UCI Cycling Gala returns after seven year absence with Benidorm as host

The UCI Cycling Gala will return for the first time since 2019, with the end-of-season event taking place in Benidorm, Spain, on 9 December. 

The event will take place at the Benidorm Cultural Centre with the aim of bringing together some of the sport's biggest stars to celebrate the achievements of 2026 and their popularity among fans. 

Awards will be presented to the leading male and female riders, teams and nations in the 2026 UCI rankings, while the Fans’ Choice male and female riders of the year will also be awarded following an online voting process on the UCI platforms.

“Cycling enjoys the prominence it has today above all thanks to its athletes, their teams, and our National Federations,” UCI President David Lappartient said of the event when announced in June.

“Their achievements and dedication deserve to be officially recognised, and it is with this in mind that the UCI Cycling Gala will both honour the best among them and celebrate the entire professional men's and women's road cycling community. With its deep ties to cycling, Benidorm is the ideal host for this prestigious new annual event," added Lappartient.

The 2026 edition marks the return of the UCI Gala for the first time since 2019, when it was hosted in Guilin, China, where Primož Roglič and Marianne Vos were recognised as the leading riders in the World Rankings. 

Benidorm has continued to establish itself in the world of cycling in recent years, hosting a round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup since 2023. The Spanish city will once again welcome some of the discipline's biggest stars for a round of the 2026/27 World Cup on Sunday 17 January 2027. 

The 2031 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships have also been awarded to Benidorm, marking the event's return to Spain for the first time since 1990 in Getxo.

“Hosting the UCI Cycling Gala is another important milestone that reinforces our commitment to the sport and further establishes Benidorm as one of the world's leading cycling destinations,” Mayor of Benidorm Toni Pérez said. 

The UCI Cycling Gala is not the only upcoming awards ceremony, with the Velo d'Or set to take place in Monaco on November 28.