World Cup fever is back: On 24 and 25 October 2026, the international skiing elite will open the 2026/2027 season on the Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden. As usual, the women will contest the first giant slalom of the winter on Saturday, while the men will compete for their first World Cup points on Sunday.
In addition to the two races, fans can look forward to an extensive supporting programme in Sölden. The organisers are once again expecting more than 30,000 spectators and over 140 athletes.
Starting Gate at Over 3,000 Metres
The World Cup course on the Rettenbach Glacier is one of the most demanding giant slalom courses of the season. The starting gate is located at an altitude of 3,040 metres, while the finish lies at approximately 2,670 metres. In between, the athletes face the notorious steep section with a gradient of up to 68 percent.
>> Webcam overlooking the course
Depending on the course setting, the racers have to negotiate between 41 and 56 gates. They can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. Spectators in the finish arena can see almost the entire race course from the grandstand.
The organisational effort involved is equally impressive: Around 5,000 metres of crowd-control fencing and 4,000 metres of safety netting are installed along the course. Approximately 11,500 metres of cable are required for timing, television production and other technical equipment.
The Defending Champions
Julia Scheib and Marco Odermatt will arrive at the 2026 World Cup opener as the defending champions. In October 2025, Scheib celebrated her first World Cup victory in front of her home crowd. The Austrian finished 0.58 seconds ahead of Paula Moltzan of the United States, with Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami taking third place.
For Scheib, the victory marked the beginning of an outstanding season: In March 2026, she secured the Giant Slalom Crystal Globe for the first time in her career. She became the first Austrian woman since 2016 to win the discipline standings.
Marco Odermatt triumphed in the men’s race last year. The Swiss racer won the competition, which was affected by snowfall, wind and poor visibility, finishing 0.24 seconds ahead of Austria’s Marco Schwarz. Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath came third. It was Odermatt’s third victory on the Rettenbach Glacier, following his wins in 2021 and 2022.
Wettervorhersage
World Cup Programme in Sölden
Friday, 23 October 2026
| 17:30 | Start of the World Cup Party | Giggijoch Base Station |
|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Women’s Bib Draw | Giggijoch Base Station |
Saturday, 24 October 2026
| 10:00 | Women’s giant slalom – first run | Rettenbach Glacier |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Women’s giant slalom – second run | Rettenbach Glacier |
| 17:30 | Start of the World Cup Party | Village Center |
| 17:30 | Fan Club Parade | Village Center |
| 18:30 | Women's Award Cerenomy | Giggijoch Base Station |
| 19:00 | Men's Bib Draw | Giggijoch Base Station |
Sunday, 25 October 2026
| 10:00 | Men’s giant slalom – first run | Rettenbach Glacier |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Men’s giant slalom – second run | Rettenbach Glacier |
| Aftw. | Men's Award Ceremony | Rettenbach Glacier |
More Than 30,000 Spectators Expected
Around 30,000 fans are expected in Sölden for the World Cup weekend. The traditional three-day supporting programme includes the World Cup parties, the fan club parade, public bib draws and the women’s awards ceremony at the Giggijochbahn base station.
Ticket sales are already in full swing. An online day ticket for the standing area costs €30 for adults and €15 for children and teenagers. Tickets purchased at the gate cost €35 and €20 respectively. Admission is free for children born in 2021 or later.
An online weekend ticket for the standing area costs €51 for adults and €26 for teenagers. The ticket price includes the shuttle bus between Sölden and the Rettenbach Glacier. Grandstand seats and a range of VIP and special guest packages are also available.
Holders of a valid ski pass, including the Tirol Regio Card and Tirol Snow Card, do not require an additional ticket for the standing areas at the World Cup races.
Sölden’s World Cup Debut in 1993
Sölden’s World Cup history began in 1993. At the inaugural event, Anita Wachter delighted the home crowd with an Austrian victory, finishing an impressive 2.63 seconds ahead of the runner-up. France’s Franck Piccard won the men’s race.
Sölden has opened the Alpine Ski World Cup season every year since the 2000/2001 winter. A remarkable result made history in 2002, when Andrine Flemmen, Nicole Hosp and Tina Maze recorded exactly the same time after two runs and were all declared joint winners.
Ted Ligety holds the record for the most victories in the men’s race. The American won four times on the Rettenbach Glacier. Hermann Maier is the most successful Austrian at the venue, with three victories.
