The Pro Climbing League (PCL) enters its second season in 2027: Following the sold-out debut in London, three events will take place in Berlin, Paris and London – here's your path to a wildcard!
The season opens on January 23, 2027, in Berlin. The series stops in Paris on February 13, and the final follows on March 20 in London. This was announced by the PCL in mid-September.
The exact locations in the three cities where the climbing will take place are still to be determined. According to PCL, each location can accommodate more than twice as many spectators as Magazine London, where the premiere was held on February 28, 2026.
Twelve during the day, four in the evening
New this year is a format with two sessions per event day. During the day, the group stage takes place: Twelve climbers of each gender start, divided into three groups of four, who compete against each other in direct duels.
The three group winners advance directly to the final rounds. The strongest runner-up across all groups takes fourth place – as a lucky loser.
Best-of-three instead of just one attempt
Four competitors of each gender remain in the evening session. A best-of-three format in the semifinals determines who advances to the Big Final. Those eliminated compete in the Small Final, climbing a single boulder problem for third place.
The Big Final will also be decided in a best-of-three format over up to three boulder problems. The effect is clear: more boulder problems per athlete, and therefore more climbing per event than at the premiere.
£50.000 per event
The prize money increases by more than 40 percent to £50.000 per event, equivalent to approximately €58.000. Across the three events, this totals £150.000. The PCL itself considers its prize pool to be among the highest in climbing. All three events will again be broadcast on Red Bull TV, with free live streams available worldwide.
The premiere is still available there as a replay. Additionally, PCL plans to release more content about the athletes through its own channels.
Double the capacity, three times the chance
Those who missed out on tickets for the premiere, which sold out in a single day, will theoretically have significantly better chances in 2027: three events instead of one, each venue with more than double the capacity. PCL has announced that ticket sales will begin later this year. Those who want to be among the first to know must subscribe to the newsletter on the PCL website.
Bertone and Milne want to follow up.
The PCL will announce the full starting field shortly. One thing is already certain: Oriane Bertone and Max Milne, the 2026 winners, are returning. Milne is defiant in the PCL press release: “PCL is back – and so is the champ! I gave it my all on the mats to win, and I’ll do it again in 2027. The atmosphere and the show were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. […] The fact that I get to do it not just once, but three times, is a bonus,” reports the 25-year-old Scottish professional climber. The Frenchwoman Bertone particularly emphasizes the audience: “Competing in front of this crowd was incomparable – the energy, the pressure. I’m looking forward to experiencing it again.” – Oriane Bertone, winner of the PCL 2026, PCL press release
Eight wildcards for the whole world
The PCL starting field, like the Rock Master in Arco, is determined by invitation rather than qualification. However, a small portion of the field will be determined through climbing. Eighty climbing gyms worldwide will host so-called PCL Open qualifiers. Four wildcards per gender for the main events are up for grabs, for a total of eight. The PCL will announce the locations and dates of these qualifiers at a later date.
For Germany and Austria, the path is already clear: Two of the eight wildcards are awarded by the urban apes group through their indoor competition “Get High”. According to Urban Apes, this is the only way from both countries to join the PCL, which acts as a partner in the events of the climbing gym group.
There are eight wildcards for the PCL worldwide, and we are awarding two of them. This is something we haven't been able to offer our community before.
Florian Wenningkamp, Head of Marketing of the urban apes group
Get High: Four weeks of qualifying, one final day
Registration for the "Get High" competition has been open since September 28th at urbanapes.de/gethigh2026. Qualifying rounds will take place from October 5th to November 6th in all 19 climbing gyms of the group – urban apes, Steinbock, and Café Kraft. All gyms will use the same competition boulder problems. New problems will be added each week, and all will remain in place until the end of the qualifying rounds. The results will be compiled online. So, anyone who already trains at one of the gyms will have the qualifying rounds right at their fingertips for four weeks.
New to Get High is a second league: League 1 covers levels 6 to 8 within the hall, League 2 levels 4 to 6. Both are scored separately and have separate finals. Crucially for the PCL: Wildcards are awarded exclusively to the winners of League 1.
From Friedrichshain to the PCL stage
The top three climbers per gender and league from each climbing gym – twelve per location – qualify for the finals on November 21st at urban apes Berlin Friedrichshain. The program includes semifinals and finals for both leagues, and spectators are welcome. For those who want to compete themselves: The semifinal boulders will be open to all visitors in the afternoon. The winners of League 1 will receive starting places at all three PCL events in Berlin, Paris, and London, including travel and accommodation. So, if you've ever dreamed of competing alongside world-class athletes: Here's your chance.
That might interest you
- Cloe Coscoy in an interview | Explosive moves and absolute passion
- Max Milne and Oriane Bertone win the very first Pro Climbing League event in London
+ + +