The mountains, home to major sporting events!

Cups and championships: the spirit of competition in the mountains!

There are many mountain-related disciplines, and every winter French resorts host a host of national and international events in which famous athletes battle it out for victory. To support them this winter, follow the guide:

Val Thorens :

Ice Cross World Cup, 5/6 December 2025:Val Thorens hosts a leg of the Ice Cross World Cup, a spectacular discipline in which athletes skate down an icy track through tight turns, bumps and technical curves. For the occasion, an impressive ice track is set up right in the heart of the resort.

Méribel :

Para Alpine Skiing World Cup: from 26 to 30 January 2026: 2 slaloms and 2 giants, men and women.

French Mogul Ski Championships: 27-29 March 2026.

Le Grand Bornand:

BMW IBU WORLD CUP, 15 to 21 December 2025: France’s home of choice for the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup, where it has already organised six rounds of the event, all of which were a huge success with the media and the public, with up to 62,000 spectators (and record audience figures for the L’Equipe channel), Le Grand Bornand will once again be hosting the world’s leading biathlon event from 15 to 21 December 2025 …

A chance to see the talents of the French team shine on home soil, in the Sylvie Becaert international stadium.

Val d’Isère :

Critérium de la Première Neige, 13-14 December and 20-21 December 2025: 70th edition of the Critérium de la Première Neige, which marks the opening of the Alpine Skiing World Cup in France. Every year, the world’s best skiers gather in Val d’Isère for top-level competitions. In 2025, look out for the men’s races on 13-14 December and the women’s races on 20-21 December, for a weekend of sport, excellence and sharing.

Orcières :

European Alpine Skiing Cups, speed events, from 28 January to 30 January 2026: The speed events of the Women’s European Alpine Skiing Cup will be held in Orcières Merlette 1850. They will take place on the famous FIS-approved “Camile Ricou” downhill run. Holidaymakers will be cheering on the skiers during the two downhill runs and a super G.

Serre Chevalier :

French Elite Figure Skating and Ice Dance Championships, 19 and 20 December 2025 : final qualifying championships for the Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, broadcast on France Télévisions.

Vars :

Speed Ski World Cup in January : the best skiers in the world, in their quest for the Crystal Globe, meet in Vars on the fastest piste in the world for the only French World Cup stage, two months before the World Championships.

World Championship and world speed skiing record attempt in March: the Speed Masters event, which in 2023 saw Varsinc Simon Billy become the fastest skier in the world, is back for another crazy edition! The handful of KLists taking part are hoping for just one thing: to be able to set off from the top of the slope and attempt to beat the new world record of 255.50km/h.

French Freestyle Ski Championships in March : the best freestylers in the world will be competing in the Varspark, the Vars snowpark, in Slopestyle and Big Air events. It’s sure to be a great show.

French Freestyle Snowboard Championships in March: The cream of French snowboarding will be in Vars to compete in Slopestyle and Big Air events. It’s going to be a great show at the Varspark, where freestylers of all ages will be showing off their best tricks in a bid to win.

Les Contamines:

International Open-Air Curling Tournament : the Open Air tournaments revive the ancestral tradition of the discipline, which was practised on frozen ponds and lakes. The only one of its kind in France, the Contamines tournament is one of the few open-air tournaments to be held in front of the magnificent Dômes de Miage. Around twenty teams from the 4 corners of the globe will gather at the Jean-Christophe Simond ice rink in January to compete in this tournament.

European Ski Cross Cup: With a course specially dedicated to the event, skiers can battle it out over 800 metres of banked turns, whoops and breathtaking jumps. The European Cup circuit is a real springboard for the future stars of this Olympic discipline, which requires commitment, determination and impeccable technique. An impressive spectacle for the public and a high-level challenge for the competitors.

Tignes :

French Alpine Ski Championships, from March 30 to April 5, 2026: Tignes hosts the French Elite Alpine Ski Championships, bringing together 250 athletes in 5 disciplines (Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom and Combined). This event will crown the best skiers in France and honour the medals won at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Mountain Shaker 5th edition, from 14 to 21 March 2026: Tignes, home of freestyle skiing and major international events, is definitely the “resort most involved in freestyle” according to Greg Guenet, coach of Tess Ledeux. One month after the Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, the best riders in the world will be competing in Tignes for the final jump of the season.

All-terrain racing!

After admiring all these snow sports professionals, would you like to take part too? In the resort, anything is possible! And, of course, you can also discover some emblematic races contested by professionals. Adrenalin and a great atmosphere guaranteed!

Les Arcs :

Arc 1950 Freeride Week – January 2026: as part of the French Freeride Series competition organised by Evolution2, Arc 1950 Le Village will be welcoming freeriders from all over the world to compete on the best spots in the Les Arcs area. 80 to 90 riders from all over the world are expected per race!

Valmeinier:

FIS International races, in December: the best international skiers compete on the slalom stadium in Valmeinier 1800.

“La Montée de la Mine”, 1 February 2026: ski mountaineering race on the official FFME calendar. Participants will have the opportunity to compete on two courses of dry climbs in the forest, timed only on the ascent with laser rifle shooting at the finish.

Val d’Allos :

“Obs by night”, 7 February 2026: this event is a ski mountaineering race, of the “Vertical Race” type, run on alpine ski slopes, at night and against the clock; timed only on the ascent. This 9th edition of the race will bring together sports enthusiasts and amateurs of all ages for a great time. The fireworks will be fired from the summit of the Observatoire, the highest point in the ski area at 2600 metres.

Val d’Allos MTB Winter, March 2026: Val d’Allos MTB Winter is set to become a major outdoor event in 2025. For the 2nd winter edition of this event, the Seignus resort will exceptionally be swapping skis for mountain bikes.

Available in two versions, summer and winter, this event allows mountain bikers to ride in all seasons.

Gérardmer :

La Trace Vosgienne, 1st weekend in February: this is a mass cross-country skiing event under the aegis of the French Ski Federation and organised by the Comité Départemental du Ski Vosgien. It is open to children aged 2 and over. Several distances are available.

Les 2 Alpes :

Les Lumières de la Muzelle (white trail), 17 January 2026: the event is an adventure: a race on the snow and in the night! When the ski slopes close, participants start from the top of the Vallée Blanche sector at 2100 m. And it’s on well-marked and highly-prepared trails that the runners can choose between a 10km, a 21km and a 42km (maratrail on snow). A number of experts will be on hand, including Mathieu Blanchard and Yannick Noël, the 2 Alpes trail ambassadors. Between 1000 and 1600 participants depending on the event!

Orcières :

Trail Étoilé d’Orcières, 10 January 2026 : running in the snow under the stars, by headlamp light alone, is the crazy challenge proposed by the Trail Etoilé. As an added bonus, the 300 participants will be taking on the magnificent scenery of the Ecrins National Park for this unique sporting experience.

Jura Mountains:

La Transjurassienne, 8-9 February 2026: the Transju’ is back for another thrilling event in the heart of the snow-covered Jura mountains! This legendary cross-country skiing event, open to all levels of skiers, will bring together enthusiasts and champions on routes through emblematic villages and forests. The Transju’ is a winter event not to be missed, with its friendly atmosphere, its ability to surpass your limits and its natural beauty. Get your skis ready: the adventure continues in 2026!

Villard de Lans :

La Grande Odyssée VVF, 22 January 2026: for 3 years now, the final stage of La Grande Odyssée has been held in Villard de Lans, an incredible life-size adventure. For 15 days, it brings together more than 65 international mushers and their 600 dogs, in the superb landscapes of the region. In 2026, come and cheer on the mushers and their dogs as they celebrate the final stage in Villard de Lans on 22 January.