The International Biathlon Union has officially announced changes to the World Cup calendar. According to IBU sports and events director Daniel Bӧhm, Oberhof, which traditionally hosts the first stage of January, will no longer take place at that time. Starting in 2026, the German venue will move to late February or early March.
“Oberhof is a tradition we cherish, but early January often brings very difficult weather. It’s time to adjust the timing so that both fans and athletes can enjoy the event to the fullest,” Boehm explained.
To balance this shift, a new block of races will appear in winter: every other year, Pokljuka will host a stage between Christmas and New Year’s. Biathlon will thus join alpine skiing, ski jumping and cross-country skiing as one of the sports featured during the holiday season.
The total number of races will remain unchanged. “We don’t want to overload the athletes; rest is crucial. These are not radical changes, just fine-tuning. Athletes want to breathe during Christmas, but we must also adapt to the shrinking season caused by the climate,” Boehm said.
New timing for Le Grand-Bornand
The French stage in Le Grand-Bornand will also be affected. It is scheduled for December 8–13, 2026, then December 5–10, 2028, before hosting the Olympic Games in February 2030.
Another possible change is the cancellation of the usual break after the World Championships. “We’ll test it and see how it works. We’re genuinely curious about the outcome,” Boehm added.
All these adjustments will come into effect from the 2026/27 season and are planned to remain in place for at least four years.
