A few days before the celebration of the first edition of the Allianz FIS Freeride World Championships Andorra 2026 by Mammut, the details of the big event are already taking shape. The event will take place in the mountains of Ordino Arcalís, internationally recognized for the quality of their snow and technical terrain.

The starting gun will sound with the opening ceremony this Friday, January 30. From then on, a weather window will open, set between February 1 and February 6, 2026, and four categories will be contested: men’s ski, women’s ski, men’s snowboard, and women’s snowboard.

Opening ceremony with all competitors and the FIS Secretary General

The opening ceremony of these first Freeride World Championships will take place this Friday, January 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Illa Carlemany Shopping Center, becoming one of the most symbolic and participatory moments of the competition. The event will be attended by the 66 participating competitors, the best freeride riders in the world selected from the international elite, and Michel Vion, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS), one of the highest authorities of the organization worldwide.

The inauguration will feature welcome speeches and official interventions by representatives of the various institutions and, as is usual in top international competitions, will also include the flag parade. One of the highlights will be the presentation of the nations and the handing out of bibs to the competitors. The performance by the Esbart group will bring a local and traditional touch to the celebration, which will be followed by a beautiful closing show to end the evening and mark the official start of the competition.

Event Village and plenty of atmosphere

Another highlight of the program will be the Event Village, located in the Hortell area of Ordino Arcalís, which will become the lively and participative heart of the festivities on January 31 and February 1. Among the activities planned at the Village, there will be ski tests on both days with top brands, and various entertainments for the public. A standout event will be the riders’ signing session on Saturday the 31st, when they will take advantage of the recognition day to enjoy the atmosphere and connect with their fans before the big day; as well as the high-line show by Moisés Castro, who also stars in the film NIX, we are snow people, widely known for his spectacular high-altitude crossings, such as traversing the crater of the Lascar volcano at 5,600 meters above sea level. In addition, Hortell will host the podiums with the winners of the competitions, who will be proclaimed the first world champions in the history of freeride.

The Kokoi terrace, located at the foot of the Tristaina cable car, will also be an entertainment spot with special ambiance, and the chosen location for the big final party.

Competition window between February 1 and 6

The events of these first World Championships will take place over a single day between February 1 and 6. The exact competition date will be confirmed 24 to 48 hours in advance, following the usual protocol and depending on the weather outlook, with the goal of ensuring the best possible window and optimal snow conditions for the event. Depending on the chosen date for the competition, adjustments could be made to the activity program at the resort, which is why it is recommended to closely follow Ordino Arcalís’s social media and website, as well as the official channels of the Freeride World Tour (FWT), where all updates will be published.

Ordino Arcalís, heart of freeride in the Pyrenees

Located in the north of the country, Ordino Arcalís is considered the mecca of freeride in the Pyrenees. Since 2015 it has hosted international competitions in this discipline and, for nearly a decade, has continuously been a venue for Freeride World Tour events, establishing itself as a world-class stage.

Its 450 hectares of skiable terrain and 120 unmarked off-piste routes offer a privileged environment for practicing freeride. The orography of the resort features a unique combination of steep slopes and natural gullies that allow for a wide variety of technical lines, contributing to the spectacular nature of the discipline. In addition, its northern orientation guarantees high-quality snow conditions, often offering the longest season in the Pyrenees. This unique setting, where nature and sport merge to offer technical lines and breathtaking landscapes, has made Ordino Arcalís the venue for the first Freeride World Championships in history under the FIS banner.