Cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

The following is about the qualification rules and the quota allocation for the cross-country skiing events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. ^[1]

Qualification rules

Quotas

A maximum of 296 athletes are allowed to compete in cross-country skiing, 148 men and 148 women. A maximum of 16 athletes per nation will be allowed to compete with a maximum of 8 males or 8 females from a nation being permitted. A nation may not enter more than four athletes in any single event. Each nation may also enter a maximum of one team in each gender's team combined events.

'A' Standard

An athlete who has less than 150.00 FIS Distance points on the list published on 19 January 2026, can be entered in the distance and/or sprint events.

'B' Standard

An athlete who has not met the 'A' standard, but has less than 350.00 FIS Distance points may be entered in the 15 km men's or 10 km women's race, and team events (relay and team sprint). Similarly, athletes who have less than 350.00 FIS Sprint points may be entered in the sprint, or the team sprint.

Additional Relay eligibility

For relay events, each NOC may use an athlete who is entered in Nordic Combined or Biathlon, to a maximum of one athlete per gender, granted athletes meet the standard above.

Allocation of quotas

Basic Quota

Every NOC will be assigned one male quota spot for meeting the standard of one male athlete scoring 300.00 FIS points or less at an individual competition held at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2025 or the 2025 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships.

Every NOC will be assigned one female quota spot for meeting the standard of one female athlete scoring 330.00 FIS points or less at an individual competition held at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2025 or the 2025 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships.

NOC Quota

The FIS Cross Country Nation Ranking 2024-2025, takes into account results from each gender, will be used to allocate additional quotas per gender. Nations ranked one through five will receive four additional quotas, nations six through ten receive three, nations eleven through twenty receive two, and nations twenty-one through thirty receive one

Remaining quotas

The remainder of the quota places, up to a maximum of 138 per gender, will be distributed in four rounds using the Nation Ranking proceeding from the highest ranked nation down. Nations from 1 to 5 receive an additional quota in round one. Nations from 1 to 10 receive an additional quota in round two. Nations from 1 to 20 receive an quota in round three. All remaining quotas are distributed in round four.

Once an NOC has achieved 8 quotas per gender, it will no longer be counted, and the next eligible NOC will be allocated a place.

The remaining 10 quota places by gender will be assigned to NOCs that were not able to achieve a quota, granted all athletes have scored less than 300.00 FIS points at one FIS World Cup competition in the first World Cup period 2025/2026.

Host nation

If the host nation (Italy) is not allocated 4 quota places per gender through the qualification pathways, additional quotas will be allocated until 4 athletes per gender is reached, granted all athletes meet the standard above.

Qualification summary

NOC's with a 'basic' quota have met minimum participation standards and are assured of Olympic participation.

• As of 12 February 2025.

Nations	Women (basic) [2] [3] [4]	Men (basic) [5] [6] [7]	Additional women	Additional men	Athletes
Andorra	1 [2] [3]				1
Argentina	1 [3]	1 [6]			2
Australia	1 [2] [3]	1 [6]			2
Austria	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Belgium		1 [6]			1
Brazil		1 [7]			1
Bulgaria		1 [5] [6]			1
Canada	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Croatia	1 [3]				1
Czech Republic	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Estonia	1 [2] [3]	1 [7]			2
Finland	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
France	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Germany	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Great Britain	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Greece	1 [3]				1
Italy	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Japan	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Kazakhstan	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Latvia	1 [4]	1 [6]			2
Liechtenstein		1 [5] [6]			1
Lithuania	1 [3]				1
Montenegro		1 [6]			1
Norway	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Poland	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Romania	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Slovakia	1 [4]	1 [5] [6]			2
Slovenia	1 [2] [3]	1 [7]			2
Spain		1 [5] [6]			1
Sweden	1 [2] [3]	1 [5]			2
Switzerland	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Turkey	1 [3]	1 [6]			2
Ukraine	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
United States	1 [2] [3]	1 [5] [6]			2
Total: 34 NOCs	28	30			58

References

1. "Qualification System for XXV Olympic Winter Games, Milano Cortina 2026" (PDF). International Ski Federation (FIS). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
2. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Women's 20km Mass Start Classic Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
3. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Women's 10km Interval Start Free Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
4. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Women's Sprint Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
5. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Men's 20km Mass Start Classic Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
6. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Men's 10km Interval Start Free Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
7. "FIS U23 World Ski Championships - Men's Sprint Results". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 18 February 2025.