From March 12 to 15, 2026, a BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stage will be held at the Tehvandi Sports Center in Otepää for the second time in history. In addition to top level biathlon, visitors can experience a diverse cultural programme that offers musical experiences and exciting activities for the whole family over four days.
Tehvandi stadium will be opened to the public three hours before the start and a diverse stadium programme will be launched an hour before the start of the event. Stadium host Henrik Kalmet will take care of audience entertainment, hosting the lively stadium TV programme. Local stadium announcers Alvar Tiisler and Vahur Teppan will provide commentary on the event. The biathlon song and dance celebrations at the stadium will be led by the energetic Priit Oks and Monika Tuvi. On Saturday, 14 March, the competition day at the stadium will kick off with a performance by Puuluup, the band that gained wide recognition at Eurovision Song Contest.
Evening entertainment will take place in the audience tent, featuring Smilers on Friday, 13 March, and Dawhy Not on Saturday, 14 March, with Inga Tislar, Kaia-Liisa Kesler and Rahel Ollisaar. The audience programme will also include a public recording of the biathlon podcast “Varupadrun” (Spare Round) and a Legends Hour, during which visitors can meet several legendary biathletes. “The audience tent is an integral part of every Biathlon World Cup. It is a place to spend the entire day having fun alongside fellow sports enthusiasts,” said Aivar Nigol, Chairman of the Organising Committee.
The audience programme also highlights the culture of Southern Estonia, which distinguishes the Otepää stage from other Biathlon World Cup stages. “The Otepää stage should have a clearly visible local character, since this is what international visitors will remember from Estonia. The Experience Area is a central gathering place for local culture, where visitors can enjoy live winter accordion music, the cosy warmth of a bonfire, and the delicious food and drinks of South Estonia. In the Experience Area, visitors can capture their moments in Otepää on camera and bring the memories home,” said Evelin Leima, Programme Director of the area. The Experience Area lineup includes fantasy instrument maker Silver Sepp, the band Tuulebant, and Toomas Valk.
Before and after the competitions, the Tere Youth Area offers activities for all ages, hosted by Tere, the Olympic and Sports Museum, and the Physical Activity Competence Centre. Various DJs, Rozell among them, will keep the atmosphere lively throughout the competition day. On Saturday, 14 March, popular singer-songwriter Emily J. will take the stage with a live performance between the two competitions. “The Youth Area also offers laser shooting and Kahoot quizzes to challenge your knowledge. Top performers will be rewarded with prizes,” said Hans Markus Danilas, Programme Manager of Tere Youth Area.
All spectators of the competition can attend the concerts free of charge.
Learn more: Biathlon Otepää