Key Takeaways
- Youth viewership (ages 2-17) increased 102% year over year, marking the largest youth audience in five years
- The event reached 15.2 million total viewers across ESPN and ABC, up 48% from 2025
- Female viewership on Roku surged 233% year over year
- Athletes as young as 15 competed for medals, with multiple teens claiming podium finishes
- The MoonPay X Games League (XGL) draft is set for March 12, 2026, launching a year-round team-based format
Youth Audience Growth Hits Five-Year High
X Games Aspen 2026 delivered its strongest youth engagement numbers in half a decade. According to Nielsen Live+SD data, viewership among the 2-17 demographic jumped 102% compared to 2025. The three-day event at Buttermilk welcomed more than 50,000 fans and reached 15.2 million viewers across ESPN and ABC broadcasts.
These numbers matter for youth sports operators tracking where young audiences spend attention. Action sports continue to pull significant viewership from traditional team sports, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics.
Teen Athletes Take Center Stage
The competition itself reflected the youth movement driving the sport. Several teenage athletes delivered standout performances across disciplines.
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Perlmutter won gold in her X Games debut in Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck. Japanese competitor Haku Shimasaki, also 16, earned silver in the Monster Energy Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Finals in his first X Games appearance. At 15, Indra Brown became the youngest competitor on the roster and secured silver in the Monster Energy Women’s Ski SuperPipe Finals.
Nineteen-year-old Mia Brookes captured her second X Games gold with a 96.33 final-run score in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle. Fellow 19-year-old Finley Melville Ives earned his first career medal in Men’s Ski SuperPipe.
Digital and Streaming Metrics Show Expanding Reach
Roku, serving as the exclusive U.S. streaming partner, reported that 91% of households streaming the event were new to X Games on the platform. Total consumption on Roku increased 149% year over year.
The 233% increase in female viewership on Roku stands out as a data point worth monitoring. Social content generated more than 220 million video views across platforms, while global search interest rose 120% year over year.
XGL Launch Introduces Team-Based Model
X Games is transitioning into a year-round competitive format through the MoonPay X Games League. The structure features eight clubs, four winter and four summer, competing in a season-long team-based format.
The inaugural XGL Summer Draft takes place March 12, 2026, at Cosm Los Angeles, with live coverage across ESPN App, YouTube, Roku Sports Channel, and Kick.com.
The league model aims to create expanded compensation opportunities for athletes beyond traditional prize purses, while building deeper fan engagement through team affiliations and season-long storylines.
What This Means for Youth Sports
The viewership data from X Games Aspen offers a clear signal about where young audiences are tuning in. A 102% increase in youth viewership and strong digital engagement metrics suggest action sports remain a significant competitor for attention among families and young athletes.
For facility operators, tournament organizers, and brands targeting the youth sports market, these numbers reinforce the value of action sports programming and partnerships. The XGL’s team-based structure could also influence how other youth sports properties think about athlete development pathways and fan engagement models.
Photo credit: Mark Dillon
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