The LAAX OPEN enters its next decade with oomph

The globally popular and renowned freestyle festival LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando will take place from 14-18 January 2026. The hosting destination Flims Laax in Graubünden, Switzerland, once more awaits the crème de la crème of international snowboarding with open arms. Thousands of freestyle enthusiasts and admirers will also be in attendance: impressed from the riders’ snow skills, halfpipe and slopestyle tricks to the big stage and the spotlight, to the fame and excitement. That palpable lifestyle – no matter where you go and what you do during the LAAX OPEN, means you’ll be part of it all.

Olympic champions meet challengers and serial winners

The performances around the mountain station at Crap Sogn Gion at 2,252 metres above sea level will be breathtaking. Ensured by a perfectly prepared superpipe and slopestyle course in the snowpark LAAX, 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 are as representative of the history, value and quality of the competition as 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 as snowboarder Mia Brookes (GBR), who stood at the top of the podium at the LAAX OPEN in 2025, and Scotty James (AUS), who leads the male rankings as a four-time LAAX OPEN halfpipe champion. In addition to these eight exceptional athletes, there is plenty of potential in the riders’ field to amaze the judges and the audience.

A total of around 250 athletes will compete in the FIS Snowboard World Cup to battle it out for the coveted event titles. As is the tradition every four years, the LAAX OPEN gives riders their last chance to qualify for the Winter Olympics, adding to the sporting excitement and, for some, turning preliminary rounds into final rounds.

Livestream all around the world

Four days of full-power livestreaming all over the world will be available on laaxopen.com, where all sporting contests will be broadcasted live: qualifiers, semi-finals, finals, women, men, halfpipe, slopestyle and snowboard. From Thursday, 15 January 2026 in the morning until Sunday, 18 January 2026 in the afternoon, with expert and entertaining commentary from seasoned LAAX OPEN event hosts Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood.

The finals of this FIS World Cup on 17-18 January 2026 can also be watched on redbull.tv.

Free live concerts and side events for everyone

Movies, concerts, exhibitions, meet & greet at Caffè NoName, parties at the Riders Club – from the bottom to the top and back again, the side events are simply part of the LAAX OPEN. Returning to the valley is Red Bull Rail Riot, an open rail session that kicks off the final weekend. Right beside and immediately following, the rocksresort stage will be buzzing on the two main evenings. While Friday, 16 January 2026, will be loud and energetic with folk’n’roll from Dario Hess and Irish rock from the Saint City Orchestra, Saturday, 17 January 2026, will be all about reggae, soul and dancehall. Zurich singer Phenomden will be followed by Stereo Luchs as the main act. Winner of the 2025 Swiss Music Prize, he has forged 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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