Everyone says 26 is dead, but why? I just ride older frames and can have high end everything for cheap. Hasn’t stopped me from going fast and having fun! 4 out of 5 of my bikes are 26”. Companies have 26+. 26 tubeless. Etc.
The brand new bikes cost way too much and are not really much faster than a very good 26” full sus. Even then, a bike that’s less capable on downhills makes descending slower and longer. (Rigid 26er). Longer descents are what people want right?