How do you qualify in Luge for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?

Berchtesgaden (FIL/17 Mrz 2025) Luge will be on the Olympic program for the 17th consecutive time at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. As the countdown to the Games continues, the world's best lugers are preparing for the ultimate challenge: securing a place on the Olympic stage.

A total of 106 female and male elite athletes will compete in five exciting disciplines: men's single, women's single, men's doubles, women's doubles and team relay. But before they can race down the new ice track at the Cortina Sliding Centre, they have to pass the demanding qualification process.

Qualification Criteria for the Luge Competition at Milano Cortina 2026

Qualification for the Olympic luge competitions at Milano Cortina 2026 is based on the World Cup ranking list of the Olympic season.

Each NOC is limited to a maximum of three athletes in the two individual events, two pairs in the two doubles events and one team consisting of athletes who have already qualified for the team relay.

NOCs with qualified athletes in the single and double disciplines will receive a priority ranking and will be awarded at least one quota place per discipline. However, this priority status can be withdrawn if an allocated quota place is rejected by the NOC.

Quota places will be allocated according to the above-mentioned World Cup ranking of the Olympic season, with the following quotas per discipline: 25 for men's single, 25 for women's single, 34 (17 for pairs) for men's double and 22 (11 for pairs) for women's double.

Italy, as the host country, can receive one quota place per discipline if it is unable to obtain a starting place through the World Cup ranking list of the Olympic season.

All athletes seeking a quota place for Milano Cortina 2026 must meet the minimum requirements of the FIL Olympic qualifying standard. This includes earning points in a minimum number of competitions in the pre-Olympic season (2024/2025) and in the Olympic season (2025/2026), as further explained in the qualification guidelines.

Further information on quotas and qualification for Milano Cortina 2026 can be found at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/milano-cortina-2026-qualification-system-for-luge-v2.pdf