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The Biathlon World Cup7–13 December 2026
Le compte à rebours est terminé !
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Host of the only French leg of the LaVita IBU Biathlon World Cup, Le Grand-Bornand, building on the success of seven previous editions since 2013, is preparing to host this global event once again from 7 to 13 December 2026, as well as in 2028. These two major international events will take place in Le Grand-Bornand just as the town prepares to host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The decision to make Le Grand-Bornand a key venue for these forthcoming Olympic Games is a major vote of confidence from the International Olympic Committee, demonstrating the Haute-Savoie resort’s ability to organise major events on a national and international scale. With this latest edition, Le Grand-Bornand has established itself as an unmissable fixture on the international circuit. It is an opportunity to see the talents of the French team shine on home soil, within the confines of the Sylvie Becaert International Stadium. 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.
Beyond its technical specifications, the Grand-Bornand biathlon stadium stands out on the world circuit: it is the only World Cup venue to have integrated its facilities into the heart of the village, without the need to build a permanent stadium. This guarantees an atmosphere like no other, with up to 67,000 spectators expected at the Grand-Bornand venue – as was the case in 2024 and 2025 – to ‘cheer, celebrate, cheer on the teams and share” the unique fervour of this French leg, unanimously hailed as the most popular and joyful on the circuit.
The World Cup in figures
8weeks
6 weeks for assembly, 6 weeks for dismantling
4days
6tests
260athletes
31nations
67,000spectators
3,243pupils
who are enrolled (684 primary school pupils, 2,053 lower secondary school pupils, 506 upper secondary school pupils)
300officials and technicians
30podiums
won by the French Biathlon Team in seven editions held at Le Grand-Bornand
980volunteers
essential to the success of the event
125 million
viewers across the whole of the 2025 season in 45 countries
63,000 passengers carried
by shuttle buses from the bottom of the valley and by ski bus within the resort to limit traffic and reduce the environmental footprint
A new, strengthened governance structure with strong local roots for the only French leg of the Biathlon World CupThe Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Haute-Savoie Department are at the forefront…
“This venture would be impossible without the strong commitment of the Haute-Savoie Department and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region,” emphasise the chair and the founding members of the Le Grand-Bornand Biathlon Organising Committee. In addition to the financial support provided by these two major institutional partners of the Le Grand-Bornand Biathlon Organising Committee, more than 500 sixth-formers will be invited by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and 2,000 secondary school pupils by the Department of Haute-Savoie, with the aim of instilling in them the values of sport and encouraging them to take up winter sports.
Through their strengthened and expanded commitment, the Department of Haute-Savoie and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region are stepping up their involvement and becoming full members of the Le Grand-Bornand Biathlon Organising Committee and its executive committee, marking a major development in governance.
Alongside them, the City of Annecy is continuing its commitment and retaining its seat on the executive committee, thereby maintaining this regional anchorage and the unwavering geographical and cultural link between Annecy and the Aravis.
The Communauté de Communes des Vallées de Thônes (CCVT) is also stepping up its contribution as an institutional partner, as well as providing funding and supporting public transport for spectators via the Ski-Bus routes.
Building on this new governance framework,a new brand platform rolled out
The involvement of the Haute-Savoie Department and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in the event’s governance has encouraged the Le Grand-Bornand Biathlon Organising Committee to undertake a rebranding of the event, highlighting what sets it apart and makes it a force to be reckoned with on the world circuit: a collective and popular enthusiasm unlike any other, coupled with a level of organisation that is consistently held up as a model for this great French celebration of world biathlon.
To establish the Grand-Bornand leg as the undisputed French highlight of the world biathlon calendar and to bring biathlon to life at the heart of a vibrant and sustainable alpine village, a new slogan has been unveiled, reflecting the event’s unique character – vibrant, warm, demanding and committed: “This is where the heart of biathlon beats!”
This identity is accompanied by a new visual identity, with the poster for the 2026 edition – unveiled yesterday by the event’s organisers – serving as a striking first illustration. It features, rendered in a cinematic style, the French leaders in the sport, Lou Jeanmonnot and Eric Perrot, who are joined, as a source of local pride, by Sophie Chauveau from La Bornandine.
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.
Sylvie Becaert
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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 LaVita IBU Biathlon World Cup in 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.
