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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.
River Radamus during the STIFEL Birds of Prey presented by Cloudflare – Men’s Giant Slalom on December 07, 2025 at Beaver Creek Mountain in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Photo: Dustin Satloff // U.S. Ski Team
@dustinsatloff // @usskiteam
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.
Thursday, Dec. 3 | Men’s Downhill #1
Friday, Dec. 4 | Men’s Downhill #2
Saturday, Dec. 5 | Men’s Super-G
Sunday, Dec. 6 | Men’s Giant Slalom
Wednesday, Dec. 9 | Women’s Downhill Training
Thursday, Dec. 10 | Women’s Downhill Training
Friday, Dec. 11 | Women’s Downhill #1
Saturday, Dec. 12 | Women’s Downhill #2
Sunday, Dec. 13 | Women’s Super-G
*Set times subject to change.
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.
River Radamus during the STIFEL Birds of Prey presented by Cloudflare – Men’s Giant Slalom on December 07, 2025 at Beaver Creek Mountain in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Photo: Dustin Satloff // U.S. Ski Team
@dustinsatloff // @usskiteam
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.