Hardly any other winter competition series draws so heavily on its tradition as the Cross-Country World Cup. In Norway, the cradle of Nordic skiing, the first cross-country races were documented as early as 1843. The sport has, of course, evolved enormously into the 21st century. Today, in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, athletes battle it out for every centimetre, both over the very long, historic distances and in the short, innovative races. Last season, which once again captivated hundreds of thousands of fans on the trails and in front of their televisions, was dominated by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway) and Jessie Diggins (USA). SnowTrex has now summarised which races will take place when, and, above all, where, in the 2026/2027 World Cup programme.
This is the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup
- Start of the 2026/2027 Cross-Country World Cup season: The season will kick off from 27 to 29 November 2026 in Kuusamo, Finland, with the Nordic Opening at the Ruka Ski Centre.
- First sprint of the 2026/2027 season: On 28 November 2026, the first sprint races for both women and men, contested using the classic technique, will also take place in Kuusamo.
- First Skiathlon 2026/2027: On 6 December 2026, the first skiathlon of the cross-country skiing season, featuring a change of skiing technique after 10 km, will be held in Trondheim (Norway).
- 2026/2027 Cross-Country World Cup Finals: These will take place from 19 to 21 March 2027 in Ulricehamn (Sweden), comprising a total of six races – three each for the men and women.
- History of the Cross-Country World Cup: The first official Cross-Country World Cup was launched in the 1981/1982 season with the inaugural races in Klingenthal and Reit im Winkl.
- Cross-Country World Cup TV coverage: Eurosport broadcasts live and will show highlights such as the Final Climb of the Tour de Ski.
- Prize money: The overall World Cup winners each receive 55,000 euros, and 14,000 euros is awarded for a single race victory.
An overview of the 2026/2027 Cross-Country World Cup races
| Date | Venue | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27–29 November 26 | Ruka | Finland | Individual (Classic), Mass Start (Freestyle) & Sprint (Classic) |
| 4–6 December 26 | Trondheim | Norway | Individual (Classic), Skiathlon & Sprint (Freestyle) |
| 11–13 December 26 | Davos | Switzerland | Individual (Freestyle), Sprint (Freestyle) & Team Sprint (Freestyle) |
| 1–3 January 27 (Tour de Ski) | Les Rousses | France | Mass start (classic), sprint (classic) & pursuit (freestyle) |
| 5 and 6 January 27 (Tour de Ski) | Oberstdorf | Germany | Mass start (freestyle & classic) |
| 8–10 January 27 (Tour de Ski) | Val di Fiemme | Italy | Final Climb (freestyle), skiathlon & sprint (freestyle) |
| 22–24 January 27 | Silvaplana (Engadin) | Switzerland | Mass start (freestyle), mixed relay & sprint (freestyle) |
| 29–31 January 27 | Dobbiaco | Italy | Individual (freestyle), mass start (classic) & sprint (freestyle) |
| 12–14 February 27 | Lahti | Finalnd | Individual (classic), skiathlon & sprint (classic) |
| 24 February–8 March 27 (Nordic World Ski Championships) | Falun | Sweden | 50 km mass start (freestyle), individual (classic), interval (classic), skiathlon, sprint (freestyle), relay & team sprint (classic) |
| 13 and 14 March 27 | Drammen | Norway | 50 km mass start (classic) |
| 16 March 27 | Oslo | Norway | Sprint (classic) |
| 19-21 March 27 | Ulricehamn | Sweden | Individual (freestyle), mass start (classic) & sprint (freestyle) |
Highlights of the 2026/2027 World Cup season
27 to 29 November: Ruka (Finland)
The first of 13 Cross-Country World Cup events in the 2026/2027 season is traditionally the Nordic Opening in Ruka, Finland. Every year, a veritable winter wonderland awaits the athletes on the trails of the Kuusamo Ski Centre. This is due to the resort’s location, just 60 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. Temperatures are correspondingly cold, and the athletes usually have to contend with these conditions whilst competing in the six scheduled races, most of which take place under floodlights.
12 and 14 December: Davos (Switzerland)
At an altitude of 1,560 m, Davos is the highest town in Europe. For cross-country skiers, the first of two Swiss World Cup stops in the 2026/2027 season – just under two weeks before the start of the Tour de Ski – will feature one individual race, one sprint and one team sprint in Switzerland. The two 10 km races will be contested using the skating technique (freestyle), whilst the shorter distances will also be completed using the freestyle technique.
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8 to 10 January: Val di Fiemme (Italy)
After five gruelling races in seven days with just a 24-hour break, the cross-country skiing circuit is set to contest the Tour de Ski finale in Val di Fiemme, the venue for the Nordic events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Here in Italy, the two overall leaders in the women’s and men’s standings will be looking to defend their leader’s jerseys over the final three stages. Most of the races will take place on the trails on the opposite side of the valley from Cavalese.
First up are a skiathlon and a sprint in the freestyle technique, before things get really tough again on 10 January, the final day. Over a 10 km course, the “Final Climb” sees competitors tackle a final 400 metres of elevation gain on a ski slope normally used by winter sports enthusiasts for high-speed descents. The cross-country skiers must negotiate gradients of up to 28 per cent.
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29 to 31 January: Dobbiaco (Italy)
For the first time in several years, the 2026/27 Cross-Country World Cup stop in Dobbiaco is not part of the Tour de Ski for cross-country skiers. In the second World Cup event following the famous stage race, the competition programme in the Dolomites features a total of six races. The events include a sprint (freestyle) and a mass start (classic), as well as an individual race (freestyle), all of which will be held here in the shadow of the famous Three Peaks (2,999 m).
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24 February to 8 March: Falun (Sweden)
The absolute sporting highlight of the year for cross-country skiers will take place in Sweden in 2027. That is because the Nordic World Ski Championships are due to be held in Falun from 24 February to 8 March. For both the women and the men, the programme during this period on the trails in Dalarna County is packed with a total of seven races for gold, silver and bronze medals. On two occasions – in a relay and a team sprint – athletes from the same country will compete together. The remaining five races, including two 50 km mass starts in the free technique, will, however, be contested individually.
14 March: Oslo (Norway)
When cross-country skiers mention Holmenkollen, their eyes light up with awe. The trails around the local mountain of the Norwegian capital, Oslo, are the stuff of legend – at least in the world of Nordic skiing. Every year, the professionals compete on one of the most legendary cross-country World Cup courses, where athletes traditionally have to tackle marathon distances. In the 2026/27 season, two 50 km mass starts in the classic technique will once again take place here. As a reward, the winners are then invited to a private audience in the royal box, where the sports-loving King Harald V of Norway awaits the athletes, as always, with words of praise.
19–21 March: Ulricehamn (Sweden)
Just under five months after the 2026/27 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup kicked off in Finland, the season is now drawing to a close back in Scandinavia, specifically in Ulricehamn, Sweden. To round off a gruelling series of competitions, there are six more races on the programme here. Alongside two individual races and two sprints, all to be contested using the free technique, the programme concludes with a 20 km classic mass start race. Following these two races, the top female and male cross-country skiers of the 2026/27 season will then be honoured in fitting style on 21 March 2027 with the large crystal globes for their triumph in the overall World Cup.
The Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) has compiled an atmospheric video featuring the best images from the dominant 2025/26 World Cup season of the two Grand Crystal Globe winners, Jessie Diggins from the USA and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo from Norway:
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Cross-country skiing is a fascinating sport: the most ‘Nordic’ of all endurance sports is by no means just for World Cup professionals. Many winter sports resorts now offer not only ski areas, but also extensive networks of cross-country trails for everyone to enjoy. However, for winter sports enthusiasts who have been used to wide alpine skis for years, the switch to narrow cross-country skis can always take a little getting used to. That’s why SnowTrex has done some research and put together some tips for beginners on the cross-country trails.
FAQ on the Cross-Country World Cup
When does the 2026/2027 Cross-Country World Cup start?
The season opener of the 2026/2027 Cross-Country World Cup will take place from 27 to 29 November at the Ruka Ski Centre in Kuusamo. This is where cross-country skiers, including the American Jessie Diggins – one of the favourites for the Cross-Country World Cup – will gather 60 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle for the Nordic Opening.
When will the first sprint of the 2026/2027 season take place?
The first sprint of the 2026/2027 season for both women and men is scheduled to take place straight after the World Cup opener in Kuusamo, Finland. The classic technique race will be held on 28 November 2026.
When will the first skiathlon of the 2026/2027 season take place?
On 6 December, the athletes competing in the Cross-Country World Cup will take part in the first skiathlon of the 2026/2027 season in Trondheim. During the competition, at the halfway point after 10 km, the athletes switch from the classic technique to the free technique, i.e. skating. To do so, they must stop in a special transition zone in the stadium and change their skis within a matter of seconds.
Where will the 2026/2027 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup conclude?
To mark the end of the 2026/2027 FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, another competition weekend will take place in Ulricehamn (Sweden). In the heart of Västra Götaland County, a total of six races – three each for the women’s and men’s events – are scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 March 2027.
When did the Cross-Country World Cup begin?
The first official season of the Cross-Country World Cup took place in 1981/1982. On 9 January 1982, the very first races were held in Klingenthal (then still part of the GDR) and in Reit im Winkl. Květa Jeriová from Czechoslovakia won the women’s race, whilst the Norwegian Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass won the men’s.
Where can I watch the Cross-Country World Cup on TV?
Recently, the private sports channel Eurosport has been broadcasting the Cross-Country World Cup live on television. Highlights such as the Final Climb of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, on the other hand, are also available online soon after the events end.
How much money do the winners of the Cross-Country World Cup earn?
The men’s and women’s Cross-Country World Cup overall champions each receive 55,000 euros in prize money for first place. A victory in a World Cup race is also worth 14,000 euros for both men and women. In winter sports, it is also traditional for the overall World Cup trophies to be made of the finest crystal glass. That is why the best female and male cross-country skiers are honoured by the International Ski Federation (FIS) with two large ‘crystal globes’.
