AXA Winter Weeks – Thuringia 2026: What fans need to know about the World Cups in Oberhof
Following the Biathlon World Cup, the AXA Winter Weeks – Thuringia 2026 will reach their climax this coming weekend with three World Cups. Fans can cheer on the competitors in cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and luge, and enjoy top-class sport.
Here is the most important information for visiting the event.
Here is an overview of the entire competition program.
Arrival and parking:
From January 16 to 18, 2026, Tambacher Straße will be closed in both directions from the Oberhof town limits towards Steinbach-Hallenberg up to Café Kanzlersgrund, or will only be accessible with a pass. Fans coming from Steinbach-Hallenberg are asked to use the designated P+R parking lots in Steinbach-Hallenberg.
For those arriving from the north, east, and south, parking spaces are available in the Oberhof area as indicated by signs. Please follow these signs at all times. If the parking spaces in the Oberhof area are full, the RABA P+R car park in Zella-Mehlis has sufficient capacity.
Shuttle service:
A shuttle service will be provided on the three routes listed below. The buses will stop at all listed stops on the outward and return journeys.
Everything you need to know about getting there can be found here.
AXA Winter World:
If you want to follow in the footsteps of the great winter sports stars, AXA Winter World is the place for you. Children and young people can try their hand at biathlon, cross-country skiing, and sledding and compete in a participatory course—perhaps the first step toward their Olympic dream. The Winter World between the LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-HALLE and the LOTTO Thüringen SNOWPARK is open on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by shuttle bus from the Oberhof area (stop: Eisarena oben). Spectators can obtain further information at the information stand in the LOTTO Thüringen ARENA on the Rennsteig.
Opening ceremony:
The opening ceremony of the AXA Winter Weeks – Thuringia 2026 in Oberhof will take place on Friday, January 16, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. (warm-up from 6 p.m. with RedBull Event Car and DJ) on the town square in Oberhof. After the official welcome, the athletes from all three sports are expected on stage. Afterwards, fans can look forward to an impressive fire show.
Attendance at the opening ceremony is free of charge. Parking spaces are available at Gründle 1, Gründle 2, and Gründle 3, among other locations.
Supporting program:
A spectacular highlight awaits World Cup visitors on January 17, 2026: The Red Bull Skydive Team will put on an impressive flight and jump show at around 3:50 p.m. Two skydivers will jump from an altitude of approximately 1,200 to 1,500 meters above the Thuringian Forest and land in the LOTTO Thüringen ARENA am Rennsteig – an adrenaline rush in a class of its own.
In Oberhof, fans can look forward to the Thuringian Forest Winter Market: From mulled wine and other hot drinks to classic Thuringian bratwurst, steak, fries, and crêpes to cinnamon rolls, wooden jewelry, fan merchandise, and winter accessories, there is something for every taste. The offer is complemented by the Regionalverbund Thüringer Wald e.V., which presents the Thuringian Forest as an attractive vacation destination. The winter market is open on Friday (January 16, 2026) and Saturday (January 17, 2026) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday (January 18, 2026) from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Those who want to party into the night will find what they are looking for at the Oberhofer Kur-Stadl on the town square in Oberhof. On Friday (January 16, 2026) and Saturday (January 17, 2026), starting at 3 p.m. each day, live music and a DJ will ensure a great atmosphere.
Sports facility regulations:
Thermos flasks with a maximum capacity of 1 liter may be brought onto the premises. Backpacks may be brought along, but security staff are required to check bags. Dangerous sharp objects, knives, glass bottles, etc. are expressly prohibited. Please refer to the house rules of the respective sports facility.
Tickets:
There is a combined ticket for all competitions at the three sports venues – for €27 (adults) or €10 (children between 10 and 16 years) per competition day. For families with two adults and at least two children, we recommend the AXA family ticket for €65 per competition day.
Single tickets are also available. Admission to the COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup and the Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup costs 20 euros per competition day for adults aged 16 and over. Children between the ages of 10 and 16 pay 10 euros, and children under the age of 10 are admitted free of charge. VIP tickets are available for 150 euros (adults aged 16 and over) and 90 euros for children between the ages of 4 and 16.
Admission to the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cups on January 17/18 and January 23/24, 2026, is €15 for adults, with free admission for children under 10. Further information on VIP tickets and discounts for schoolchildren, students, and people with disabilities is available on the website of the Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Association (TSBV).
Fans can purchase their tickets online at www.axa-winterwochen.de or at the box offices at the sports venues (card payment only).
Catering:
There are plenty of food stands offering a wide range of food and drink in the hut village at the LOTTO Thüringen Arena am Rennsteig, at the LOTTO Thüringen ski jump facility in Kanzlersgrund, and also at the LOTTO Thüringen Ice Arena (toboggan run), which are run by regional clubs.
Ceremonies:
The flower ceremonies will take place immediately after each race in the finish area of the sports venue. The official award ceremony with medal presentation will take place on Saturday evening from 7 p.m. (warm-up from 6 p.m.) on the town square in Oberhof, and on Sunday directly at the sports venues. Admission to the award ceremony on the town square is free.