This week, the competition calendars for the 2025/2026 Olympic season will be finalized, with the 50km race in Holmenkollen returning and the Tour de Ski becoming extra important for those aiming for the Olympics. Here’s what the World Cup and Tour de Ski 2025/2026 will look like.

When the various disciplines within the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) gather for spring meetings in their technical committees, the calendar for the 2025/2026 Olympic season is one of the key topics, particularly the World Cup and Tour de Ski. The meetings will be held this year in Vilamoura, Portugal, from May 5 to 9.

For cross-country skiing, the 2025/2026 season calendar will be discussed on Thursday, May 8, when the details for the World Cup and Tour de Ski 2025/2026 are to be finalized. However, much is already settled.

Scroll down to see the preliminary schedule for the Tour de Ski and World Cup.

Tour de Ski 2025/2026

The 20th edition of this iconic competition will take place from December 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

According to Langrenn.com, the 2025/2026 Tour de Ski will be quite similar to this year’s edition: starting in Toblach and finishing in Val di Fiemme. This means the entire Tour will take place in Italy, for the second consecutive year. For Olympic-bound skiers, the Tour de Ski offers a crucial final test on the Olympic courses.

For the 2025/2026 edition, the first five stages are scheduled in Toblach and the final two in Val di Fiemme. This past winter, there were four stages in Toblach and three in Val di Fiemme.

As things stand, the Tour won’t start with a sprint event. The first sprint, set in freestyle, will be held on day two.

It’s still unclear which race format will take place at the Lago di Tesero stadium stage in Val di Fiemme, but it will be a distance event.

Currently, both sprints in the Tour de Ski are planned for Toblach, but it’s possible the second sprint could be moved to Val di Fiemme. That one is currently set to be in classic technique — the same as in the Olympics, a few weeks later.

This past winter, Therese Johaug and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the Tour de Ski.

Also Read: Tour de Ski 2024/2025: Final Standings

The concept must be reconsidered

Some — both athletes and experts — argue that limiting the Tour de Ski to one country makes the event less spectacular. Others celebrate the decision, pointing to easier logistics, less travel burden, and therefore a smaller environmental footprint, making the Tour more attractive.

Several voices have called for a complete rethink of the concept, including scrapping the final climb up the infamous “Monster Hill.” But that won’t happen. The 20th edition of the Tour de Ski will once again conclude with a 10km freestyle mass start up Alpe Cermis.

Tour de Ski 2025/2026 Program

• December 28: TBD – Toblach
• December 29: Sprint F – Toblach
• December 31: TBD – Toblach
• January 1: Sprint C – Toblach
• January 3, 2026: Val di Fiemme
• January 4, 2026: Val di Fiemme – 10km freestyle mass start Alpe Cermis (Monster Hill)

Cross-country World Cup 2025/2026

Most of the World Cup dates for the 2025/2026 season are already set, but the exact disciplines for each round still need to be confirmed.

Norway will host three World Cup rounds, with both the city sprint in Drammen and the 50km in Holmenkollen returning in March. Additionally, Trondheim will host three races at the beginning of December, following a program nearly identical to the 2023 World Championships test events.

Cross-country World Cup 2025/2026 Schedule

• November 28–30: TBD – Ruka, Finland
• December 5–7: 10km F / Sprint C / 20km Skiathlon – Trondheim, Norway
• December 12–14: TBD – Davos, Switzerland
• December 28 – January 4: Tour de Ski – Toblach / Val di Fiemme, Italy
• January 17–18: TBD – Oberhof, Germany
• January 23–25: TBD – Goms, Switzerland
• February 4–22: Olympics – Milan/Cortina, Italy
• February 28 – March 1: TBD – Falun, Sweden
• March 7–8: TBD – Lahti, Finland
• March 12: Sprint C – Drammen, Norway
• March 14–15: 50km F / 10km C – Holmenkollen, Norway
• March 20–22: TBD – Lake Placid, USA

All decisions made by the technical committees must be officially approved by the FIS Congress in June.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.