World Luge Day 2026 on January 18
Global celebration of the sport of luge
Berchtesgaden (FIL/06 Jan 2026) On January 18, 2026, the International Luge Family will once again celebrate World Luge Day. Events, taster sessions, and local celebrations will take place in numerous countries around this weekend. The aim is to get people of all ages excited about luge – from leisurely family sledding to a first taste of competitive luge.
From sledding in your own backyard to Olympic ice tracks: getting involved is easy
Participation is simple and open to everyone. From January 12 to 20, 2026, the FIL is calling on the global luge community to share photos, videos, and stories related to the sport of luge – using the official hashtags #WorldLugeDay and #SlidingIntoTheWeekend.
Participants are invited to tag @fil_luge on Instagram and @FILuge on Facebook to make a shared, worldwide celebration visible across all platforms.
Celebrating creativity
The campaign encourages everyone to show their love for luge in their own personal way – whether with impressions of the track, team photos, or creative videos. From athletes starting their training to fans sliding into the weekend, World Luge Day is about connecting through shared joy, exercise, and winter fun.
“World Luge Day is about more than just the sport—it's about celebrating our community,” said FIL President Einars Fogelis. “It offers everyone, from Olympians to families, the opportunity to share the same enthusiasm and love for the sport of luge.”
Weekend events around the globe
On the weekend of January 17 and 18, a variety of activities and local events will take place in numerous countries to mark World Luge Day. They bring fans and associations together in the spirit of luge and bring the global community to life.
World Luge Day in Berchtesgaden (Germany)
Try out the “Jennerhex” luge track on the Jenner near Berchtesgaden and the luge track at the “Hirscheck-Blitz” on the Hochschwarzeck in Ramsau near Berchtesgaden.
On World Luge Day, January 18, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Try out our toboggan runs in Berchtesgaden and discover the best side of luge. Experienced luge coaches will give you an introduction to proper cornering and braking. The focus is on having fun sledding on a track for all recreational athletes.
Don't have a sled yet?
Tip: Bobs and sleds can be rented directly at the valley station from Sport Renoth.
The Jennerbahn will run regularly from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on this day.
We look forward to seeing you at Jenner!
Information: https://www.jennerbahn.de
Rental equipment: https://www.sport-renoth.de
Hirscheckblitz natural sledding track https://www.hochschwarzeck.info/de/hirscheckblitz/hirscheckblitz-landingpage
Sweden sends a strong message
Sweden is sending a strong message on World Luge Day 2026: “Skellefteå rodelsällskap”, the country's largest Alpine Luge Club and one of the largest in the world, is celebrating World Luge Day with an open event for young people and beginners. Around 30 active lugers train there regularly twice a week on snow-covered ski slopes. On Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. (Swedish time), the club invites everyone of all ages to a rookie practice session on the Vitberget slope in Skellefteå. The aim is to make luge accessible to everyone, to spark new enthusiasm, and to embody the community spirit of World Luge Day.
Austria:
World Luge Day Weekend in Mallnitz (Carinthia / Salzburg region), Austria
Awarding of the Natural Luge Track Quality Seal
Mallnitz celebrates World Luge Day with a special highlight: the award of the Natural Luge Track Quality Seal, recognizing quality and safety in the sport of luge.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Location: Stockerhütte, Mallnitz
Program:
- 10:00 – 13:00: Luge fun for young and old with racing luge rentals and experts from the Regional Luge Association
- 11:30: Official presentation of the Luge Quality Seal
- 11:30 – 14:00: Live music with Mölltal Power
- 14:00 – 16:00: Free luge taxi and sled rental – put what you’ve learned into practice from the Jamnigalm down to the valley
Important notes:
- Meeting point: 10:15 at the Stockerhütte
- No luge taxi service from 10:00 to 14:00
- Food and drinks will be available
Celebrate this special award with us and experience proper luge racing – from valuable tips for families to trying out racing sleds.
Information: https://www.mallnitz.at
Rodel-Fuchs Tyrol for World Luge Day
With the “Rodel-Fuchs Tyrol” project, the Tyrolean Luge Association is actively participating in World Luge Day and setting a sustainable example for safety, exercise, and promoting young talent. In the 2025/26 winter season, a total of 15 third-grade classes throughout Tyrol will be trained in safe luge riding. The practical sledding courses will take place from January 19 to 23, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day, at locations in Trins, Umhausen, and Oberperfuß. One school class will be supervised per day and location. State-certified trainers, instructors, certified sledding guides, and former world-class sledders will teach important topics such as sledding rules, equipment, proper braking and steering, and how to safely navigate a sledding track. At the end of the course, all participating children will receive the Rodel-Fuchs badge as a visible sign of the safety and basic skills they have learned.
Registration is available online at www.tiroler-rodelverband.at.
World Luge Day in Japan
The Japan Wooden Sled Association is once again participating in World Luge Day in 2026 with great enthusiasm, sending a strong signal for the development of sledding in Japan. On January 17 and 18, the association is organizing nationwide luge events with traditional wooden sleds, using specially reserved ski slopes for a safe and open participatory experience. The events will be supported by former Japanese luge athletes and volunteers who want to share their enthusiasm for the sport with people of all ages.
Luge is still a very grassroots sport in Japan, which makes the Japan Wooden Sled Association's goal of bringing the fascination, joy, and community of sledding to life all the more important. Following World Luge Day, an expanded development program will start in February with children's workshops, Alpine luge parallel training, parallel races, and the founding of Japan's first Alpine luge club team, which will be affiliated with a ski resort.
After being the only organization in Japan to actively celebrate World Luge Day last year, the association now sees itself as part of the global World Luge Day movement – connected to the international luge community and sharing the common goal of promoting sledding worldwide in a sustainable manner. For further information, images, and video material, please contact the Japan Wooden Sled Association.
Family & Kids Events in the USA
In the United States, World Luge Day also focuses on families, children, and youth development:
Lake Placid (USA) – Mount Van Hoevenberg
Hands-on activities, children’s programs, and insights into Olympic luge at one of the world’s most historic sliding sport venues.
https://mtvanhoevenberg.com
Park City (USA) – Utah Olympic Park
Try-out opportunities, interactive programs, and winter family fun in an Olympic setting.
https://utaholympiclegacy.org
World Luge Day in Poland
World Luge Day & 1st Polish Open Alpine Luge Championships in Poland
Poland will celebrate FIL World Luge Day with a strong focus on tradition, innovation, and grassroots sport. The main national celebrations will take place on the unique Sankolandia FAKRO natural track in Muszyna Złockie – currently the best naturally frozen luge track in the country and one of the most distinctive facilities of its kind in Europe.
The event underlines Poland’s growing commitment to the development of luge. Alongside Sankolandia, work is already well advanced on the construction of two new composite tracks in Karpacz and Piwniczna-Zdrój, as well as an artificially frozen start path in Krynica-Zdrój. Together, these projects mark an important step toward expanding access to luge and alpine luge across the country.
1st Polish Open Alpine (Freestyle) Luge Championships
As the sporting highlight of World Luge Day in Poland, the 1st Polish Open Alpine (Freestyle) Luge Championships will be staged on January 24, 2026, at Sankolandia in Muszyna Złockie. The competition has been officially approved by the Polish Luge Federation and added to the calendar of the PZSSan, making it a landmark moment for the sport in the country.
The championships are designed as an open and amateur event, welcoming both experienced athletes and recreational sliders, provided they comply with the competition regulations. Racing will take place on the red Sankolandia track – a natural luge track that uniquely combines a long mountain descent with modern recreational and sports infrastructure.
Competition Categories
The championships will be contested in the following age groups:
Women
- K1: 13–17 years
- K2: 18+
- K3: Senior 60+
Men
- M1: 13–17 years
- M2: 18+
- M3: Senior 60+
Luge sledders (children)
- A: 6–12 years – one overall classification, without separation by gender
(held on a separate, shorter, and safer children’s track)
In all categories, the final ranking will be determined by the time of a single run, emphasizing precision, courage, and clean technique on the natural ice.
World Premiere: Parallel Triple Start
Following the main competition, spectators can look forward to a true novelty: the Parallel Triple Start. This world premiere will see three competitors racing simultaneously on a natural luge track for the first time ever. Designed as a spectacular demonstration and entertainment event, the results will not count toward the official championship standings but promise excitement and innovation in the spirit of World Luge Day.
Organization and Support
The event is jointly organized by the Polish Luge Federation and Sankolandia, with the support of the Małopolska Regional Luge Sports Association. Title sponsorship is provided by FAKRO Sp. z o.o..
Detailed competition regulations, schedules, and entry forms are available via the official federation and venue websites. With its blend of top-class natural track racing, inclusivity, and innovation, Poland’s World Luge Day celebration promises to be a standout moment on the international luge calendar.
World Luge Day in Sweden
On World Luge Day, the Hammarstrands Rodel och Kälkklubb invites you to an open weekend of fun at the traditional sledding and luge area in Hammarstrand. On the approximately 1,000-meter-long, snow-covered forest track, young and old alike can enjoy winter with alpine sleds or snow racers—equipment, including helmets, is available for rent on site. The classic clubhouse provides a cozy atmosphere with typical Swedish fika (coffee, cake, and pastries), while a heated minivan comfortably transports all participants to the start.
The track is open on Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – a warm welcome to everyone who wants to actively celebrate World Luge Day.
Slovakia with luge competition on artificial track:
The Slovak Luge Federation is organizing a luge event on ice on World Luge Day, Sunday, January 18, 2026. You can register at the following link: https://form.jotform.com/250432846056355
FIL World Luge Day 2026 once again highlights how diverse, safe, and fascinating the sport of luge is – on natural tracks, recreational runs, and Olympic ice channels around the world.
FIL World Luge Day – World Luge Day 2026
#WorldLugeDay #SlidingIntoTheWeekend #FILuge #LugeLove
