Forza Horizon 5 Showcase Events Ranked: 2026 Retrospective

Even five years after its release, Forza Horizon 5 remains the gold standard for arcade racing madness, and nothing epitomizes that spirit quite like the showcase events. These scripted, over-the-top races throw conventional motorsport out the window, pitting you against planes, trains, and even jet skis in a fiesta of pure adrenaline. The four core showcase events are baked into the campaign, and unlocking them all is essential for completionists chasing the “Putting On A Show” achievement. As we look back in 2026, these races still feel as fresh as the day they dropped, serving up cinematic set-pieces that have aged like fine wine. Here’s how every showcase event stacks up, from decent to absolutely legendary.

4. On A Wing And A Prayer

Kicking things off is the first showcase you’ll unlock, and it’s a total doozy. In On A Wing And A Prayer, you slide behind the wheel of a 1994 Hoonigan Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC and face off against a massive cargo plane with a side of dirtbike stunt riders. The race is a wild mix of tarmac and dirt, with the plane thundering overhead and eventually deploying the bikers who later ditch their rides and zip along with wingsuits. It’s the perfect tone-setter for Horizon 5—completely bonkers, loud, and impossible to forget. Finishing first nets you the Escort itself, a solid A-class off-road beast that’s free and saved many a player’s credits back in the day. 4,000 accolade points and roughly 5,000 XP are the icing on the cake. While this event is pure adrenaline, it sits last mainly because the others crank the dial even higher.

3. Catch Me If You Canyon

Unlocked after opening the Horizon Rush PR Stunts festival, this event is a love letter to 80s action flicks. You pilot a stunning 1988 Lamborghini Countach against a speeding locomotive through a winding canyon. If the series’ train races are old hat for you, this one still manages to surprise—highlighted by the gut‑punch moment when you launch between railcars mid-jump. It’s the definition of cray‑cray, and it feels ripped straight from a blockbuster. The downside? You don’t get to keep the Countach afterward; it has to be bought at the auto show or won through wheelspin, which bums out a few folks. The rewards include a chat phrase, 4,000 accolades, and about 4,000 XP, but the real prize is the sheer cinematic thrill that holds up beautifully in 2026.

2. Flood, Sweat, And Gears

This showcase feels like someone at Playground Games said, “What if we just go completely off the wall?” and the result is Flood, Sweat, And Gears. After unlocking the Horizon Wilds Dirt Racing Festival, you hop into a Ford Bronco and race jet skis—yes, jet skis—down a jungle river. The skis whip past you, leap over your roof with flips, and somehow it all makes perfect sense in the moment. The race is a masterclass in Horizon’s signature visual flair; the lighting, the water effects, and that sense of borderline ridiculous speed make it a must-play even today. A chat phrase, 4,000 accolades, and about 4,000 credits are the tangible rewards. While you don’t bag the 2020 Ford #2069 Bronco R for free (it’s wheelspin or DLC only), the experience itself is the real treasure.

1. Buggy And The Beast

Crowning our list is the absolute king of Forza Horizon 5 showcases, Buggy And The Beast. Unlocked via the Horizon Baja Cross-Country Festival, this two-part extravaganza starts on top of the volcano with a modded 1975 Ford Bronco squaring up against a monster truck. After soaring off massive jumps, a second monster truck crashes the party, and when the race ends, you actually get behind the wheel of one of these behemoths for a stunt-filled bonus section. It’s the wackiest, most joyous moment in the entire game, and in 2026 it’s still the go‑to mission when you want to show a friend just how nuts Forza can get. The Bronco isn’t a freebie—you’ll have to buy it or spin for it—but the memories (plus a chat phrase, 4,000 accolades, and ~4,000 XP) are worth their weight in gold. If you only do one showcase in your life, make it this one.

All four events collectively gift you the “Putting On A Show” achievement for placing first, and they remain a benchmark for arcade racing design. Even as the franchise looks toward future entries, these 2021‑born spectacles still remind us why we fell in love with Horizon in the first place.