World Cup relocation: Oberhof steps in for Königssee / Premiere for Mixed Event European Championships in Thuringia

Berchtesgaden (FIL/16 July 2025) Following the delay in the reopening of the Königssee ice track announced on Friday, July 11, 2025, Oberhof has taken over the hosting of the 7th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup of the Olympic season at short notice.

The event will now take place from January 22 to 24, 2026, at the LOTTO Thüringen Eisarena Oberhof – including a premiere: for the first time, the Mixed Event European Championships will be held as a race-in-race with the World Cup. The reason for the relocation is unexpected damage to the cooling system of the Königssee artificial ice track, which is currently under reconstruction.

The originally planned Olympic dress rehearsal for the 2026 Games in Milano Cortina will now take place in Thuringia.

FIL President Einars Fogelis expressly thanked those responsible in Thuringia: “We would like to thank the organizers in Oberhof for their flexibility and quick action. This means that the sporting schedule remains intact and the 2026 Olympic dress rehearsal will now take place at a proven World Cup location. Oberhof has once again proven its importance for our sport.”

At the request of the FIL, the Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Association (TSBV) has agreed to host the World Cup races in Oberhof from January 22, 2026, to January 24, 2026. This means that world-class sport will be on display in the LOTTO Thüringen EISARENA in the Thuringian Forest on two consecutive weekends. The weekend before, from January 16 to 18, 2026, the 6th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup of the 2025/2026 season and the FIL European Championships will take place in Oberhof.

TSBV President Andreas Minschke commented: “We deeply regret the delay in restoring the track in Königssee, especially for the athletes and above all for the young athletes. The TSBV will continue to show its solidarity with its neighbors.”

Program for the 7th EBERSPÄCHER World Cup and Mixed European Championships presented by SKECHERS in Oberhof:

Thursday, January 22, 2026: Nations Cup (World Cup qualification)

Friday, January 23, 2026: World Cup singles (women & men)

Saturday, January 24, 2026: Doubles competitions and Mixed Event European Championship premiere

The updated World Cup schedule for the 2025/2026 Olympic season:

1st EBERSPAECHER World Cup Innsbruck (AUT) – December 5 to 7, 2025

2nd EBERSPAECHER World Cup Park City (USA) – December 11 to 13, 2025

3rd EBERSPAECHER World Cup Lake Placid (USA) – December 18 to 20, 2025

4th EBERSPAECHER World Cup Sigulda (LAT) – January 2 to 4, 2026

5th EBERSPAECHER World Cup Winterberg (GER) – January 9 to 11, 2026

6th EBERSPAECHER World Cup Oberhof (GER) – January 16 to 18, 2026 – incl. FIL European Championships in the Olympic disciplines

7 th EBERSPAECHER World Cup Oberhof (GER) – January 22 to 24, 2026 – incl. Mixed Event European Championships presented by SKECHERS

Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina (ITA) – February 7 to 12, 2026

8th. EBERSPAECHER World Cup St. Moritz (SUI) – February 27 to March 1, 2026

9 th EBERSPAECHER World Cup Altenberg (GER) – March 6 to 8, 2026

Background to the construction of the Königssee ice track:

Since the devastating storm in July 2021, intensive work has been underway to renovate the traditional artificial ice rink at Königssee in Bavaria. The first construction phase should allow training to begin in November 2025, with full commissioning taking place gradually until the end of 2026. In 2028, Berchtesgaden-Königssee will host the FIL Luge World Championships for the eighth time in the history of international luge.