Inferno Ski Races 2027 in Mürren
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From 20 to 23 January 2027 the 83rd Inferno Ski Races take over Mürren, across the valley from Wengen. It is the world's biggest amateur alpine race, and if you intend to be in it rather than watch it, entries close on 15 September 2026.
The event
The downhill runs 14.9 km with roughly 1,990 m of vertical descent, dropping from high below the Schilthorn through Mürren and down to the valley floor at Lauterbrunnen. Racers set off at single-start intervals, and finishing times stretch from a shade over twelve minutes at the front of the field to the better part of an hour further back. Alongside the downhill, further disciplines feed into the super combination, entered separately and capped at 500.
Getting a place is not a matter of being quick with the form. The downhill field is limited to 1,850. Skiers who earned an Inferno award in any of the last three editions keep their entitlement, provided they enter before the deadline. Every other entry goes into a draw held once the deadline has passed, with confirmations sent to team representatives by the end of September. The entry fee is due only after that confirmation arrives, so nothing is paid on spec.
For everyone not racing, the Inferno is one of the great winter days out in the Jungfrau region. The start area carries the tension of a full field waiting its turn, the middle sections reward anyone willing to walk out to a good vantage point, and the finish in Lauterbrunnen builds into a proper crowd as the times come in.
Mürren sits directly across the Lauterbrunnen valley from Wengen. The Wengernalpbahn drops you at Lauterbrunnen in about fifteen minutes, which puts you at the finish area; Mürren itself is reached onward by cable car and mountain railway.
Practical information
Dates: 20 to 23 January 2027, the 83rd edition.
Where: Mürren down to Lauterbrunnen, across the valley from Wengen.
Course: 14.9 km, roughly 1,990 m of vertical descent.
Field: 1,850 in the downhill, 500 in the combination.
Entries close: 15 September 2026, through the online portal.
Entry fee: CHF 70 for the downhill, a further CHF 30 for the combination, payable once a place is confirmed. It covers the start number, the commemorative pin and the Inferno award.
Eligibility: skiers born in 2009 or earlier, with solid technique, health and fitness.
Getting there: Wengernalpbahn to Lauterbrunnen for the finish, onward to Mürren by cable car and railway.
More information: inferno-muerren.ch
Plan your stay
The Inferno draws thousands into the valley for one long weekend, and beds go early. Victoria Lauberhorn stands a few steps from the Wengen railway station, which makes the finish line a short ride and leaves you a quiet car-free village to come back to once the racing is done. There is the spa for legs that have spent a day standing in the cold, and the restaurants for the evening after. Book your January stay in Wengen in good time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can amateur skiers really race the Inferno downhill?
Yes, the Inferno is the world's biggest amateur alpine race, held in Mürren across the valley from Wengen. The 83rd edition runs from 20 to 23 January 2027, with the downhill field limited to 1,850 skiers. Racers set off at single-start intervals, and finishing times stretch from just over twelve minutes at the front to the better part of an hour further back.
How do I get a start place, and when do entries close?
Entries for the 2027 Inferno close on 15 September 2026, through the online portal. Skiers who earned an Inferno award in any of the last three editions keep their entitlement if they enter before the deadline; every other entry goes into a draw held once the deadline has passed. Confirmations are sent to team representatives by the end of September, and nothing is paid until a place is confirmed.
What does it cost to enter, and who is eligible?
The entry fee is CHF 70 for the downhill and a further CHF 30 for the super combination, payable once a place is confirmed. The fee covers the start number, the commemorative pin and the Inferno award. Entry is open to skiers born in 2009 or earlier with solid technique, health and fitness; the combination is capped at 500.
What is the course, and how do I follow the race from Wengen?
The downhill runs 14.9 km with roughly 1,990 m of vertical descent, dropping from high below the Schilthorn through Mürren to the valley floor at Lauterbrunnen. From Wengen, the Wengernalpbahn reaches Lauterbrunnen and the finish area in about fifteen minutes. Mürren itself is reached onward by cable car and mountain railway.
Why base myself at Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn for the Inferno?
The Inferno draws thousands into the valley for one long weekend, and beds go early, so book your January stay in good time. Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn stands a few steps from the Wengen railway station, making the finish line a short ride away. You come back to a quiet car-free village, with Wengen's largest wellness area for tired legs and the hotel restaurants for the evening after.