Three Months to go - Finlandia Ski Marathon takes place in the beginning of February

There are three months to go until the Finlandia Ski Marathon. The 2026 event will take place exceptionally early, on the first weekend of February, February 7–8, 2026. Over the autumn, the event organization has been improving the ski trail base and is eagerly awaiting a true test of the renewed course introduced last year. The goal is to exceed 4,000 participants.

In 2026, the Finlandia Ski Marathon will be held in the midst of southern Finland’s best winter conditions—or so believes Event Director Markku Levanen. The change in schedule is part of a trial aimed at avoiding overlap with winter holidays in the Helsinki and Lahti regions.

“The timing change helps us avoid overlapping with Finnish winter holidays and other Worldloppet series ski events. At the same time, we wanted to stay just one week apart from the Tartu Maraton, with which we cooperate closely. We hope many international skiers will combine both events into the same trip,” explains Levanen.

Preparations for the early February event are well underway. The Finlandia Ski Marathon organization is responsible for maintaining and preparing about 30 kilometers of the 62-kilometer route. That section is accessible to skiers only during the Finlandia Ski Marathon. The remaining portion consists of Lahti’s and Hollola’s public outdoor trails. The course runs through the beautiful terrain of the Salpausselkä Geopark.

Preparation work on-going

Trail bases have been leveled and gravelled, and some trees have been removed to widen the paths. The goal of the maintenance work is to ensure that the route will be skiable even with minimal natural snow. Wet and low-lying sections have also been improved to prevent the formation of puddles on the track.

“We are preparing for all kinds of weather conditions to make sure that thousands of participants can enjoy skiing and that the track remains in good shape for everyone. We also hope to fully test the new route that was planned last year,” Levanen continues.

The Finlandia Ski Marathon is known for its reliable snow conditions, which attract international participants. The number of foreign skiers is slightly increasing. By early November, over 1,700 skiers had already registered, about 20% of whom come from outside Finland.

The Finlandia Ski Marathon is Finland’s largest mass skiing event, held for the 53rd time on February 7–8, 2026, in the unique natural surroundings of the Salpausselkä Geopark. The start and finish are located at the Lahti Sports Center ski stadium, the same venue that annually hosts World Cup competitions. Along the route, seven service stations support the skiers, and at the finish, participants are welcomed with a restorative sauna and a nourishing meal. www.finlandiahiihto.fi