Loop One Festival brings biathlon to the heart of Munich

Munich will stage the inaugural Loop One Festival on October 18–19 at the city’s Olympic Park, an urban showcase meant to bring biathlon closer to fans with live music, DJ sets, street food, family activities, and public try‑outs of the sport.

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) aims to take biathlon into major cities and engage younger audiences ahead of the World Cup season opener in Östersund, Sweden, on November 29. Because there is no snow yet, the races will be held on asphalt using rollerskis, offering supporters a first taste of the upcoming winter.

Demand has been strong: all 9,000+ grandstand tickets for Sunday—when World Cup headliners compete—have sold out, and organizers expect similar numbers along the course and in the festival areas, which will be free to access both days.

Schedule and format - Saturday: para biathlon races and youth competitions. - Sunday: World Cup athletes race a spectacular super sprint on a 1.8 km circuit, with a floating shooting range set up on the lake. Morning qualifying heats lead to afternoon finals for the top 15—men at 15:30 and women at 16:15.

Italy’s lineup includes Lisa Vittozzi, Michela Carrara, Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer, Didier Bionaz, and Daniele Cappellari; Dorothea Wierer is tentatively listed as she is not at full fitness. Coverage with Italian commentary will be available on Eurovisionsport.

The festival concludes just six weeks before the World Cup begins, positioning Loop One as a likely fixture on biathlon’s seasonal calendar.