Prize Money in Biathlon World Cup 2025/26 – Huge amounts waiting for athletes

The amount of prize money has been rising in Biathlon World Cup in recent years. The biggest prize sums are devided in biathlon World Championships.

In 2025/26 the prize pool in the IBU World Cup alone will increase with 1,5 million euros to a total of 8 584 000 €.

Prize money in Biathlon World Cup 2025-2026

In individual races the top 30 get their hands on the prize money. The winner of each individual race of the World Cup is rewarded with 20 000 € (last season 15 000 €).

The winning team in a four athlete relay receives a total of 30 000 euros (to share), which means 7 500 euros per person. Single mixed relay’s winning duo receive 7 500 euros each. Top eight of each relay are rewarded.

In Biathlon World Cup the athletes also receive a so-called bib-bonus, which means that the leader of the total cup and each race format (pursuit, sprint, mass start etc.) is rewarded with a bonus for each start.

The holder of the yellow bib (overall wc leader) gets a 1 400 € bonus, the holder of the red bib (discipline leader) gets 1 100 € and the holder of the blue bib (U23 leader) gets 600 €.

Below you will find the prizes for season 2025/26 in single races and the comparison with the previous season.

Biathlon World Cup Total Score prize money

The winner of the women's and men's overall World Cup will both receive a prize of 45 000 euros. By winning an overall World Cup title in one discipline (sprint, mass start, pursuit) one receives 14 000 euros.

At the end of the season ten best countries (Nations Cup) will be rewarded with prize sums for women and men. The best country will get 60 000 euros and even the 10th best country receives a nice sum, 17 000 euros.

The prize money in Biathlon World Championships

In 2026 there will be no biathlon World Championships due to Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.

Besides medals, extra earnings are a good motivation for athletes in the Biathlon World Championships. Prizes are awarded to top 30 athletes. The top three receive 25 000, 20 000 and 15 000 euros.

The prize sums are nice in the relays as well, since the winning team is rewarded with 30 000 euros. The top eight countries in single mixed relay are also rewarded, and the winning duo receives 7 500 euros each.

Prize money in biathlon IBU Cup

Also at the second tier of biathlon, the IBU Cup, prize money is awarded to the best performers in the individual races. The sums are, of course, considerably more modest than in the World Cup. In individual races, prize money is awarded to the top eight, and in relays, the top six teams are rewarded.

Prize money in the biathlon Open European Championships

In the Open European Championships, which are part of the IBU Cup, the prize money is slightly higher. In the European Championships, the top 10 athletes in individual races are rewarded, and in relays, the top 8 nations.






Source: IBU