Azerbaijanon the global snow sports stage
From the thrill of Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding to the precision of Ski Jumping and Cross-Country Skiing, FIS brings together some of the world’s most exciting winter sports under one global platform. FIS oversees the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing, and Snowboarding. It is also responsible for the Paralympic disciplines of Para Alpine, Para Cross-Country, and Para Snowboard, as well as several non-Olympic disciplines, including the newly recognized Freeride World Tour. FIS organizes prestigious World Championships and World Cup events, while setting global standards for competition, athlete development, and the future of snow sports.
Building on the momentum of its successful first season, the partnership between FIS and the Azerbaijan Tourism Board is now entering its second season, further strengthening Azerbaijan’s presence within the international winter sports community. Through its partnership with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, FIS is expanding its reach by highlighting Azerbaijan as a Global Destination Partner, showcasing the country’s growing potential as a year-round tourism and winter sports destination.
With its diverse landscapes, modern ski infrastructure and favourable winter conditions, Azerbaijan offers an exciting setting for both active winter recreation and professional sports. Shahdag Resort, located just 2.5 hours from Baku, features over 35 km of slopes catering to skiers of all levels, including runs for Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super-G, as well as modern infrastructure suitable for hosting international competitions. Beyond Shahdag, other popular ski centres in the country include Tufandag in Gabala and Agbulag in Nakhchivan.
As the partnership enters its second season, Azerbaijan is building on the strong momentum of the previous season and further strengthening its commitment to developing winter sports and raising its profile on the global sports stage. As part of this commitment, the country plans to host several significant international events in the coming years. Among these are the FIS Alpine Skiing European Cup, taking place on 6-7 February 2027, and the FIS Freestyle World Cup Finals, scheduled for 5-7 March 2027.
Azerbaijan has already demonstrated its ability to meet the highest standards in hosting world-class sporting events, including Formula 1, the European Games, the World Judo Championships, and a stage of the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup. This new season of the FIS partnership builds on that strong track record, creating further opportunities to showcase Azerbaijan’s winter sports offering, attract international audiences, and reinforce the country’s position on the global tourism map.
