LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando: Entering the next decade of the LAAX OPEN with momentum

The LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando will take place from January 14-18, 2026. The host destination of Flims Laax in Graubünden, Switzerland, once again expects the crème de la crème of international snowboarding and freeskiing to attend this globally popular and renowned freestyle festival. It will also welcome thousands of freestyle enthusiasts and fans: drawn by the riders' skills in the snow, their tricks in the halfpipe and slopestyle, the big stage, the spotlight, the fame and excitement, and the palpable lifestyle, no matter where you go, where you are, and what you do during the LAAX OPEN.

Olympic champions face challengers and all-stars

The performances around the mountain station at Crap Sogn Gion at 2,252 meters above sea level will be breathtaking. This is ensured by the perfectly prepared superpipe and slopestyle course in the LAAX snow park, as well as the freestyle heroes of the scene and their challengers. Four Olympic gold medalists have already confirmed their participation in the LAAX OPEN 2026: Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL), Ayumu Hirano (JPN), Su Yiming (CHN), and Mathilde Gremaud (SUI). They represent the history, value, and quality of the sporting competition, as do Mark McMorris (CAN), who won the first LAAX OPEN in snowboard slopestyle in 2016, and Andri Ragettli (SUI), who did the same in the freeski premiere in 2023. And like snowboarder Mia Brookes (GBR), who stood at the top of the podium at the LAAX OPEN in slopestyle in 2025, as did Scotty James (AUS), who leads the rankings as a four-time LAAX OPEN halfpipe champion. In addition to these eight exceptional athletes, there is plenty of potential in the field to amaze the judges and the audience.

A total of around 250 athletes will compete in the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup, battling it out for the coveted event titles. As every four years, the LAAX OPEN offers riders their last chance to qualify for the Winter Olympics. This adds to the sporting excitement and, for some, turns the preliminary rounds into final rounds. While Ragettli and Gremaud, two title favorites from Swiss-Ski, will be competing in freeski, young and established challengers with final prospects are also looking forward to the home World Cup. These include Berenice Wicki and Jonas Hasler, Nicolas Huber, and David Hablützel.

Global livestreaming

Four days of worldwide livestreaming will be provided by laaxopen.com, where all the sporting contests of this FIS World Cup will be broadcast live – qualifiers, semi-finals, finals, women, men, halfpipe, slopestyle, freeski, snowboard. From Thursday, January 15, 2026, in the morning until Sunday, January 18, 2026, in the afternoon, with expert and entertaining commentary from experienced LAAX OPEN event hosts Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood. The finals on January 17/18, 2026, can also be viewed on redbull.tv.

Side events & live concerts free for everyone

Movies, music, exhibitions, get-togethers at Caffè NoName, parties at the Riders Club, from bottom to top and back again – the side events are simply part and parcel of the LAAX OPEN. Back in the valley again: Red Bull Rail Riot, an open rail session that heralds the final weekend. Right next door and afterwards, the rocksresort Stage will be rocking on both main evenings. While Friday, January 16, 2026, will be loud and energetic with folk'n'roll from Dario Hess and Irish rock from the Saint City Orchestra, Saturday, January 17, 2026, will be heavy on reggae, soul, and dancehall. Zurich singer Phenomden will be followed by Stereo Luchs as the main act. The winner of the 2025 Swiss Music Prize has cemented his reputation as an outstanding live act over the years. Four full stages – four times the best live music – will create a festival atmosphere even before the event begins.

All information is available on the event website laaxopen.com and the social media channels @laax and @snowparklaax.

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