JONESBORO, Ark. — After a successful debut earlier this year, The Skirmish – A Delta Gravel Festival is set to return to Jonesboro in 2026. The four-day cycling festival will take place May 28-31, with registration opening Oct. 10 at 8 a.m., organizers announced Friday.
The event, hosted by the Jonesboro Advertising & Promotion Commission in partnership with All Sports Productions, Inc., will again feature a combination of group shake-out rides and a competitive gravel race. Cyclists will choose from four distances—20, 43, 63, or 100 miles—with all routes starting and ending in Historic Downtown Jonesboro.
“We can’t wait to have The Skirmish return to Jonesboro in 2026. The first year was incredible with how many people we brought to town to tackle Crowley’s Ridge and the Delta farmlands,” said Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising & Promotion Commission. “Hospitality is what we do best in Jonesboro, and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet again next year! We promise no one will leave thirsty, hungry or without a smile on their face.”
In addition to cycling, The Skirmish will again offer a festival experience complete with live music, a vendor expo, and a Saturday evening awards celebration. Vendors and exhibitors will include major industry brands like Specialized, Garmin, OOFOS, and Skratch, along with local businesses. Organizers said additional details and new event features will be announced in the coming months.
“The 2025 Skirmish was by far the most successful inaugural event in our 23-year history because of the level of commitment, excitement and engagement from the amazing sponsors, as well as the entire Jonesboro community,” said Bruce Dunn, CEO of All Sports Productions. “We had cyclists from 15 states participate – from first-time gravel riders to experienced and competitive cyclists. The mix of terrain featuring both the rolling hills of Crowley’s Ridge and the pan-flat terrain through wide open farmlands was widely applauded by all who competed.”
More information and updates can be found at www.skirmishjonesboro.com and through the event’s social media channels.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
