The 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally officially began on August 8, 2026, attracting approximately 500,000 riders to the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota, and the surrounding Black Hills region. Known as the world’s largest motorcycle rally, the event spans ten days each August and includes races, concerts, group rides, stunt shows, motorcycle demonstrations, vendor exhibitions, and organized rides throughout the area.

This year’s rally features country star Lainey Wilson as the headliner, scheduled to perform on August 12. Other notable acts include YUNGBLUD, Megadeth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rob Zombie, and Insane Clown Posse.

The rally’s origins trace back to 1938 when Indian dealer Pappy Hoel founded the event. Hoel’s marketing skills, passion for motorcycle racing, and his paternal fondness for America’s World War II veterans—many of whom struggled with mental wounds from combat—helped make Sturgis synonymous with motorcycles. The Hoel family managed the rally for nearly 50 years before transferring control to the City of Sturgis in the 1980s.

Highlighting the event’s historical significance, the new Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis SD Edition motorcycle celebrates Indian’s place in rally history with special paint and badging inspired by Indian motorcycles of the 1930s. It features a classic two-tone Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint scheme with a multicolored Indian Motorcycle headdress logo.

During the rally, the town of Sturgis, with a population of just 7,100, transforms as motorcycles fill downtown streets and riders explore the Black Hills.

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