Biathlon competition combines the skills of cross-country skiing and rifle target shooting. Events consist of athletes racing multiple laps around a track and stopping to shoot from different positions and distances during the competition. The number of loops and stops at the shooting range vary depending on each event. All events begin and end with a loop of skiing. In all non-relay events, athletes have five rounds of ammunition to hit five targets per lap. In relay events, they have three additional spare rounds that have to manually be loaded.

The shooting portion of a biathlon competition is known as a shooting bout or shooting stage. Events either have two or four shooting bouts in Olympic biathlon. Athletes shoot in either a standing or prone position depending on which is designated for that portion of the competition. If an athlete misses a target during a bout, they incur a penalty. Either extra time is added automatically to their finish, or they have to ski a penalty loop for each missed target depending on the event.

Mixed event:

• Mixed relay 4x6km (Sunday, Feb. 8)

Men's events:

• Men’s 20km individual (Tuesday, Feb. 10)
• Men’s 10km sprint (Friday, Feb. 13)
• Men’s 12.5km pursuit (Sunday, Feb. 15)
• Men’s 4x7.5km relay (Tuesday, Feb. 17)
• Men’s 15km mass start (Friday, Feb. 20)

Women's events:

• Women’s 15km individual (Wednesday, Feb. 11)
• Women’s 7.5km sprint (Saturday, Feb. 14)
• Women’s 10km pursuit (Sunday Feb. 15)
• Women’s 4x6km relay (Wednesday, Feb. 18)
• Women’s 12.5km mass start (Tuesday, Feb. 21)

Timing and scoring rules depend on which biathlon event is taking place at the Olympics, as each competition has its own structure.

 Individual events (men’s 20km and women’s 15km): 

• Winner: fastest total time (including penalty minutes)

Sprint events (men’s 10km and women’s 7.5 km): 

• Winner: fastest total time

 Pursuit events (men’s 12.5km and women’s 10km): 

• Winner: first across the finish line

Relay events (men’s 4x7.5km and women’s 4x6km): 

• Winner: first team across the finish line

Mass start events (men’s 15km and women’s 12.5km): 

• Winner: first across the finish line

Mixed 4x6km relay: 

• Winner: first team across the finish line

In Olympic biathlon events, if an athlete misses a target during a shooting bout, they incur a penalty. Either extra time is added automatically to their finish time or they have to ski a penalty loop for each missed target, depending on the event.

In biathlon events where a 150m (just under 500 feet) penalty loop is added for a missed target, the athlete must ski the loop once for every missed target immediately after the shooting bout.

Here are the penalties assessed for each event:

• Individual events: men’s 20km and women’s 15km:  60 seconds per missed target added to an athlete’s final time
• Sprint events: men’s 10km and women’s 7.5 km: Athletes ski a 150m penalty loop (just under 500 feet) for each missed target before starting the next loop
• Pursuit events: men’s 12.5km and women’s 10km: Athletes ski a 150m penalty loop (just under 500 feet) for each missed target before starting the next loop
• Relay events: men’s 4x7.5km and women’s 4x6km: Athletes ski a 150m penalty loop (just under 500 feet) for each missed target before starting the next loop
• Mass start events: men’s 15km and women’s 12.5km: Athletes ski a 150m penalty loop (just under 500 feet) for each missed target before starting the next loop
• Mixed 4x6km relay: Athletes ski a 150m penalty loop (just under 500 feet) for any unclosed targets after the eighth shot is fired

• Eligible athletes who placed in the top six in any sprint, individual, pursuit or mass start race at the 2025 World Championship pre-qualified for the Olympics
• Athletes who do not pre-qualify for the Games based on their 2025 World Championship finish will be evaluated at the following events:
  • Roller ski trials in fall 2025
  • Pre-season on-snow selection races in fall 2025
  • 2025-26 World Cup season
  • 2025-26 IBU Cup Tour season
  • 2025 U.S. Biathlon On-Snow IBUC/WC Trials in December, 2025
• Biathlon rosters for the Olympics are expected to be announced in mid-January 2026

Starting rules:

• In events with an interval start (individual and sprint), competitors leave the starting gate at fixed intervals. Specifically, one competitor starts every 30 seconds, and the winner is the biathlete with the lowest net time (time elapsed from start to finish, plus penalty time, if applicable).
• In the pursuit events, biathletes start according to their performance in the sprint events. The winner of the sprint starts first, and the rest of the competitors start at intervals that correspond to their time behind the winner in the sprint competition. In other words, if the sprint’s second-place finisher lost the sprint by eight seconds, they would start the pursuit eight seconds after the sprint winner starts. The winner of the pursuit is the biathlete who crosses the finish line first.
• In mass start events (the men’s 15km, women’s 12.5km and the three relays), all competitors line up across the starting line and start together. In the individual races, the athletes who cross the finish line first are the winners. In relays, the first competitor for each team starts together, and each subsequent team member begins when tagged by the incoming team member in the relay hand-over zone. The winner is the team whose final member crosses the finish line first.

Finishing rules:

• In the interval start events (the individual and the sprint), competitors are ranked according to their net times after any penalties (in the individual) have been assessed. Therefore, it is possible for two competitors to record the same total time, and to tie.
• There are no ties in the mass start, pursuit or relay events, in which the first competitor to cross the finish line is the winner. In those events, a photo-finish camera is used to record the finish. For any close finishes, the decision is made according to the first part of the first foot to cross the finish line.

Skiing rules:

• Competitors must ski the stipulated competition course in the correct sequence and direction on skis, carrying their rifle and the required number of magazines and rounds, and following the marked course precisely
• Athletes cannot use any propulsion other than skis, poles and their own muscular force
• All skiing techniques are permitted
• Competitors must carry the electronic transponder device provided by the event timing firm, during the competition, attached to one or both ankles as directed. This device is required for timing and other measuring purposes.

Shooting rules:

• Rifles must be carried on the competitor’s back with both arms in the rifle carrying harness and with the barrel pointing up
• If the rifle becomes so damaged during the competition that it cannot be carried on the competitor’s back, it must be safely carried in hand to the shooting range and then must be immediately exchanged for the team reserve rifle
• All shooting during training and competition must take place at the shooting range
• In a competition, competitors must shoot after having completed each of the required sections of the course for the competition, except the last section, which ends at the finish or the relay hand-over
• Each time a competitor stops at the shooting range, they fire five rounds at five targets. The only exception to this rule is the relay event, in which competitors have three spare rounds for each time they shoot, so they have eight chances to hit the five targets before incurring a penalty.
• During any given event, half of the shooting rounds are conducted in the standing position and the other half in the prone position; the sequence varies according to the event
• Competitors are not allowed to remove their skis while shooting in either of the two positions

The shooting portion of a biathlon competition is known as a shooting bout or shooting stage. Events either have two or four shooting bouts in Olympic biathlon. Athletes shoot in either a standing or prone position depending on which is designated for that portion of the competition. If an athlete misses a target during a bout, they incur a penalty. Either extra time is added automatically to their finish or they have to ski a penalty loop for each missed target depending on the event.

Here are the formats for each biathlon event at the 2026 Games:

• Individual events: men’s 20km and women’s 15km: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line
• Sprint events: men’s 10km and women’s 7.5 km: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line
• Pursuit events: men’s 12.5km and women’s 10km: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line
• Relay events: men’s 4x7.5km and women’s 4x6km: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line
• Mass start events: men’s 15km and women’s 12.5km: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line
• Mixed 4x6km relay: lap — shoot prone — lap — shoot standing — lap — finish line

Weather, wind, and snow conditions can have a significant impact on Olympic biathlon competition. However, elite biathletes train in every kind of weather and are prepared for just about anything. They also always wear the proper clothing and use the correct equipment, which allows them to perform at their peak during competition.

Biathletes wear performance clothing during competition that helps them to be as mobile and versatile on the course as possible. They typically wear form-fitting ski suits that are insulated yet breathable, wind resistant and flexible. During colder competitions, biathletes also may wear an added base layer under their ski suit for warmth. Additionally, they typically will wear gloves, a hat and goggles or protective glasses.

Ski wax also helps provide control, increase speed and protect equipment especially during inclement weather. Glide wax is used to decrease the friction between the skis and the snow.

Difficult wind conditions can make the shooting portion of biathlon especially difficult. However, biathletes wear an arm sling that helps stabilize the rifle while shooting.