Where the Biathlon World Cup stops this season

The 2025/26 IBU Biathlon World Cup will run from late November to late March across ten venues, with a mix of traditional and newer locations and a mid-season Olympic break.

Key stops and dates

• Östersund, Sweden (29 Nov – 7 Dec 2025): Returning as the season opener after a year off the calendar. Known for sub-zero temperatures, snowy forests, and a wind-prone range that demands strong shooting control over two weekends of racing.

• Hochfilzen, Austria (12 – 14 Dec 2025): A classic venue at ~1,000 m in the Kitzbühel Alps. The course features a long climb on the 3.3 km loop, a long descent into the range, and a short steep kicker before shooting—technically demanding terrain.

• Annecy/Le Grand-Bornand, France (18 – 21 Dec 2025): Hosting for the seventh time at the Stade Sylvie Becaert (928–990 m). With open sightlines and little forest cover, athletes can see rivals during much of the race—tactically both helpful and stressful.

• Oberhof, Germany (8 – 11 Jan 2026): Huge crowds on the Rennsteig and notoriously fickle weather—fog, wind, rain, or thaw are common. The course includes the long, hard Birxstieg and the short, steep Henkel loop.

• Ruhpolding, Germany (14 – 18 Jan 2026): Chiemgau Arena welcomes up to 23,000 fans (stadium and course combined). A medium-difficulty course around 700 m with a relatively sheltered range and a downhill approach into shooting that can aid hit rates.

• Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic (22 – 25 Jan 2026): Vysocina Arena (to ~665 m) is famed for electric atmosphere but wind-exposed shooting and relentless up-and-down terrain. Warmer, wetter winters can add slush and unpredictability.

• Antholz, Italy – 2026 Winter Olympics (8 – 21 Feb 2026): Olympic biathlon medals will be awarded in the Südtirol Arena for the first time. At ~1,600 m, altitude and thinner air tax athletes; otherwise, the loops are not overly technical, and weather is often sunny and cold.

• Kontiolahti, Finland (5 – 8 Mar 2026): After the Olympic break, the World Cup resumes in North Karelia on rolling terrain near Lake Höytiäinen (elev. ~120 m; course low/high 88–128 m).

• Otepää, Estonia (12 – 15 Mar 2026): The World Cup returns to the Tehvandi Sports Center for the second time, serving as a test event ahead of the next Biathlon World Championships. Expect strong local support and valuable course reconnaissance.

• Oslo-Holmenkollen, Norway (19 – 22 Mar 2026): Season finale at the spiritual home of Nordic skiing. The course is medium in difficulty but has the largest single-loop elevation gain (about 130 m) on a 3.3 km lap; fog rolling up from Oslo can complicate shooting.

Context and media

Sportschau also links related features: a season-opening mass start at the IBU LOOP ONE festival, a profile on Germany’s Vanessa Voigt preparing for the 2026 Olympics, and a video review of the 2024/25 season.

Source: Dirk Hofmeister