The 2026 86th Anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Attendance Was Down over 16%.
Now that the books have officially closed on another incredible rally, everyone is asking the same question – How big was the 86th Sturgis Rally in 2026?
While attendance was down from the 85th anniversary in 2025, hundreds of thousands of riders still made their way to the Black Hills in 2026. Read on for a closer look at this year’s attendance and how the numbers break down.
What was the Sturgis Rally Attendance in 2026?
SD Department of Transportation reported traffic counts of 448,166.
The DOT Reported 2026 Sturgis Rally Attendance of 448,166 Was Down over 16% from 2025.
According to the official traffic numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the 86th Rally in 2026 was significantly smaller than the 85th in 2025, with 537,459 vehicles.
The South Dakota Department Of Transportation gathers these numbers from road tube counters placed at nine locations around the Sturgis region. One vehicle is counted for every two axles that hit the counter on their way into town. The full DOT report on the Sturgis Rally can be found on the DOT Website.
The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety reports that DUI arrests, misdemeanor drug arrests, felony drug arrests, and non-injury accidents were all down. Citations, warnings, injury crashes, and fatalities were all down from 2025. See more rally statistics from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety.
2027 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Dates
When is the 87th Sturgis Rally? The 2027 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 6-15, 2027. Get a jumpstart on 2027 by registering for the rally and receiving your free welcome packet at Sturgis.com/registration.
