Let’s be very clear about what’s happening here. In June, a group of highly trained human beings are going to climb to a platform nearly 90 feet above Tampa Bay, look down at the water, and then voluntarily hurl themselves off it while performing acrobatic maneuvers that would make a gymnast nervous. And you’re invited to watch. For free.
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is coming to St. Petersburg on June 5 and 6, and it’s the only U.S. stop on the series’ six-date 2026 season. This is the first time the series has ever come to the Gulf Coast, which means St. Pete is about to become part of a global circuit that also includes stops in Bali and Polignano, Italy. For a city that’s spent the better part of a decade becoming a destination worth talking about, this is a genuinely significant moment.
Here’s what’s actually happening on that platform. Male divers launch from 27 meters, which is roughly equivalent to a nine-story building. Female divers go from 21 meters. They hit the water at speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour, experiencing close to ten times the force of gravity on impact. The whole thing lasts about three seconds. And it’s judged, because apparently having survived isn’t enough; the execution needs to be good, too.
Photo via Red Bull
Confirmed athletes for the St. Pete stop include Dutch diver Ginni van Katwijk, American Kaylea Arnett, Canada’s Molly Carlson, Spanish diver Carlos Gimeno, Frenchman Gary Hunt, and American James Lichtenstein. These are not hobbyists. These are the best cliff divers on the planet, and they’re coming to Tampa Bay.
Fans can watch from various vantage points across the St. Pete Pier’s elevated walkways, open decks, and waterfront parks. If you happen to own a boat, anchoring in the bay offers what is objectively one of the more unique front-row seats in all of sports. The event will also broadcast live on Red Bull TV starting at 1 p.m. for anyone who can’t make it in person.
Tampa Bay has hosted Red Bull events before, including the Red Bull Flugtag flying machine competition in 2008, 2011, and 2024. But this is a different scale entirely. Cliff diving is a legitimate world championship series with elite athletes competing for points, prize money, and the King Kahekili Trophy. This isn’t a spectacle for spectacle’s sake. It’s a real sport, performed by extraordinary people, coming to our backyard. Find out more about the event here and be sure to follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
June 5 and 6. The St. Pete Pier. Be there.