NCAA moves 2026 Ski Championships to Utah; Park City and Midway

The NCAA has relocated the 2026 National Collegiate Ski Championships to Utah, naming the University of Utah as host and scheduling Alpine competition at the Spencer F. Eccles Olympic Mountain Center at Utah Olympic Park in Park City and Nordic events at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway for March 11-14. The move keeps the four-day championship dates unchanged and concentrates venues inside the Park City-Midway area.

NCAA officials and local outlets said the relocation followed an assessment of Bozeman-area conditions and a shortfall of snowfall. The National Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Skiing Committee made the decision and the Division I Cabinet Subcommittee approved the new host site, according to the NCAA press release published Feb. 17 by Greg Johnson. Park Record and SWX Local Sports also reported the same venue assignments and dates in follow-up coverage.

Jim Dwyer, committee chair and director of skiing and head coach of Alpine skiing at Dartmouth, summed up the committee’s view: "The NCAA Championships are the premier event of the year for our skiing student-athletes, and while we are unable to compete in Montana as we had planned, the skiing committee is very appreciative for all the efforts that Montana State University has made to prepare for a successful championship. The unprecedented lack of snow has forced the championships to Utah, where we are confident that we will have the championship event that we have become accustomed to having. I want to thank both Montana State and the University of Utah for their efforts as we navigate this change of venue."

The competition schedule remains: giant slalom on March 11, 7.5K classic interval-start Nordic races on March 12, slalom on March 13 and 20K freestyle mass-start Nordic races on March 14, according to Park Record and SWX Local Sports. Organizers emphasized the same race order will be preserved despite the venue change.

Montana State University had been set to serve as the original host with Bridger Bowl Ski Area slated for Alpine and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center for Nordic events. Park Record noted Montana State race organizers made substantial preparations but faced insufficient snowfall this winter, a challenge cited across NCAA, Park Record and SWX Local Sports reporting.

Local media added context for Summit County and Wasatch Back venues: Park Record reported the relocation does not affect a prior announcement that Utah will also host the 2028 NCAA Ski Championships, with Vermont scheduled for 2027. NBC Montana posted video coverage of the move on Feb. 19, summarizing the shift and listing Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow as the replacement sites.

The NCAA announcement did not include estimates of local economic impact, detailed lodging or shuttle plans for teams, or statements from Montana State or University of Utah leadership; those operational details remain outstanding as organizers and host venues finalize logistics in the weeks before the March 11 start.