Levi World Cup 2026: The slalom season begins in Lapland

The slalom season begins in Levi: on Saturday, 14 November 2026, the women race on Levi Black, followed by the men on Sunday, 15 November. Start times, TV coverage and results are available on the Levi race venue page; here you will find the sporting context and how to attend the race.

The organiser gives the same schedule for both race days. The times differ from what your alarm clock at home shows:

• Saturday, 14 November: Women's slalom. First run at 11:00 Finnish local time, or 10:00 CET; second run at 14:00 local time, or 13:00 CET.
• Sunday, 15 November: Men's slalom. First run at 11:00 local time, or 10:00 CET; second run at 14:00 local time, or 13:00 CET.

Weather-related changes remain possible. The races mark the start of the season in their own right: this is the first time in this winter's World Cup that we will see who finds their rhythm between the slalom poles.

The World Cup piste lies on the western side of Levitunturi. On the piste map it is called G.2; in the race, Levi Black. The slope passes over a transition into a steeper lower section. This is exactly where it is worth watching: how early does a skier begin the turn, and how much space remains before the next gate?

A clean rhythm on the easier section must hold after the change in terrain. Anyone who has to make a correction there approaches the next turn under different conditions. The low mountain altitude does not make this an easy slalom. The summit of Levitunturi is at 531 metres; this is the summit elevation, not the vertical drop of the race.

Among the women, the results point to Lara Colturi of Albania and Emma Aicher of Germany: they finished second and third in Levi in 2025. Camille Rast of Switzerland completes the shortlist as runner-up in the 2025/26 Slalom World Cup. This combines local knowledge with performance confirmed over the winter.

Last year's winner, Mikaela Shiffrin, is a separate case. According to the ORF report from 7 October, she intends to compete in selected slaloms only next winter. You should therefore not assume that she will start in Levi.

Among the men, the comparison with the previous event leads to Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who won for Brazil in 2025. Behind him on the podium were France's Clément Noël and Finland's Eduard Hallberg. Norway's Atle Lie McGrath also enters the picture as winner of the 2025/26 Slalom World Cup. For Hallberg, it would be a home race.

This selection is based on last season, as of 22 October. It is not a substitute for the start list. Who will actually compete for Germany, Austria or Switzerland will only be clear once the respective national team selections are announced.

You need an event ticket to attend the race; the organiser provides a link to the official sales channel. Your destination is the competition area at Levi Black. That is where the race takes place, while the bib draws are held at Zero Point in the town centre. These are different locations.

A free spectator bus runs from the centre to the race area and back on both race days. Use this transfer if you want to attend the race without skis. There are no public spectator car parks at Levi Black. The regular ski bus is a different, chargeable service; do not confuse it with the event bus when planning your visit.

For travel from Germany or Austria, Kittilä is the nearest airport. Travelling via Helsinki is one option; check the flight schedule to see whether a direct flight suits your travel date. According to the organiser, Kittilä is about 15 kilometres from Levi. The final leg is covered by airport bus or taxi.

If you want to continue by train within Finland, the organiser mentions overnight trains to Kolari or Rovaniemi, followed by bus connections to Levi. Plan the entire chain of connections. There is no train journey all the way to the town itself.

For your own day on the slopes, the Front Slopes near the town centre are an option. The operator rates the main runs there as red, so they are not automatically the right choice for your first attempts on skis. Check which easier areas are open. Training reservations may also limit the available options.

A World Cup race on Levi Black does not mean that the rest of the area is operating normally. Keep the race visit separate from your day on the slopes and check the current piste status before setting off. Accommodation is available through Visit Levi; for short journeys to the spectator bus, proximity to the town centre matters more than a view of the race slope.