Ahead of the 2024-2025 IBU Biathlon season, several rule changes are going to come into effect. The most important changes are listed below.

Adjustment of the point system and prize money

After introducing the new point system in the previous season, the points for the upcoming biathlon season will be adjusted as follows after dialogue between the IBU and the IBU Athletes' Committee:

Prize money in the new season will increase to a total of €9.366.700,00. The biggest increase is seen in sprint, pursuit, individual and mass start (2nd-4th + 26th-30th in World Championships and 3rd-10th + 17th-29th in World Cup competitions).

In the 2025-2026 season, the prize money will stay the same as in 2024-2025 even though no World Championships are taking place. As a result, the prize money across the World Cup will be increased by €1.598.500,00. Further prize money increases are budgeted for the 2026-2027 season.

New start group system for Sprint and Individual competitions

In the upcoming season, the start group system for Sprint and Individual competitions will see the Top 15 of the Total Score Standings start their competition later in the running order, always alternating with an athlete outside the Top 30. For more information and details on the new start group system, click here.

Bibs at World Championships

The defending Champions of the previous World Championships in the respective single competition format will wear a designated golden start number during the World Championships instead of a conventional start number.

There will be no yellow, red or blue bibs at World Championships anymore.

U23 Blue Bib

After its introduction in the 2020-2021 season, the blue bib award for the best young athlete will now be handed out to the best athlete under 23 years of age (as opposed to the best athlete under 25 in the previous seasons). Additionally, the leader in the U23 category will receive €500 prize money for every competition in which they wear the blue bib.

Best Pursuit Time + Best Relay Leg Times

This season, the athletes with the best net times in the pursuits will receive an additional prize money of €2,000.

The athletes with the best leg times in relays will also receive additional prize money.

Mass Start Entries

The Mass Start competition entries will consist of the top 25 competitors in the current WC Total Score and the remaining five competitors will be filled in, in rank order from the points they have acquired at the current WC event. In case an athlete from the Top 25 of the Total Score standings cannot participate, they will be replaced with the next best athlete in points from the current World Cup event (and not the next best athlete in the World Cup Total Score).

Furthermore, the IBU Congress approved the following amendments to the IBU Constitution:

• Full integration of Para Biathlon into the IBU Constitution

• Inclusion of Biathlon Esports under the IBU Governance

• Multiple adjustments to the IBU event series setup:

  • Implementation of a Qualifying Point requirement for the IBU Cup including the IBU Open European Championships, Junior Cup and Junior World Championships, beginning with the season 2026/2027

  • Implementation of a Qualifying Point calculation for the Junior Cup and Regional Events starting with the season 2026/2026

  • New age classes for juniors and youth: Under 21, Under 19, Under 17 from 2025/2026 until 2027/2028

  • Removal of the Youth category from the Youth and Junior World Championships, starting with the 2027 edition and cancellation of the Junior Open European Championships beginning with the season 2026/2027. To replace the Youth World Championships, adequate and feasible event alternative for the youth athletes will be developed by the IBU.

• Expanding Athlete Committee Eligibility for recently retired athletes who wish to contribute

• Introduction of a Biathlon Refugee Team (BRT) for Athletes that have been granted Refugee status by a Country and by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees may be entered into International Competitions by the NF Member of their Country of residence

Additional Rule Changes

- Single Mixed Relay and Mixed Relay at IBU Cup will count toward the "Relay Discipline Score" as opposed to separate "Mixed Relay Discipline Score"