Ski World Cup Sölden 2026: TV Schedule, Start Times & Favorites for the Season Opener

Athletes start the opening weekend at an elevation of 3,040 meters on the Rettenbach glacier, racing down to a finish line located at 2,670 meters. The course spans a total length of 1,198 meters with a vertical drop of 370 meters.

Following a relatively flat beginning from the Rettenbachjoch toward the glacier table, the course narrows sharply at the edge of the steep slope known as the Eisfall. Here, the track reaches a maximum gradient of 68 percent, sending racers reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h before they hit the rolling terrain of the final section toward the finish.

Organizers utilized snow reserves harvested from five depots established last spring and protected over the summer to prepare the venue after early-season dry conditions.

Television coverage across German-speaking territories is shared between public broadcasters and commercial networks. ARD carries the live broadcast in Germany, with Das Erste on air starting at 9:55 local time for the women’s first run and returning at 12:45 for the afternoon session. Tobias Barnerssoi handles commentary for the women’s race, while Bernd Schmelzer covers the men’s event on Sunday.

Overnight snow required track maintenance crews to clear the course, delaying the opening women’s run by 30 minutes. The updated schedule for the weekend stands as follows:

• October 24, 2026 (Women): First run at 10:30 local time (ARD, Eurosport, ORF 1, SRF 2); Second run at 13:30 local time (ARD, Eurosport, ORF 1, SRF 2).
• October 25, 2026 (Men): First run at 10:00 local time (ARD, Eurosport); Second run at 13:00 local time (ARD, Eurosport).

Total prize money for the Sölden weekend amounts to 168,000 euros, distributed across the top 30 finishers in each race. The winner collects 55,000 euros, the runner-up takes 25,000 euros, and third place earns 15,000 euros.

Austrian racer Julia Scheib enters the women’s giant slalom as the defending champion and primary favorite. Scheib claimed her maiden World Cup victory in Sölden in 2025 before securing the small crystal globe in the discipline at the end of the season.

The women’s field also features Mikaela Shiffrin, Emma Aicher, Paula Moltzan, Camille Rast, Alice Robinson, and Lena Dürr. Petra Vlhova returns to competition in Sölden following a recovery period.

Several top contenders miss the opening weekend due to injury. Italian veteran Federica Brignone sits out after undergoing knee surgery in August to remove plates and screws following a severe crash last season. Canadian racer Valerie Grenier is likewise sidelined after a heavy fall during training on the Sölden course.

On the men’s side, Marco Odermatt of Switzerland leads the giant slalom field, having secured 29 of his 54 career World Cup victories in the discipline. Odermatt won last year’s Sölden opener but ceded overall giant slalom dominance last season to Olympic champion Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil. Loïc Meillard and Stefan Brennsteiner complete the core group of favorites for Sunday’s race.

The German ski federation enters four women and six men into the Sölden entry lists. Emma Aicher and slalom specialist Lena Dürr spearhead the women’s team, though giant slalom remains outside their primary focus areas. Fabiana Dorigo and Jessica Hilzinger round out the women’s selection, targeting a qualification spot for the second run.

Anton Grammel and Fabian Gratz lead the men’s entries after posting strong results during the previous campaign. Grammel recorded three consecutive top-ten finishes in giant slalom, while Gratz placed fifth in Alta Badia. Slalom specialist Linus Straßer and Alexander Schmid complete the German men’s roster for Sunday.

Following the conclusion of the giant slalom events on the Rettenbach glacier, the alpine skiing circuit enters a scheduled break. The World Cup tour resumes in mid-November with slalom races hosted in Levi, Finland.

More on this story: Sölden Alpine Ski World Cup 2026 schedule and races