The Königssee artificial ice track was officially cleared for training and competition on 11 November 2026. According to the operators and the state government, the ice track was deemed “fit for competition” after extensive inspections. The formal reopening in Schönau am Königssee will take place at the start of the 2026/2027 winter season.
The multi-year construction work was prompted by a rockslide in July 2021, which damaged the upper section of the track in particular. Since then, safety work, planning, approvals and reconstruction have been under way. The work included structural repairs to the track, modernisation of the refrigeration systems and adjustments to the start areas and safety zones. The Berchtesgadener Land District Office and the relevant specialist authorities say that, following inspections by engineers and representatives of the sport’s governing bodies, the facility complies with current standards.
Representatives of the Free State of Bavaria and local authorities attended the opening. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann had announced in advance that he would attend the reopening as part of the German Luge Championships. The sport’s governing body regards the venue’s return as an important component of national training and competition. The German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation says the facility’s reopening will ease scheduling, which has relied on alternative venues since 2021.
The operators expect the track to resume hosting regular training groups and national competitions in the near future. The relevant governing bodies will decide separately on any international events. At the time the track was cleared, specific bookings beyond the current season had not yet been finalised.
For the region, Berchtesgadener Land also stands to benefit economically from the facility’s return to service. Besides elite sport, the local infrastructure benefits from scheduled bookings, teams and specialist staff travelling to the area, and associated services. At the same time, the facility remains exposed to natural hazards. The authorities say that protective and monitoring measures have been strengthened; further investment in slope stabilisation and technical resilience remains on the agenda. The relevant authorities are expected to provide figures on total costs and future construction phases once ongoing reviews have been completed.
The clearance marks the end of a period of inactivity lasting several years for one of Germany’s most historic ice tracks. For decades, the Königssee artificial ice track was a key venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Its return to operation now builds on that role, while also incorporating modernised technology and tighter safety controls.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).