Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII kicks off on Friday, December 11, 2026, with the Bad Gastein Prologue, a 1km individual time trial through the streets of Bad Gastein, Austria.

The Prologue introduces a new format to the calendar this season. Held in the heart of the historic spa town, known for its steep streets and Belle Époque charm, the short course favors explosive power over pure endurance, a different early-season test than the formats that have opened previous seasons. Ski Classics World Championship gets underway in the late afternoon, with Bad Gastein lit up by its Christmas lights, giving the Prologue a special atmosphere.  

The Prologue also marks the start of Ski Classics’ first-ever Tour Competition. The Bad Gastein Tour is made up of the first four events of the 15-event Ski Classics World Championship season, all held in Bad Gastein between December 11 and 20. Athletes register for the Bad Gastein Tour by the weekend.  

Pro Team athletes still earn Champion, Sprint, and Climb points at each of the four Bad Gastein events, counting toward the season standings across all 15 World Championship events as usual, but prize money for the block is awarded only at the end of the Tour, based on the total Champion points collected across all four events.  

With no team tactics and no drafting, every second counts. The result also sets the early tone for the Champion bib competition, with the Prologue winners taking the first Yellow bibs of the season into the Sportgastein Criterium two days later.  

“Bad Gastein is set to host a cross-country ski race the sporting world has never seen before. The opening race of the Ski Classics World Championship is uniting world-class athletes, glamour, and party in the ‘Monaco of the Alps.’ With the world’s best skiers racing through the heart of Bad Gastein, the event will combine the energy of a major sports race and the atmosphere of one of the Alps’ most iconic destinations,” says Thomas Zlöbl, Chief of Competition.  

“This Prologue changes how the season starts. It’s short and completely individual – no drafting, no team tactics, just speed – directly in the heart of Bad Gastein. Each Pro Team athlete is presented individually, showing what their summer training has brought them. And because it also opens our first-ever Tour Competition, every athlete taking on the full Tour has to perform across both weekends, because these four Bad Gastein events are still linked all the way to the final points count,” says Lukas Bauer, Ski Classics Race Director.  

Also Read: Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII  

Bad Gastein Prologue — Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII – Event 1  

• Date: Friday, December 11, 2026  
• Location: Bad Gastein, Austria  
• Distance: 1km  
• Highest point: 1051 m  
• Elevation gain: 44 m  
• Format: Individual Time Trial (ITT)  
• Starting procedure: Individual start  
• Start times: Women 16:10 CET / Men 16:45 CET  
• Points: Pro Event 100p – See exact point distribution  
• Number of years in Ski Classics: New event  
• Participation: First Bad Gastein Prologue (closed to Pro Team athletes), followed by Bad Gastein Vertical City Sprint on the same course.  
• Registration: Register here  
• Link to SC Play: Watch here  

More information about the Bad Gastein Prologue can be found HERE  

Map and Profile  

Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII (2026/2027)  

• Event 1: December 11, 2026 – Bad Gastein Prologue – Austria – 1km  
• Event 2: December 13, 2026 – Sportgastein Criterium – Austria – 30km  
• Event 3: December 19, 2026 – Bad Gastein ITT – Austria – 7km  
• Event 4: December 20, 2026 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km  
Bad Gastein Tour (Events 1–4 of Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII)  
• Event 5: January 16, 2027 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km  
• Event 6: January 17, 2027 – Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint – Switzerland – 30km  
• Event 7: January 31, 2027 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km  
• Event 8: February 12, 2027 – Bedřichov Heat Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km  
• Event 9: February 14, 2027 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km  
• Event 10: February 27, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women – Sweden – 30km  
• Event 11: February 28, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men – Sweden – 30km  
• Event 12: March 7, 2027 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km  
• Event 13: March 20, 2027 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 53km  
• Event 14: April 3, 2027 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km  
• Event 15: April 4, 2027 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km  

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com.  

Are you interested in Ski Classics and long-distance skiing? Click HERE and read more about it. 

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