The heart of the Games. The Opening Ceremony, the Masters Hub and every evening's Winner's Celebration happen here, at the Lahti Sports Center. One hour from Helsinki Airport by road or rail.
The Salpausselkä Games have run here since 1923. Seven Nordic World Championships, an eighth in 2029. In January 2028 the same stadium, hills and trails are yours, with the Games centre and the Masters Hub next door.
With 122 000 residents, Lahti is known for winter sports, climate leadership and design. European Green Capital 2021. Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark and Lake Vesijärvi sit right next to the city centre. Hotels, the railway station, the harbour and the Sports Center are all within a short walk or one bus ride.
Eleven sports across the ten days. Nordic sports at the Sports Center, ice sports at three arenas in town, winter swimming at Pajulahti. One accreditation covers everything.
Games sport
Cross-Country 16–23 January 2028
The 2028 Masters World Cup. Middle, short and long distances in classic and free technique, plus the 4 × 5 km relay. Mass starts on the Salpausselkä trails.
Games sport
Biathlon 14–18 January 2028
Sprint, relay and individual in the stadium and on the trails where Lahti has hosted world championships. Shooting range at the stadium.
Games sport
Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined 20–23 January 2028
Four hills from HS38 to HS100 at Karpalo and the Sports Center. Jump up to two hills, close the week with the team event. Nordic combined adds a freestyle ski leg. One entry covers both.
Games sport
Speed Skating 14–18 January 2028
Long track under the open sky. Six distances over three race days, up to four races per skater, on a 333.3 m outdoor oval.
Games sport
Short Track 18–23 January 2028
A and B divisions with their own distances, including the masters-only 777 m. The mixed relays close the whole Games on Sunday 23 January.
Games sport
Figure & Synchronised Skating 14–23 January 2028
Singles free and artistic, pairs and ice dance under ISU Adult rules. Synchronised teams open the ice programme in the first days. Open ice before the competitions start.
Games sport
Curling 16–22 January 2028
Mixed teams of two women and two men, and mixed doubles. Mixed-nation teams welcome. Round robin into play-offs, eight ends a game.
Games sport
Winter Trail Run 14–16 January 2028
Snowy ridges and frozen forest in the Salpausselkä Geopark. The trail run opens the Games on day one. Open to everyone, no club needed.
Pajulahti · 25 min
Winter Swimming 20–23 January 2028
Sprint races in a 25 m ice-hole pool at Pajulahti, with saunas and a fireplace room on the bank. Open to everyone, club membership recommended.
Next host city
Heinola Ice hockey · disc golf · 30 min
Ice hockey at Vierumäki and the Heinola ice hall, winter disc golf at Kippasuo. Half an hour from the Games centre by shuttle.
Heinola page →
Next host city
Levi Alpine skiing · 14–18 January
Slalom, giant slalom and Super-G above the Arctic Circle. One hour from Lahti to Helsinki Airport, one flight to Kittilä.
Levi page →Every venue has its own page with maps, opening hours, spectator areas and the shuttle stop. Venue pages will be updated in 2027.
Competition · ceremonies
Lahti Sports Center Ski stadium and trails
The World Championship stadium and the Salpausselkä trail network. Opening Ceremony on Friday 14 January, Farewell Party on Sunday 23 January.
Competition
Salpausselkä hills HS38 · HS70 · HS100
The Karpalo hills and the big hills next to the stadium. Ski jumping and Nordic combined jump here from Thursday 20 January.
Competition
Wemasto Areena Lahti Sports Center
Figure skating and synchronised skating every day of the Games. Ten minutes from the railway station.
Competition
RTK Arena Two rinks, one roof
Short track on rink 2, curling on rink 3. Open ice for figure skaters in the first days. Warm-up and locker rooms in the same building.
Outdoor oval
Kisapuisto sports park Speed skating · 333.3 m
Long track on natural outdoor ice in the city. The track and its approval are confirmed before registration opens.
Services
Games Centre & Masters hub Lahti Sports & Exhibition Centre
Accreditation, welcome packages, the Masters Hub, Official Store and the Winner's Celebration every evening. Next to the stadium.
Trains run from Helsinki Airport and the city centre to Lahti all day. The station is a short walk from the hotels and one bus ride from the Sports Center. Heinola and Pajulahti are half an hour away by Games shuttle.
Merch pre-orders are collected at the Official Store in the Games Centre, next to accreditation.
Picked with Visit Lahti for a race week: short, close by, and worth the evening.
01The wooden concert hall on Lake Vesijärvi. Harbour restaurants Kokka and Lastu, and the cinnamon rolls at Kariranta.
15 min walk from the station
02A UNESCO Global Geopark starting at the stadium door. Lit trails for skis, fat bikes and snowshoes. Recovery ski, Masters style.
From the Sports CenterLocal food under one roof. Salmon soup, blinis, game meat, and in January the Runeberg's tart. Lunch with a view of the jumps at Voitto.
City centre
04The Finnish evening: a hot sauna, a hole in the lake ice, and the city lights across Vesijärvi. Where race stories are told.
Every evening
05A century of Salpausselkä Games at the foot of the jumps. Walk up for the view over the lake district, then down for dinner in the harbour.
Sports Center · 1 hBookable experiences and restaurant tables appear in the Lahti marketplace once it opens. Prices and times from the operators.
Four thousand masters, their companions and the city, in the stadium where Finland's winter sport was born. Then the Winner's Celebration at the Masters Hub every evening, and the Farewell Party on Sunday 23 January. Free for athletes and accompanying persons.
The questions we get about Lahti. Sport-specific questions are on each sport page.
Fly to Helsinki Airport and take the train, about one hour with a change at Tikkurila.
No, not necessarily. In Lahti the hotels, the station and most venues are close. With your accreditation you get reduced local transport fares, and paid shuttles run to Pajulahti, Vierumäki, Heinola and Kippasuo. Details in 2027.
Cold and mostly dry. Expect −5 to −15 °C, colder on clear mornings, and about seven hours of daylight in Lahti. Lapland days are shorter. Pack for real winter and warm arenas.
At the Games Centre in Lahti or Levi (Alpine Skiers) before your first competition day. Opening times are published in 2027. One accreditation covers every host city and every sport you enter. Service points at the other venues are listed in the arrival guide.
The Opening Ceremony on Friday 14 January, the Winner's Celebration at the Masters Hub every evening, and the Farewell Party on Sunday 23 January.
Yes. Alpine runs 14–18 January in Levi, most Lahti sports from 15 January onwards. One hour by train to the airport, one flight to Kittilä. The Marketplace books both stays in one basket.
Yes. Spectator areas at the stadium, the hills and the arenas are free. The Opening Ceremony and the Farewell Party are free for accompanying persons too. A companion accreditation gives access to the Masters Hub evenings.
Host city Heinola Ice hockey at Vierumäki and Heinola, winter disc golf at Kippasuo. Thirty minutes from Lahti. Heinola→
Host city Levi Alpine skiing on World Cup slopes above the Arctic Circle. One flight from Helsinki. Levi→
Registration Get in first Pre-registration has closed. Registration opens for everyone on 9 November 2026. Registration starts 9 Nov→