At 20:00 on Friday 22 January 2027 the 19th Moonlight Classic starts from Compatsch: a night cross-country race, classic technique only, over 15 or 30 km on a course lit by torches. For spectators there is a party from 16:00 and the cable car is free from 18:00.
The Moonlight Classic is a cross-country ski race held at night on the Alpe di Siusi. The 19th edition sets off at 20:00 on Friday 22 January 2027, with a mass start at Compatsch. It is classic technique only, over two distances: 15 km, the easy course, and 30 km, the demanding one, both finishing back at Compatsch. The course is marked with torches, a thousand of them according to the Ski Classics circuit.
Since 2025 the 30 km has been part of the Ski Classics Challengers, and the event website lists 15,600 euro in prize money. In 2026 it was won by Stefano Mich and Oda Nerdrum.
For spectators the evening starts well before the gun. There is a party with local food from 16:00, and from 19:00 alphorn players, Goaßlschnöller whip crackers and Plattler dancers perform; at 20:05, just after the start, comes the show ‘Pioneers of winter sports’. The first 15 km finishers are expected from 20:35, and the prize-giving is at 22:00 in the marquee.
Where Moonlight Classic on the Alpe di Siusi falls in the Dolomites year, and what happens in the other weeks: Best time to visit the Dolomites: a month-by-month guide.
Good to know
- Admission: The official pages mention no tickets for spectators, and from 18:00 they ride the Alpe di Siusi cable car for free. The 2027 entry fees are not yet published: the rules on the official site are still those of the 2026 edition.
- Spectators ride the Alpe di Siusi cable car for free from 18:00. That day it runs from 8:00 until 1:00 at night, and the last ride down to Siusi is at 1:00.
- By car: the road up to the Alpe di Siusi opens to private traffic at 17:00; during the day it is closed from 9:00 to 17:00. For parking on the plateau, see our guide to getting onto the Alpe di Siusi.
- If you are racing: bibs at the race office near the start and finish on Thursday 21 January from 15:00 to 18:00 and on Friday 22 from 9:00; late entries on the 22nd until 19:00, cash only. Racers use the cable car free all day.
Official website (tickets & info) ↗
Dates, times and prices change every year: always check the official pages before you go.