Luge at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

The qualification process for the five luge events at the 2026 Winter Olympics is based on performance of competitors at five designated events. Results at these events determine the Olympic Qualification ranking list that is used for quota allocation to National Olympic Committees (NOC). ^[1]

Qualification rules

Maximum quota places per event

There will be five luge events at the 2026 Winter Olympics: singles and doubles for both men and women, and a relay event. A maximum of 126 quota spots are available to athletes to compete at the games. A maximum 59 men and 47 women may qualify with the following event specific maximums in place. ^[1]

Maximum quota places per event
	Men	Women
singles	25	25
doubles	17	11
relay	11

In men's and women's singles events the top fifteen NOCs first qualify one athlete. Then, NOCs second best athletes are ranked and the best seven of those qualify. Finally, NOCs third best ranked athletes are compared, and the best three of those qualify. In men's doubles the top fourteen qualify one pair, three of those NOCs qualify a second pair. In women's doubles the top eleven ranked NOCs qualify one pair. If an event quota is not filled through this method then the next NOC who has not received a quota is eligible. If there is still quotas remaining then the next ranked athletes will be used respecting the NOC maximum of three per individual event and two per doubles event. ^[1]

Neutral athletes

On 31 October 2025, the CAS ruled that Russian athletes who satisfied the IOC's rules for neutral status should be allowed to qualify to the Olympics. However, the ruling carried nothing binding that required the FIL to include neutrals in their competitions. ^[2]

Olympic Qualification ranking events

The following five stages of the 2025–26 Luge World Cup and one Olympic test event, count towards the Olympic Qualification ranking list. ^[3] Originally 'stage 1' was to have been at Innsbruck on 4–7 December 2025, but track reconstruction forced changes to the world cup schedule and the FIL chose to include the Olympic test event rather than have two out of five qualifying races in Winterberg. ^[4]

• Stage 1: Cortina d'Ampezzo, 27–30 November 2025 (Olympic test event)
• Stage 2: Park City, 10–13 December 2025
• Stage 3: Lake Placid, 17–21 December 2025
• Stage 4: Sigulda, 30 December 2025–4 January 2026
• Stage 5: Winterberg, 6–11 January 2026

Quota allocation

After stage 2.

Current summary

Nations	Men's	Men's Doubles	Women's	Women's Doubles	Relay	Athletes
Argentina			1			1
Australia	1					1
Austria	3	2	3	1		12
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1					1
Canada	1	1	2	1		7
China		1	1	1		5
Czech Republic	1					1
Germany	3	2	3	1		12
Individual Neutral Athletes			1			1
Italy	3	2	2	1		11
Latvia	2	2	2	1		10
Poland		1	1	1		3
Romania	1	1	1	1		6
Slovakia	2	2		1		7
South Korea	1		1			2
Sweden	1		1			2
Switzerland			1			1
Ukraine	2	1	2	1		8
United States	2	2	3	1		11
Total: 19 NOCs	25	17	25	11	8	126

Men

singles

Sleds qualified	Countries	Athletes total	Nation
3	3	9	Austria   Germany   Italy
2	4	8	Latvia   United States   Slovakia   Ukraine
1	8	8	Australia   Czech Republic   Sweden   Japan   Romania   Canada   Bosnia and Herzegovina   South Korea
25	15	25

doubles

Sleds qualified	Countries	Athletes total	Nation
2	6 [a]	24	Germany   Austria   United States   Italy   Latvia   Slovakia
1	5	10	Poland   Romania   China   Ukraine   Canada
17	11	34

1. only eleven NOCs are ranked so three more would be elevated to qualifying two sleds each to fulfill quota.

Women

singles

Sleds qualified	Countries	Athletes total	Nation
3	3	9	Austria   Germany   United States
2	4	8	Italy   Latvia   Canada   Ukraine
1	8	8	Switzerland   Poland   South Korea   Sweden   China   Individual Neutral Athletes   Romania   Argentina
25	15	25

doubles

Sleds qualified	Countries	Athletes total	Nation
1	11	22	Germany   Austria   Italy   United States   Latvia   Canada   Poland   Ukraine   Romania   Slovakia   China
11	11	22

Next eligible NOC per event

If a country rejects a quota spot, then additional quotas become available. A country can be eligible for one quota spot per event in the reallocation process.

Men's singles	Men's doubles	Women's singles	Women's doubles
Individual Neutral Athletes   China   Great Britain   Finland   Poland	Romania   Ukraine	Ireland   South Korea   Great Britain   Estonia	Germany   Italy   United States   Latvia   Austria

References

1. "How team Canada can qualify for Milano Cortina 2026". Olympics.ca. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
2. "Russian athletes get legal win ahead of Olympics in luge appeal case". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
3. "Qualification Systems for XXV Olympic Winter Games, Milano Cortina 2026" (PDF). FIL luge.com. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
4. "Olympic Test Event in Cortina upgraded: First qualifying race for Milano Cortina 2026 confirmed – World Cup opener moved to Winterberg". fil-luge.org. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.

External links

• Qualification system published by FIL luge.