Strong gusts of wind on Friday: Women's sprint moved forward to Thursday
The women's sprint competition has been brought forward from Friday, January 9, 2026, to Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 2:15 p.m. The men's sprint will start at 11:30 a.m. This decision was made today by the organizers of the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2026 in Oberhof in close consultation with the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
The aim of the decision is to offer the athletes fair competition conditions. Strong gusts of wind of up to 90 kilometers per hour are forecast for Friday. “It is a decision in the interests of the sport and safety. By adjusting the schedule, we are responding early and responsibly,” says Bernd Wernicke, OC President and Managing Director of Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH.
Tickets remain valid
Tickets originally purchased for Friday's women's events are also valid on Thursday. Biathlon fans are therefore cordially invited to watch both sprints on Thursday. Fans who have purchased seated tickets for Friday will receive a new ticket for the grandstand via email. Backstage tours and biathlon shooting booked for Thursday will take place as scheduled. Backstage tours and biathlon shooting booked for Friday can be taken on Thursday, subject to availability, or alternatively exchanged for a voucher.
Fans who purchased a ticket for Friday but are unable to be in Oberhof on Thursday have the option of receiving a voucher worth the ticket price. This voucher can be redeemed for the LAVITA IBU Biathlon World Cup 2027 in Oberhof at the official online ticket shop tickets.biathlon-oberhof.de. To receive the voucher, fans must send an email to tickets@skideutschland.de by January 31, 2026, stating the purchaser's name and invoice number. .
Adjusted supporting program
The fan village will open on Thursday (January 8, 2026) at 8:30 a.m., and the ARENA am Rennsteig at 10 a.m. The award ceremonies for the sprint races on the town square in Oberhof will take place as scheduled on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 7 p.m.
BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2026:
Thursday, January 8, 2026 11:30 a.m. Men's Sprint; 2:15 p.m. Women's Sprint
Saturday, January 10, 2026 12:00 p.m. Men's Pursuit; 2:25 p.m. Women's Relay
Sunday, January 11, 2026 11:00 a.m. Men's Relay; 2:30 p.m. Women's Pursuit