Flags Up. Props Hot. 2026: The Year of the Reigning, Defending MLDR World Champions.
- Richard Tulloch
- Nov 7, 2025
- 3 min read
Flags up. Props hot.The countdown is over — and 2026 officially marks the year of Major League Drone Racing (MLDR). A new era has arrived, one defined by reigning, defending, world champions.
What began as a spark in the drone racing community has exploded into a global sports entertainment movement — one that merges speed, skill, and spectacle into an experience unlike anything else. MLDR isn’t just about who flies fastest — it’s about who flies best when the pressure’s at its peak.
A New Era of Champions
The 2025 MLDR event ended with one of the most electrifying drone racing battles ever witnessed — crowds packed in shoulder to shoulder, drones screaming through metal gates, tension thick in the air.
Now, the stakes are higher. The targets are set.And in 2026, every event, every flight, every crash, and every victory means more than ever before.
MLDR enters expansion mode — more locations, bigger venues, louder crowds. The sport is spreading to new cities across the U.S., creating more opportunities for pilots, teams, and fans to get closer to the action.
This is a league that thrives on rivalries, redemption arcs, and the pursuit of perfection. The reigning champions wear the target — and every stop becomes a battlefield where contenders rise, veterans defend, and newcomers make names for themselves.
The Format: Where Skill Meets Story
MLDR’s structure gives fans and competitors a front-row seat to pure competition. The Open Class World Championship crowns a single, reigning champion — a pilot who remains on top until they’re defeated. No alliances. Just skill, reflexes, and guts.
MLDR(2): Team-based division with strategy and chemistry. Two-pilot crews like the Florida Raptors and California Sea Dragons turn every race into a tactical dogfight, battling for the MLDR(2) World Championship Belt.
The Women’s World Championship shines a light on female pilots redefining precision at the highest level. MLDR Team and MLDR(1) divisions crown the best in the world with a fusion of talent, tech, and teamwork.
Every class adds another layer to the MLDR story. Every pilot adds another page.
From Local Heat to Global Stage
2026 isn’t just about racing — it’s about reaching.MLDR expands through community events, school partnerships, and minor league circuits, building the next generation of pilots and fans. Each local race feeds into a larger system — a pipeline of rising stars leading to the MLDR World Championships.
For fans searching “drone racing near me” or looking to get involved, this is your entry point into a fast-growing world where engineering, skill, and entertainment collide.
The Show: MLDR World-Wide Network
It’s not just live events. Every heat, every crash, and every close finish comes to life through the MLDR World-Wide Network, streaming soon on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and online.
Fans can watch the drama unfold — from behind-the-scenes access and pilot interviews to cinematic race coverage. Combined with the MLDR Magazine and MLDR Academy, the league is building an entire ecosystem of sport, entertainment, and education.
Watch Live! | Join MLDR Academy
Three Major Dates. Three Battles for Glory.
The MLDR calendar features three unmissable events:
December 12th, 2025 – Phoenix: Hatter defends his Open Class World Championship. One-on-one battles. No hiding behind the safety net.
January 24th, 2026 – Florida vs. California: The Florida Raptors take on the California Sea Dragons for the MLDR(2) title.
February 21st, 2026 – Arizona: The Arizona Desert Hawks defend their crown against the San Francisco Condors.
Other upcoming events include the MLDR(1) World Championship and the MLDR Women's World Championship.
Each event is a statement. Each race, a story.
More Than a Sport — A Movement
Major League Drone Racing is more than just drones and gates. It’s where pilots become athletes, engineers become stars, and fans become family. A place for the next generation of innovators, creators, and thrill-seekers.
As the league grows, so does its mission: to inspire, educate, and entertain — through flight.
The Final Word
So, whether you’re a die-hard fan, drone hobbyist, or searching “what’s next in sports entertainment,” this is the moment.
2026 is the year of Major League Drone Racing.More races. Bigger venues. New champions.Major League Drone Racing — Where Champions Are Made.
Comments