Overview
- The IBU and Oberhof organisers will shift the stop from early January to late February or early March starting in the 2026/27 season, with reports indicating the arrangement is planned through 2030.
- The 8–11 January Oberhof round was reshuffled by turbulent weather, bringing the women’s sprint forward to Thursday and leaving Friday without races.
- An IBU–University of Innsbruck study on venue climate resilience informed the calendar change as Central Europe faces more thaw, storms and fog.
- Officials cite operational benefits such as avoiding holiday-period buildouts and reducing costly snowmaking, while IBU sport director Daniel Böhm flagged rising early-January risks.
- Despite disruptions, about 49,700 spectators attended six races, and the tour now moves to Ruhpolding with Germany calling up Sophia Schneider and Danilo Riethmüller as Philipp Horn recuperates.