The 27th UIAA Ice Climbing Worldcup takes place in Saas-Fee from 21 to 24 Jan. 2027. Athletes compete in speed and lead in the Ice Dome, set up in the resort’s covered car park.
The story
Saas-Fee has hosted UIAA-sanctioned ice climbing competitions since 2000. In 2025, the resort marked 25 years of competitions. The 2027 edition is the 27th.
The competition venue grew out of an observation. In the ten-storey car park, built to keep the resort car-free, water trickled down the walls and froze. The organisers first used it for climbing lessons. They then set up a World Cup course there.
In 2002, Saas-Fee hosted its third World Cup, organised by Michael Schwarzl. Preparation then took up to three months. Wooden panels and steel sections formed the overhangs, and four to six weeks of frost created the ice. The budget was 80,000 francs for about 500 spectators.
Because the venue is covered, weather does not disrupt the competition. In 2022, the Federal Office of Sport recognised the Saas-Fee KletternDome as a national performance centre for ice climbing. Dario Andenmatten played a key role in organising UIAA competitions in Saas-Fee. He died in October 2024.
The 2025 edition brought together more than 125 athletes, including 14 Swiss. South Korea’s Woonseon Shin won in Saas-Fee in 2024. Switzerland’s Sina Goetz took silver and then gold at her last two World Cups there.
Who organises it
The Association Ice Climbing, based in Saas-Fee, organises the competition. It has about 140 members. Part of its proceeds supports cultural projects of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). The competition is part of the UIAA World Cup circuit.
What to find
More than 100 athletes from about 20 countries are expected, along with some 2,500 spectators. The events take place in the Ice Dome, which is 32 metres high. Two disciplines are on the programme, speed and lead.
On Thursday 21 Jan., speed qualifications begin at 7.15 pm for women and 9.30 pm for men. On Friday 22 Jan., lead qualifications run from 8 am to 6 pm, followed by the speed finals from 8 pm. An Ice Party follows from 9.30 pm at The Club.
On Saturday 23 Jan., the lead semi-finals run from 11 am to 2 pm. The lead final starts at 7 pm, followed by the prize-giving. The speed and lead finals are streamed live on YouTube. The programme for Sunday 24 Jan. is still to be announced.
Practical information
- Dates, Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January 2027
- Times, speed finals Friday 22 January from 8 pm, lead final Saturday 23 January at 7 pm
- Venue, Ice Dome, Saas-Fee covered car park, 3906 Saas-Fee
- Prices, Ice Dome entry 15.– for adults, 10.– for young people up to 19, payment by Twint or into a donation box
We have gathered here all the information published by the organiser to date. Do you have more? Write to us, and the article will be completed.
Links
- Official site, Saas-Fee, 27th Ice Climbing Worldcup
- Federation, UIAA, ice climbing
- All events across French-speaking Switzerland, Genève Infos Agenda
Sources
- Saas-Fee/Saastal Tourismus, Top winter events, accessed on 14 November 2026
- Saas-Fee/Saastal Tourismus, 27th Ice Climbing Worldcup, accessed on 14 November 2026
- UIAA (iceclimbing.sport), Saas-Fee to mark quarter of a century hosting competition ice climbing, accessed on 14 November 2026
- swissinfo.ch, Peaking in the car park (2002), accessed on 14 November 2026
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