Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Announces Only U.S. Stop In St. Petersburg, Florida

Courtesy: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will bring its only U.S. stop of the 2026 season to St. Petersburg, Florida. On June 5-6, the world’s best cliff divers will take over the iconic St. Pete Pier for a two-day competition above the waters of Tampa Bay.

Marking the World Series’ first-ever event in Florida, the stop will feature 24 elite athletes (12 women and 12 men) launching from elevated platforms built above the pier, reaching heights of up to 70 feet for women and 90 feet for men. In just three seconds of freefall, divers reach speeds of 53 mph before entering the water with precision and control.

Set against the downtown waterfront at the North Yacht Basin, the St. Pete Pier will transform into a natural amphitheater, where thousands of spectators can experience the action from multiple vantage points across the pier, surrounding parks, and boats in the bay, bringing fans closer than ever to the sport.

As the only U.S. stop on the 2026 calendar, the event offers a rare opportunity for American fans to experience the sport live.

A strong U.S. roster will take center stage, with Kaylea Arnett, Lisa Faulkner, and James Lichtenstein set to compete on home soil.

Athletes will perform increasingly complex dives judged on execution, synchronization, and artistic impression, pushing the limits of precision, control, and mental strength in a sport where there is zero margin for error. Reigning champions Rhiannan Iffland and Gary Hunt are expected to headline the competition as they look to defend their titles.

BUILDING MOMENTUM IN THE U.S.

St. Petersburg, known as the “Sunshine City”, delivers a high-energy waterfront setting where sport meets skyline, turning the St. Pete Pier into a world-class stage for cliff diving.

The stop follows a landmark moment for the sport in the United States, when James Lichtenstein made history at the 2025 World Series finale in Boston, becoming the first American male diver ever to win on U.S. soil in front of tens of thousands of fans.

“Winning in Boston last season was a huge moment—not just for me, but for the sport in the U.S. The energy from the crowd was incredible, and it meant everything to have that moment at home,” said James Lichtenstein. “To now come into St. Pete as the only U.S. stop this year, it feels like we’re building something bigger, and I’m excited for fans to experience it again.”

ST. PETE AS A NEW GLOBAL STAGE

The St. Petersburg stop is part of a six-event global series spanning three continents in 2026 and marks the second stop on the 2026 calendar. The season opens in Bali, Indonesia (May 20–23), before heading to Florida. The series then continues to Copenhagen, Denmark (June 27), Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina (July 31–August 1), Polignano a Mare, Italy (September 25–27), and concludes in Muscat, Oman (November 12–14, TBC).

*Final confirmation subject to ongoing developments in the region.

EVENT DETAILS

Event: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series – St. Petersburg, Florida
Dates: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2026
Location: St. Pete Pier / North Yacht Basin
Athletes: 24 (12 women, 12 men)
Admission: Free and open to the public

HOW TO WATCH

This year’s USA edition of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be broadcast from 1:00 PM ET on Red Bull TV. Watch the action live or catch up on replay.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details on 2026’s permanent athletes, please visit redbullcliffdiving.com.
For more editorial content, visit the Red Bull Cliff Diving Newsroom.
For more information and updates, visit redbullcliffdiving.com.

ABOUT THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES

Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has brought together the world’s best athletes to compete at the highest level of the sport, launching from natural cliffs, historic bridges, iconic buildings, and extraordinary settings around the world. Diving from heights of up to 70 feet (women) and 90 feet (men), athletes reach speeds of more than 50 mph in just three seconds of freefall, relying on precision, control, and mental strength. Staged at iconic locations around the world, the series blends sport, scale, and spectacle, drawing thousands of fans on-site and millions more watching globally.