Alta Badia/South Tyrolean Dolomites-Italy: Countdown to the start of the winter season and the Gran Risa lights up at night

On 4 December 2026, the ski slopes of Alta Badia will reopen, officially marking the start of the winter season. The calendar of major sporting events will get underway on 20 and 21 December with the Alpine Ski World Cup on the Gran Risa, which this year introduces an absolute first: for the first time, the slalom will be held under floodlights.

[Logo_RGB]Alta Badia (South Tyrolean Dolomites/Italy) – On 4 December 2026, Alta Badia will inaugurate the new winter season with the opening of its ski slopes and lifts. In the heart of the Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site, a winter combining sport, gastronomy, culture and local traditions will get underway, with a calendar of events reaching one of its highlights in December, when the world’s best skiers return to compete on the Gran Risa.

On 20 and 21 December, the Alpine Ski World Cup will once again bring international attention to Alta Badia. The Gran Risa, one of the most technical and renowned slopes on the World Cup circuit, will host the traditional men’s giant slalom and, for the first time, a night-time slalom. This new addition marks a new chapter in the long history of the World Cup in Alta Badia and will offer spectators a new perspective on the slope in La Villa.

The World Cup programme will get underway over the weekend of 19 December, while Sunday 20 December will see the traditional men’s giant slalom take centre stage on the Gran Risa. On Monday 21 December, the slope will be illuminated for the first night-time slalom: the athletes will compete in a setting combining the spectacular backdrop of the Dolomites beneath the starry sky with the fast-paced action of the race through the gates.

The World Cup has been one of the defining events of winter in Alta Badia for more than forty years. The Gran Risa entered the international calendar in 1985 and has since welcomed some of the biggest names in alpine skiing. Over the years, the slope has become one of the benchmark courses for the men’s giant slalom.

Tickets for the World Cup races will be available from 15 October 2026 on www.skiworldcup.it<http://www.skiworldcup.it>, with the option to choose between different areas from which to watch the competitions. In addition to the grandstands in the finish area, spectators will also be able to experience the atmosphere of the races from the hospitality areas, including the Leitner VIP Lounge, the Red Bull Energy Station and the Gran Risa Chalet, offering a privileged view of the competitions and a dedicated hospitality experience.

HOME OF SKIING: THE GRAN RISA IN THE SPOTLIGHT THROUGHOUT WINTER

The opportunity to see the world’s top ski racers will be just one of the season’s highlights, with the Gran Risa remaining at the centre of attention throughout the winter. Located in the heart of Alta Badia, the slope will offer ski enthusiasts a series of special experiences throughout the season.

Here are some of the events not to be missed:

SUNRISA: SKI AT DAWN ON FRESHLY GROOMED SLOPES, FOLLOWED BY A HEARTY BREAKFAST AT 2,000 METRES

Skiing at dawn on freshly groomed slopes while watching the sun rise over the Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site is an exclusive experience that Alta Badia offers mountain enthusiasts. The SunRisa initiative allows participants to enjoy the first runs of the day in a unique atmosphere, on the same days when the resort hosts the Alpine Ski World Cup races. On Monday 21 December, the lifts serving the plateau will exceptionally open at 7.20 am. Skiers will therefore have the opportunity to descend on slopes perfectly groomed by snowcats during the night and enjoy the pleasure of skiing in complete tranquillity.

The experience is rounded off by a hearty breakfast at the mountain huts Club Moritzino, Ütia I Tablá, Ütia Bioch, Piz Arlara and Las Vegas Lodge, featuring wholesome and nutritious products. Each mountain hut will focus on a key breakfast ingredient, such as milk, cereals, eggs or fruit. The recipes have been developed with the advice of Elena Casiraghi, an expert in sports nutrition and supplementation, who has overseen the dishes’ caloric and nutritional balance, ensuring a tasty yet well-balanced offering.

The initiative can be enjoyed independently or as part of a package including a ski instructor and breakfast, priced at €45.00. Packages can be purchased online at www.altabadia.org<http://www.altabadia.org>.

TEST THE BEST: A FIRST LOOK AT THE LATEST SKI EQUIPMENT AT PIZ LA ILA

During the World Cup weekend, Piz La Ila, at the starting point of the Gran Risa, will once again become a meeting point for innovation, technology and a passion for skiing with a new edition of Test the Best. For two days, leading brands from the industry will present their latest products directly on the snow, giving skiers the opportunity to test skis, poles, helmets and goggles on the slopes of the resort. It will be an opportunity to discover first-hand the materials, technologies and solutions designed to enhance the skiing experience.

The Gran Risa and the unique atmosphere of the World Cup will provide the backdrop to the initiative, with the opportunity to meet some of the athletes competing in the races over the weekend. Alta Badia’s ski instructors will also be available to offer advice, demonstrations and useful tips on how to get to know and make the most of the characteristics of the different products.

The Test the Best village will be open on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 December from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm, next to the mountain station of the ski lift.

BUN DE GRAN RISA: ON THE CHAMPIONS’ SLOPE BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE

The initiative offers the exclusive opportunity to experience one of the most iconic slopes on the Alpine Ski World Cup circuit at dawn. For forty years, the Gran Risa has been the stage for some of the greatest international champions. It will exceptionally open at 6.50 am, when the slope is still perfectly groomed and the first rays of sunlight begin to illuminate the Dolomites. Accompanied by Alta Badia’s ski instructors, participants will be able to enjoy two exclusive runs, including the opportunity to ski through the gates of a genuine race course and experience, for a few turns, the same sensations as the athletes who have made the history of this slope.

A photographer will capture the most exciting moments of the morning, while each participant will receive an official bib and a certificate signed by the president of the Alta Badia Ski World Cup. After the runs, the experience will continue at Club Moritzino mountain hut with a hearty breakfast.

Bun de Gran Risa will take place every Thursday from 4 to 25 February 2027. Booking is mandatory by the day before and can be made on www.altabadia.org<http://www.altabadia.org>.

GRAN RISA YESTERDAY AND TODAY: A SKI JOURNEY THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE GRAN RISA

The history of the Gran Risa comes to life directly on the snow through a ski journey along the slopes of Alta Badia, where past and present meet. The experience is aimed at those who wish to discover more about the evolution of one of the iconic slopes of international alpine skiing.

Participants will be guided by Roberto Erlacher, former athlete and the first local skier to achieve a podium finish on the Gran Risa, and René Pitscheider, ski instructor and slope director during the World Cup races. Through their stories, participants will retrace the different stages in the history of the Gran Risa and discover how the slope has changed over the years while maintaining its importance on the international skiing scene.

Along the route, selected images from the photographic exhibition celebrating 40 years of the World Cup in Alta Badia will accompany the ski tour, creating a link between the race venues and the photographs that have documented their history. An afternoon of personal stories, anecdotes and archive images, offering a glimpse into the evolution of skiing through the eyes of those who have experienced the Gran Risa first-hand.

Participants must be able to ski using parallel turns on red slopes. The events will take place on 20 January, 17 February and 10 March, from 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Booking is mandatory and can be made directly on www.altabadia.org<http://www.altabadia.org>.

For further information:

Alpine Ski World Cup Alta Badia – www.skiworldcup.it<http://www.skiworldcup.it> – Phone +39 0471/830161 – Email: info@skiworldcup.it<mailto:info@skiworldcup.it>

Tourist Offices Alta Badia – www.altabadia.org<http://www.altabadia.org> – Phone +39 0471/836176-847037 – Email: info@altabadia.org<mailto:info@altabadia.org>