BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup Nove Mesto 2026
The BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup heads to one of the competition's most atmospheric venues as Nove Mesto na Morave hosts a key World Cup stop from 22-25 January 2026.
Known for packed grandstands, fast skiing and intense shooting pressure, the Czech Republic event is a fan favourite every winter.
Event Facts:
- Location: Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic
- Venue: Vysocina Arena
- Dates: 22-25 January 2026
- Series: BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2025/26
- Streaming: Live and free on Eurovision Sport
IBU World Cup Schedule: Nove Mesto
All event times are listed in local time (CET) and are subject to change.
| Date | Event & Time (CET) |
|---|---|
| Thursday 22 January 2026 | 18:15: Men Short Individual - 15km |
| Friday 23 January 2026 | 18:15: Women Short Individual - 12.5km |
| Saturday 24 January 2026 |
13:15: Single Mixed Relay
15:10: Mixed Relay
|
| Sunday 25 January 2026 |
15:15: Men Mass Start -15km
18:15: Women Mass Start - 12.5km
|
Nove Mesto Biathlon Stadium: Vysocina Arena
The Vysocina Arena is one of biathlon's most iconic venues, sitting at an altitude of approximately 620 metres above sea level. While not a high-altitude track, the course is known for its demanding profiles, technical descents and relentless crowd noise around the shooting range.
The stadium can host up to 16,000 spectators (plus 10,000 around the track), creating one of the loudest and most intense atmospheres on the World Cup tour. Czech fans are famously close to the track, adding pressure at the range and energy on the climbs.
Nove Mesto has a rich biathlon history, having hosted multiple IBU Biathlon World Cup stages and the 2013 & 2024 Biathlon World Championships.
Its reliability, crowd engagement and compact layout make it a cornerstone venue of the World Cup calendar.
What to Expect from the Nove Mesto Biathlon
Racing in Nove Mesto is rarely predictable. The combination of fast snow conditions, rolling terrain and constant noise at the range often leads to dramatic momentum swings and surprise podiums.
The stadium-style layout ensures tight finishes and aggressive racing. Relays in particular tend to deliver standout moments, with rapid shooting and narrow margins between teams.
With the season entering a crucial phase, results in Nove Mesto often play a decisive role in overall World Cup standings and discipline globes.
Biathlon World Cup Ruhpolding Recap
The BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stop in Ruhpolding, Germany (14-18 January 2026) delivered five days of classic biathlon excitement.
Male Biathletes Highlights
- Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson shot clean and blazed through the men's 10 km sprint in 21:53.8 to claim his first World Cup win of the season. He ended Italy's Tommaso Giacomel's three-race win streak, beating the overall leader by 17.6 seconds in the final pre-Olympic sprint. Norway's Isak Frey took his first career podium in third
- Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal won the men's 12.5 km pursuit, out-dueling France's Eric Perrot in a thrilling finish. Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE) claimed third place after a late battle for the podium
- Team France clinched victory in the men's 4x7.5 km relay, clocking 1:08:58.1 and narrowly holding off Norway by 6.2 seconds. Germany thrilled the home fans by taking third place just 7.9 seconds behind France in an extremely tight finish
Female Biathlete Highlights
- Hanna Öberg (SWE) delivered a perfect 10/10 shooting performance to win the women's 7.5 km sprint in 19:10.7, ahead of France's Lou Jeanmonnot
- France's Lou Jeanmonnot triumphed in the women's 10 km pursuit with a time of 29:26.6. Hanna Öberg placed second in pursuit, and fellow Frenchwoman Camille Bened shot clean to finish third, 12.9 seconds back
- Team Norway won a thrilling women's 4x6 km relay in 1:07:06.2. The Norwegians outraced Italy in a photo finish, prevailing by a mere 0.9 seconds. Sweden crossed the line just 3.0 seconds behind for third, with the top three teams essentially neck-and-neck at the finish.
Yellow Bib Holders
- Men's Overall Leader: Tommaso Giacomel (ITA) will carry the men's yellow bib into Nové Město. He retains the World Cup overall lead with 736 points after Ruhpolding, ahead of Eric Perrot and Sebastian Samuelsson.
- Women's Overall Leader: Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) continues to wear the women's yellow bib, reinforcing her lead by winning in Ruhpolding. She tops the overall standings with 718 points, with Suvi Minkkinen and Maren Kirkeeide giving chase.
Where to Watch Biathlon on Eurovision Sport
Fans can watch every race from IBU World Cup Nove Mesto 2026 live and free on Eurovision Sport, as well as more biathlon action including:
- IBU World Cups
- Sweden Premiere Biathlon 2025
- 2025 Loop One Biathlon Festival
- 2024/2025 Biathlon World Cup
Follow the world's best biathletes all season long, anytime and anywhere, on Eurovision Sport.