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All Worldloppet member nations are represented in Szklarska Poręba, Poland, as the federation looks back on a successful winter and prepares for the future of international cross-country skiing.

The Worldloppet family has come together in Szklarska Poręba, Poland, for the Annual General Meeting 2026. The meeting is hosted in the home region of Bieg Piastów, the Polish Worldloppet member race, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Representatives from all Worldloppet member nations are taking part in the meeting, together with Worldloppet President Ben Popp and the full Worldloppet office. The atmosphere is positive and energetic after a strong winter season for the global ski marathon community.

A Successful Winter for Worldloppet

One of the most important messages from the meeting: the past season was a great one for Worldloppet.

All Worldloppet races took place, and member events reported positive participation numbers. After years in which race organizers around the world had to face many challenges, this successful winter was an important sign for the strength of long-distance cross-country skiing.

The Worldloppet Master program also continues to grow. Over the past year, more skiers were awarded the prestigious Worldloppet Master title. This shows once again how strongly skiers around the world are motivated by the idea of traveling, discovering new races, collecting stamps and becoming part of the international Worldloppet community.

“After a winter in which every Worldloppet race was held successfully, we meet here in Poland with great confidence and energy,” says Worldloppet President Ben Popp. “The positive reports from our member races, the growing number of Worldloppet Masters and the strong commitment from all nations show that our sport is alive, international and full of opportunity. Together, we are making important decisions to strengthen the future of cross-country skiing worldwide.”

Calendar for the Upcoming Season

A central topic of the Annual General Meeting is the confirmation of the Worldloppet calendar for the upcoming season.

Due to climate change, this topic arises issues. More and more race organizers have to shift their race dates towards snow-reliable weekends. In concrete terms, the Polish Bieg Piastow has been shifted to the weekend of 20th and 21st February 2027.

Some member nations also presented ideas for further developing their race programs, including additional and new race formats. For example, the Italian Marcialonga is coming up with a new 30-km challenge as a Silver race and the 45-km race has become a Gold Race. These initiatives show that Worldloppet race organizers are not only preserving long traditions, but also actively working on new ways to welcome skiers and grow the sport.

The Worldloppet calendar is available here:

Looking Ahead to Worldloppet’s 50th Anniversary

The meeting in Poland also looked further into the future. One important topic was the Worldloppet 50th anniversary year in 2028.

This milestone will be a special moment for the entire Worldloppet family: for race organizers, volunteers, elite athletes, recreational skiers, Masters and Passport holders all over the world. The anniversary will offer a chance to celebrate the history of the federation, but also to show where international ski marathon racing is heading next.

Haglöfs and the Values of Outdoor Sport

Another major topic was the new presenting partner Haglöfs and how the partnership can be included in Worldloppet communication and events.

Worldloppet and Haglöfs share many values: a love for the outdoors, endurance, durability, performance and the spirit of adventure. These values are also at the center of long-distance cross-country skiing. Whether it is a skier chasing a personal goal, a Master collecting another stamp, or a race organizer preparing tracks for thousands of participants, the Worldloppet spirit is built on passion, persistence and respect for nature.

More Than Winter: Summer Events in the Worldloppet Family

The Annual General Meeting also discussed how to better include and promote the summer events organized by Worldloppet race organizers.

Many Worldloppet members are active far beyond the winter season. Their event programs often include running, cycling, roller skiing and other outdoor sports. These events are an important part of the communities behind the ski marathons and offer skiers and outdoor enthusiasts new ways to stay connected with Worldloppet destinations throughout the year.

Decisions for the International Race Calendar

The meeting also confirmed that Russia will continue to be excluded as host nation of a Worldloppet event, in accordance with current FIS rules.

Even tough the organizers of Ushuaialoppet are working hard on bringing the Argentinian race back to an international level it won’t be back to the calendar for the upcoming years, so their Worldloppet membership has been suspended. With the hope, that they will return one day in the future.

Positive Spirit in Szklarska Poręba

Hosted in the home of Bieg Piastów, the meeting is taking place in a location with a deep connection to Worldloppet history. After 50 years of Bieg Piastów, Szklarska Poręba is a fitting place to discuss the next steps for the federation.

With all 19 member nations represented, a successful winter behind us and important projects ahead, the Worldloppet Annual General Meeting 2026 sends a clear message: the global ski marathon family is strong, united and ready for the future.