For the second consecutive year, Madona, Latvia, will welcome some of the world’s most promising young biathletes as the IBU Junior Cup returns to the “Smeceres sils” sports and recreation base from 14 to 17 January 2027.
This time, Madona will have an especially exciting role: the Latvian stage will open the 2026/2027 IBU Junior Cup season, making “Smeceres sils” the first meeting point of the new Junior Cup campaign.
After successfully hosting its first IBU Junior Cup in January 2026, Madona is preparing to welcome the international biathlon community back for another winter of high-level racing.
Madona opens the Junior Cup season
The 2026/2027 IBU Junior Cup calendar consists of four stages across Europe. The season will begin in Madona, Latvia, from 14–17 January, before continuing in Ridnaun–Val Ridanna, Italy, from 4–7 February, Szklarska Poręba–Jakuszyce, Poland, from 24–28 February, and Brezno–Osrblie, Slovakia, from 5–7 March.
Opening the season adds another dimension to Madona’s second consecutive Junior Cup. For athletes and teams, Latvia will be the place where the first international Junior Cup results of the winter are decided and the new season officially gets underway.
The detailed competition programme and participating athletes will be announced closer to the event.
Back in Madona for the second year
The return of the IBU Junior Cup is another important step for Madona and “Smeceres sils”, which in recent years has increasingly become part of the international biathlon calendar.
Madona previously hosted the IBU Junior Open European Championships in 2023, followed by its first IBU Junior Cup stage in January 2026. The return of the competition in 2027 means that international junior biathlon will now come to Madona for the second consecutive season.
“For us, the most important thing is that this is no longer a one-off international event. We are welcoming the IBU Junior Cup to Madona for the second year in a row, and this time we have the honour of opening the entire Junior Cup season. It shows that the work invested in ‘Smeceres sils’, our team and the organisation of international competitions is creating continuity. We want athletes and teams to know Madona as a place they are happy to return to, while for local spectators it is a unique opportunity to see the next generation of world-class biathletes competing here at home,” says Gundars Upenieks, Sports Director of the event.
A stage for the next generation
The IBU Junior Cup is an important part of the development pathway for young biathletes, giving them the opportunity to gain international racing experience before progressing to major junior championships and, eventually, senior-level competition.
For spectators in Latvia, the competition also offers a chance to see some of the sport’s emerging talents at an early stage of their international careers — while supporting Latvian athletes competing on home snow.
Madona strengthens its place on the international biathlon map
Hosting international competitions in consecutive years is also important for the long-term development of “Smeceres sils” and Madona as a winter sports destination.
The venue is used both by professional athletes and recreational skiers, while international competitions provide an opportunity to further develop the infrastructure, organisational experience and visibility of the region.
In January 2027, the international biathlon community will therefore return to a familiar place — but with a new milestone to celebrate.
For the first time, the road through the 2026/2027 IBU Junior Cup season will begin in Madona.
More information about the competition, programme and participating nations will be announced in the coming months.