwift Games expands on the format riders have come to expect, adding a new bonus stage and fresh routes across multiple Zwift Worlds. Whether youre chasing a podium, hunting personal bests, or just trying to outride this hellscape of a winter. The 2026 Zwift series aims to make racing more accessible while still delivering plenty of bite for experienced racers.(All Images/Zwift)Five Main Stages, New Routes, Growing DifficultyThe core of Zwift Games remains a five-stage race series, each running for one week and hosted on newly created routes designed to test different rider strengths. Stages become more challenging as the series progresses, rewarding consistency and smart pacing throughout the campaign.All events use Zwifts Racing Score categorization, with Open, Advanced, and Womens only race options available.Heres how the 2026 stages stack up:Stage 1 Kaze Kicker (Makuri): 16.8 km, 134 m climbingStage 2 Hudson Hustle (New York): 20.3 km, 216 m climbingStage 3 Cobbled Crown (Richmond): 24 km, 288 m climbingStage 4 Peaky Pav (France): 30.6 km, 368 m climbingStage 5 Three Step Sisters (Watopia): 37.8 km, 587 m climbingEach stage contributes to the overall General Classification, tracked via the Zwift Games website, where riders can follow rankings, results, and personal performance metrics compared to their own 90-day power bests.Bonus Stage Adds TT & Crit Racing OptionsNew for 2026 is a dedicated Bonus Stage week, offering two very different race styles from March 2329.Riders can choose between:Epiloch TT (Scotland): 11.1 km individual time trial with 94 m climbing a pure power test against the clock.Crit Cade (Crit City): 15.7 km of fast, gamified racing with steering, hazard pads, and PowerUps adding tactical chaos.These events have their own rankings but dont affect the overall GC standings, making them ideal for riders who want to try something new without affecting their series results.Ride Routes Early or Catch Up LaterZwift is also making the series easier to plan around real-life schedules.Starting February 13, riders can access the new routes on demand to recon courses, chase route badges, or simply stack XP before race day.Meanwhile, a make-up week from March 30 to April 5 rotates stages 15 again, giving racers a chance to redo events or complete missed stages.New Racers Get a Pathway InFor riders curious about racing but unsure where to start, Zwift is addingRoad to Glory, a guided group ride series running fromFebruary 920. These sessions walk riders through event basics, race strategy, PowerUp timing, and sprint tactics effectively lowering the barrier to entry before the main Games begin.Unlocks, XP & Partner RewardsZwift Games also offers plenty of in-game incentives through partners Shimano, Oakley, and Wahoo.Riders can unlock:Oakley Sphaera Strike glasses after completing one stageZwift Games 2026 kit after three stagesOakley Velo Stelvio helmet after five stagesA massive 6,000 XP bonus for riders completing six stagesIts a tidy reward stack for simply showing up and racing.Bigger Community Focus, Same Racing PunchZwift Games continues to blur the line between structured competition and community participation. Strong riders still have a serious GC battle to chase, while newcomers now have clearer entry points and flexible scheduling options.In short, whether youre chasing results or just chasing fitness through winter, Zwift Games 2026 looks set to be the biggest edition yet.Registration and event details are now live on Zwifts event platform, with racing kicking off mid-February.The post Zwift Games Returns For 2026, Adding Crits & More Ways to Race appeared first on Bikerumor.