American Birkebeiner Registration Opens for 2026 After Solid Year

HAYWARD, Wis (CIVIC MEDIA) – The American Birkebeiner race for 2026 officially has a date and registration is open following a successful 2025 event.

A local favorite, the event draws thousands of skiers to the Northwest Wisconsin region each year. The race begins in Cable, where skiers cross over 30 miles of snow before finishing in downtown Hayward.

The race is the largest cross-country ski marathon in North America. In addition to being a local favorite tradition, the race earns significant revenue through tourism across the region.

Mild winter weather conditions in 2024 forced organizers to create a loop course around Cable. In the weeks leading up to this year’s race, it looked like the weather may not have provided enough snow to complete the full course again.

Luckily, some last minute snowfall in the days ahead of the event gave organizers just enough to work with for the full course. Even still, organizers warned skiers that some areas near the end of the course could feature low snow or just grass.

In total, nearly 6,300 skiers participated in the major races in the 2025 American Birkebeiner. All 50 states and 25 countries saw representation in the event.

The 2026 iteration of the race will take place on February 21 with a weekend full of events surrounding it. A map of the course, rules and regulations, and more information is available on the American Birkebeiner website. After two mild winters in a row, organizers will likely keep a close eye on weather conditions again next year in case more course adjustments need to be made.