World-class skiing against the imposing backdrop of the Dachstein mountains: On December 28th and 29th, 2026, Gosau will host the Alpine Women's Ski World Cup for the first time. With a giant slalom and a slalom, Upper Austria will celebrate its comeback to the international World Cup stage after more than six years.
The Dachstein West ski region will be hosting top-class sporting action as the year draws to a close: For the first time, the world's best female ski racers will compete for valuable World Cup points at the Hornspitz in Gosau. The two races on December 28th and 29th, 2026, promise thrilling duels and international attention for the Salzkammergut region, as Gosau takes over from the previous World Cup venue, Lienz. This return is a special milestone for Upper Austria, as the Alpine Ski World Cup last visited Hinterstoder in 2020 with the men's races – a women's World Cup event has been held there for 34 years.
World Cup premiere with international appeal
Preparations for the major sporting event are already in full swing. Together with the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the organizational and logistical prerequisites have been established. "The Ski World Cup is back in Upper Austria – for the first time since Hinterstoder in 2020. This is a strong comeback for our province as a stage for top-level international sport," says Governor Thomas Stelzer. The worldwide TV coverage is intended to put not only the sport itself, but also the scenic beauty and hospitality of the region in the international spotlight.
Tailwind for tourism and the economy
Upper Austria hopes the World Cup premiere will provide a significant boost to winter tourism. In the 2024/25 season alone, the province recorded 1.23 million guest arrivals, an increase of 1.2 percent. Provincial Councillor for Sport Markus Achleitner sees the races as a great opportunity to position Dachstein West internationally as an attractive, family-friendly winter sports destination. In addition to hotels and restaurants, sporting goods retailers and local winter sports companies could also benefit. And for Rupert Schiefer, Managing Director of the Dachstein Salzkammergut cable cars, the World Cup commitment is also a confirmation of the region's infrastructure and sporting expertise.
With the premiere in Gosau, Upper Austria not only gains two top-class ski races, but also an international stage on which the Salzkammergut can present itself as a winter sports region.