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The Biathlon World Cup7–13 December 2026
Le compte à rebours est terminé !
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ANNECY-LE GRAND-BORNAND: biathlon has found its home in France…
In the early 2000s, French biathlon gained international recognition, though it still lacked a major event. Since the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, no major world-class competition had been held on French soil, with the exception of the 2004 Junior World Championships in Haute-Maurienne and the 1995 European Championships in Le Grand-Bornand.
Métabief, Bessans, Autrans, Chamonix and Le Grand-Bornand put themselves forward as candidates to host a World Cup event. Following a thorough review, the French Ski Federation selected Le Grand-Bornand on 24 November 2007, thereby confirming the strengths of a venue that was also featured in Annecy’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The IBU approved the French bid and the French Ski Federation awarded Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand the organisation of six World Cup rounds in December 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024. The success story continues this year, in 2025… with 2026 and 2030 on the horizon.
The World Cup in figures
4days
6tests
300athletes
30nations
350technicians
1,000volunteers
67,000spectators
45broadcasting countries
125 millionviewers
60international journalists
80% of the infrastructure was dismantled at the end of the competition (walkways, stands, etc.).
30,000 spectators transported by shuttle buses from the valley floor, representing nearly 50% of spectators.
100% of the energy supply, sourced from hydropower, was certified as renewable.
37% of the waste generated has already been recycled or recovered.
Sylvie Becaert International Stadium: Inside the home of the ‘Monaco of Biathlon’!
The Grand-Bornand International Biathlon Stadium is, first and foremost, a name. It is named after Sylvie Becaert, a great champion of the 2000s, a native of Le Grand-Bornand and the resort’s star athlete. It is only fitting that the stadium hosting the World Cup was named after her; it was first put to the test in March 2011 for the IBU Cup finals.
This stadium is the only venue in France to hold an A licence awarded by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and to meet all international standards, featuring a shooting range with thirty targets, a penalty loop, open and compact cross-country ski trails, a start and finish area, and facilities for spectators.
Beyond its technical features, the Sylvie Becaert Stadium is unique on the world circuit due to its temporary design and its proximity to the village, making it a sort of ‘Monaco circuit’ of biathlon.
Fully integrated into the majestic landscape of the Aravis and close to the public, it has been designed with respect for the environment.
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Biathlon: a brief history...
Long before it became an Olympic sport that thrills the crowds, biathlon was undoubtedly one of the oldest activities practised by the people of the Far North… who would travel on skis, with a bow on their backs, to go hunting. There are even traces of these skier-archers in Scandinavian mythology. Over the centuries, the practice developed, both for military purposes and for hunting. In 1924 in Chamonix, during the first Winter Olympics, a Nordic patrol demonstration was organised, but until the end of the Second World War, biathlon remained an exclusively military sport…
Did you know?
UBI is the official mascot of the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand!
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Fancy experiencing what it’s like to be a champion?
Discover biathlon, which involves target shooting at 10 or 50 metres with an air rifle – a fun activity to enjoy as a family that also helps improve concentration and stress management.
And for younger children, the introduction takes place during laser shooting sessions.
