# 2025–26 Biathlon World Cup
The 2025–26 [Biathlon World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/biathlon-world-cup) is the season-long series of biathlon competitions organized by the International Biathlon Union (IBU), running from November 29, 2025 in Östersund, Sweden to March 22, 2026 at Oslo Holmenkollen, Norway.[1](https://www.biathlon.live/calendar/2025-2026/world-cup) The season is framed by the retirement of five-time overall champion [Johannes Thingnes Bø](https://www.edgepedia.org/johannes-thingnes-b) and by the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February, whose biathlon competitions are held at Antholz-Anterselva, Italy.[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/how-to-watch-biathlon-world-cup-2025-26-free) • [3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season span | November 29, 2025 (Östersund) to March 22, 2026 (Oslo Holmenkollen)[1](https://www.biathlon.live/calendar/2025-2026/world-cup) |
| Number of World Cup competitions | 11[1](https://www.biathlon.live/calendar/2025-2026/world-cup) |
| Season highlight | Olympic Winter Games 2026 Milano Cortina, with biathlon at Antholz-Anterselva (ITA)[3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv) |
| Calendar adjustment | Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) stepped in for Antholz in the last week of January[3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv) |
| Opening program | Relays on November 29, single mixed and mixed relay on November 30, individuals December 2–3, sprints December 5–6, pursuits December 7[4](https://www.biathlonworld.com/calendar?CupLevel=1&EventId=BT2425SWRLCP08&SeasonId=&competitionsSelect=all) |
| Defining storyline | Retirement of Johannes Thingnes Bø and absence of Tarjei Bø, opening the door for new names[5](https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/twib-25-26-experts-opinion-oestersund-arnd-peiffer/4J5SmTUuUXbclAV6OQrBtB) |
| Olympic result | France won its first Olympic gold medal in the men's biathlon relay, with Eric Perrot on the final leg[6](https://apnews.com/article/6a816ba2d0f1636c899bb7876c509d0d) |
## Calendar
The competition program was set by the IBU in January 2025. As in the previous season, the season opens with a weekend of relays and concludes with mass starts at Holmenkollen.[3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv) The IBU calendar lists the stops as follows:[4](https://www.biathlonworld.com/calendar?CupLevel=1&EventId=BT2425SWRLCP08&SeasonId=&competitionsSelect=all)
1. Östersund, Sweden, November 29 – December 7, 2025
2. Hochfilzen, Austria, December 12–14, 2025
3. Annecy-Le Grand Bornand, France, December 18–21, 2025
4. Oberhof, Germany, January 8–11, 2026
5. Ruhpolding, Germany, January 14–18, 2026
6. Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, January 22–25, 2026
7. Antholz-Anterselva, Italy, February 8–22, 2026
8. Kontiolahti, Finland, March 5–8, 2026
9. Otepää, Estonia, March 12–15, 2026
10. Oslo Holmenkollen, Norway, March 19–22, 2026
Because the Olympic biathlon competition occupies Antholz-Anterselva in February, Nove Mesto na Morave took the late-January slot that Antholz would otherwise hold, and the final three weeks in Kontiolahti, Otepää, and Holmenkollen mirror the last trimester of the previous Olympic season in 2022.[3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv) The Antholz window of February 8–22 coincides with the Olympic period, and the World Cup resumes in Finland in early March.[4](https://www.biathlonworld.com/calendar?CupLevel=1&EventId=BT2425SWRLCP08&SeasonId=&competitionsSelect=all)
## Season context
**The post-Bø field.** Johannes Thingnes Bø retired after the 2024–25 season, in which he did not win the crystal globe but still spent a long stretch in the yellow leader's bib; his brother Tarjei is also absent from the mix. IBU expert [Arnd Peiffer](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnd-peiffer), a former biathlete and biathlonworld.com's longest-standing expert, wrote before the opener that their absence opens the door for new names and new storylines, and that earning a World Cup start in the Norwegian team had not become any easier.[5](https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/twib-25-26-experts-opinion-oestersund-arnd-peiffer/4J5SmTUuUXbclAV6OQrBtB) On the women's side, Lisa Vittozzi of Italy returned after missing the entire 2024–25 season with a back injury; she had won the Big Crystal Globe for the first time in 2023–24.[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/how-to-watch-biathlon-world-cup-2025-26-free)
**Olympic season structure.** The season highlight is the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, with biathlon at Antholz-Anterselva.[3](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv) The Games include 11 biathlon medal events: five women's, five men's, and one mixed relay.[7](https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/sg/a/ibu-biathlon-inside-the-sport-the-union-and-the-competitions) Peiffer described the battle for the BMW IBU World Cup Total Score, and especially the Olympic medals, as potentially more exciting than ever.[5](https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/twib-25-26-experts-opinion-oestersund-arnd-peiffer/4J5SmTUuUXbclAV6OQrBtB)
## Mid-season standings and Olympic biathlon
By the Olympic biathlon window, Italy's Tommaso Giacomel sat second in the overall World Cup standings; at the Games he cleaned all ten prone shots and was leading an Olympic race before dropping out on the third lap.[8](https://apnews.com/article/8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639) In the men's relay, France went from last place on the first leg to first on the final lap to win the country's first Olympic gold medal in the event; World Cup champion [Eric Perrot](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-perrot), skiing the final leg, missed two shots in his last standing bout and finished seven seconds ahead of Norway's Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen.[6](https://apnews.com/article/6a816ba2d0f1636c899bb7876c509d0d) Norway's overall Games total reached 17 gold medals, a record for a single Winter Olympics.[8](https://apnews.com/article/8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639)
## References
1. [IBU World Cup – Schedule, biathlon.LIVE](https://www.biathlon.live/calendar/2025-2026/world-cup)
2. [How to watch Biathlon World Cup 2025/26, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/how-to-watch-biathlon-world-cup-2025-26-free)
3. [IBU releases biathlon calendar for 2025-2026 World Cup season, International Biathlon Union](https://www.biathlonworld.com/de/news/ibu-releases-competition-calendar-for-2025-2026-world-cup-season/4RLNolz7IbELaM8cKbY8mv)
4. [IBU Event calendar – Oestersund, Sweden](https://www.biathlonworld.com/calendar?CupLevel=1&EventId=BT2425SWRLCP08&SeasonId=&competitionsSelect=all)
5. [Experts' Corner: Arnd Peiffer predicts a pressure-packed season, International Biathlon Union](https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/twib-25-26-experts-opinion-oestersund-arnd-peiffer/4J5SmTUuUXbclAV6OQrBtB)
6. [Winter Olympics recap: Japanese pair upstage 'Blade Angels,' Germany sweeps 2-man bobsled, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/6a816ba2d0f1636c899bb7876c509d0d)
7. [IBU Biathlon: Sport, Union and Main Events, Salomon](https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/sg/a/ibu-biathlon-inside-the-sport-the-union-and-the-competitions)
8. [Norway wins its 17th gold medal, breaking record for most golds won in a single Winter Olympics, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Winter and ice sports › Nordic skiing and biathlon › Biathlon › Biathlon World Cup and IBU Cup › Biathlon World Cup seasons, 2019/20–present*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license