The Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII starts in one month. The season kicks off in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 11, 2026, with the Bad Gastein Prologue and ends in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on April 4, 2027. Here is a summary of all the events of the upcoming season.
The Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII consists of 15 events over 9 weekends across Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Norway. From the Bad Gastein opening block in December to the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja in April, the road to the Ski Classics World Champion title promises exciting racing in beautiful surroundings.
Also Read – Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII: All Pro Teams’ presentations in one place
Bad Gastein Tour opens the season
The season opens in Bad Gastein with a four-event block over two consecutive weekends before Christmas. Together, the four races form the Bad Gastein Tour, Ski Classics’ first-ever Tour Competition. Points count toward the season standings as usual, while prize money for the block is awarded at the end of the Tour based on total Champion points.
On Friday, December 11, the Bad Gastein Prologue opens Season XVIII with a new format: a 1km individual time trial through the streets of Bad Gastein in the late afternoon. Two days later, on Sunday, December 13, the Sportgastein Criterium covers 30km and ends with a 2.5km climb to the finish at 1,910 meters above sea level, the first real test for the Climb bib favorites.
For the first time, the season returns to the same venue for a second weekend. The Bad Gastein ITT on Saturday, December 19, is a 7km individual time trial on a mostly flat course in Sportgastein. On Sunday, December 20, the Bad Gastein Criterium closes the Tour over 36km, with five laps, two sprints and two ascents of “the Wall.”
Switzerland: Engadin in January
After the Christmas and New Year break, the season resumes in the Engadin Valley. On Saturday, January 16, 2027, Engadin La Diagonela takes athletes 55km from Pontresina to Zuoz, mostly above 1,800 meters, with a sprint at the 8km mark.
The next day, Sunday, January 17, the new Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint brings a new format to Ski Classics. It is a 30km mass start on a short, flat course, where both Champion and Sprint points are decided at the finish line.
Italy and the Czech Republic
On Sunday, January 31, Marcialonga opens the Grand Classics chapter of the season. The 70km course runs from Moena to Cavalese through the Fassa and Fiemme valleys and includes the season’s first Iconic Climb, the Cascata. Marcialonga is also the first step toward the Grand Slam, which no skier has ever completed in a single season.
Two weeks later, the Czech weekend in the Jizera Mountains opens on Friday, February 12, with the Bedřichov Heat Sprint, a 1.5km evening race under the lights. It has a qualification round followed by semifinals and a final, with seven athletes in each heat. On Sunday, February 14, Jizerská 50 follows over 50km as the second Grand Classics event, in its 60th edition.
Sweden: two weekends in the Vasaloppet arena
Sweden hosts three events over two weekends. On Saturday, February 27, the Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women, also known as Tjejvasan, moves up from the Challengers series to the World Championship over 30km. On Sunday, February 28, the men race the same route in the brand new Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men. Both use a sprint format with points awarded at the finish line.
The following Sunday, March 7, Vasaloppet is the third Grand Classics event, over the 90km route from Sälen to Mora.
Norway: final Grand Classics and Grand Finale
On Saturday, March 20, Birkebeinerrennet is the fourth and final Grand Classics event. Athletes race 53km from Rena to Lillehammer, each carrying the traditional backpack, now 2kg.
Read More: Birkebeinerrennet reduces backpack weight requirement to 2kg
The season ends with a Norwegian double in early April. On Saturday, April 3, Reistadløpet covers 35km from Setermoen to Bardufoss, featuring the Iconic Climb Orta and the Premium Sprint Storlømyra. The next day, Sunday, April 4, the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja closes Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII over 60km from Bardufoss to Finnsnes.
Grand Finale: open for recreational skiers
The Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja has up to 250 starting spots for recreational skiers, in addition to the Pro Team athletes. To register, skiers must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete one Ski Classics Pro event in Season XVIII within the winner’s time plus 50%, or
- Complete two Ski Classics Challengers events in Season XVIII within the same time limit, or
- Have completed the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja in Season XVII within the same time limit.
Skiers who qualify receive a Grand Finale Qualifier Pin on their SC MyPages, which gives access to registration.
Read More: Ski Classics Grand Finale Season XVIII
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com.
Author: Leandro Lutz
Photo: Ski Classics
