World Masters Sport proudly announces that the Masters World Cup in Cross-Country Skiing 2028 (MWC 2028) will take place in Lahti in January 2028 as part of the Winter World Masters Games 2028
The event is expected to be the largest sport on the Winter World Masters Games program, welcoming approximately 1,000 cross-country skiers from around the world. The Games themselves will bring together around 4,000 athletes aged 30 and over to compete across 12 winter sports in Lahti, Levi and Heinola from 14–23 January 2028.
A Historic Partnership for Masters Cross-Country Skiing
The Masters World Cup is currently being staged in Sappada, Italy, and will head to Tromsø, Norway in 2027 before arriving in Finland in 2028. Hosting the Masters World Cup in Lahti represents a landmark collaboration between the World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association, Salppuri Oy and the Lahti Ski Club.
WMA President John Downing described the partnership as historic, noting that for the first time the Masters World Cup will be staged at the same venue that will host the Lahti 2029 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships the following year.
The 2028 Masters World Cup will be raced on the renowned tracks of the Lahti Sports Centre, one of the most respected Nordic skiing venues in the world. Courses will be adapted to masters level, and the official WMA course inspection is scheduled for spring 2026.
Experienced Organisers, World-Class Venue
The event will be delivered by Salppuri Oy in cooperation with the Lahti Ski Club, organisations with extensive experience in hosting major international competitions .
According to CEO Tomi-Pekka Kolu, hosting MWC 2028 marks an important milestone as preparations continue toward Lahti 2029. The goal is to create a memorable international event for masters skiers while contributing to the atmosphere of a true multi-sport winter festival .
Lahti’s reputation for snow reliability, supported by artificial snow production and snow farming, ensures optimal competition conditions. A shared “Masters Hub” will be located at the Lahti Sports & Exhibition Centre, serving as the central location for accreditation, race offices, ceremonies and social programmes .
Full Competition Programme for Athletes 30+
The Masters World Cup 2028 programme will include:
- Short, middle and long-distance individual races
- Classic and free technique events
- Relay competitions
- Age categories for athletes aged 30+
A detailed competition schedule will be published at a later stage.
Join the Masters Movement
Pre-registration for the Masters World Cup 2028 and the Winter World Masters Games 2028 is now open. Pre-registration is free of charge and provides priority access to official registration, which will open in 2026.
The Winter World Masters Games is the world’s largest multi-sport winter event for masters athletes aged 30+, welcoming recreational participants, competitive athletes and former professionals alike.
“Nothing Stops Us – We Are Masters.”
Lahti 2028 promises to deliver a high-quality, unforgettable masters experience — combining world-class facilities, strong organisational expertise and the unique spirit of lifelong sport participation.
