Stifel Killington Cup Returns to Vermont Over Thanksgiving Weekend 2026
KILLINGTON, Vt. (June 15, 2026) – Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America, concluded its winter 2025-26 season on Monday, May 25, after 183 days of skiing and riding, the longest season in the East. The resort will welcome the Stifel Killington Cup back to Superstar over Thanksgiving weekend 2026, hosting the Audi FIS Ski World Cup event for the ninth time from November 27-29.
“This season was another strong reminder of what makes Killington special: dedicated employees, passionate guests, signature events, and a continued focus on reinvesting in the resort experience,” said Mike Solimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “We invested heavily in the mountain experience this year, including the new Superstar Six and continued snowmaking upgrades across the resort. Those investments support both the longest season in the East and the return of one of the most energetic stops on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour this November.”
Killington and Pico Mountain were part of a strong winter season for Vermont’s ski industry, which reported 4.36 million skier visits during the 2025-26 season, according to the Vermont Ski Areas Association. That total marked a 4.7% increase over the previous year, an 11% increase over the 10-year average and the state’s best visitation since the 2014-15 season. Combined skier visits at Killington and Pico increased 4.5% year over year, closely tracking Vermont’s statewide growth and underscoring the strength of the resort’s winter season.
During the final weekend of winter 2025-26, Killington once again hosted a three-sport weekend, offering skiing and riding, mountain biking, and golf over Memorial Day weekend. The resort also offered $40 winter lift tickets, with all proceeds benefiting the Killington Rec Department’s new pool and pool house construction project, resulting in a $15,000 donation to the project. Killington also honored Memorial Day by offering free skiing and riding, mountain biking and golf on Monday, May 25, to active duty, honorably discharged and retired members of the U.S. Military.
During Killington’s second winter season under independent ownership, guests experienced several major improvements across the resort, including the completion of a multi-year investment in more than 1,000 low-energy snowguns, the new Superstar Six chairlift, a new gondola barn and new cabins for the Skyeship Gondola, the new Ledgewood Yurt and the upgraded Superstar Umbrella Bar. Since becoming independently owned, Killington has committed a total of $65 million to capital improvement projects, including $25 million in projects planned for this summer and fall across Killington and Pico Mountain. Work is already underway on the resort’s latest lift project, the replacement of the Snowdon Triple with a new fixed-grip quad chairlift from Doppelmayr, which is set to debut this upcoming winter.
The impact of those investments is especially clear on Superstar, where the new Superstar Six and more than 100 new low-energy snowguns now support one of the most important early-season race venues in the country. That snowmaking capacity is a major part of Killington’s ability to host the Audi FIS Ski World Cup over Thanksgiving weekend, a window few venues in the East can reliably support.
The Stifel Killington Cup will again be the first Audi FIS Ski World Cup race on American soil during the 2026-27 season. The event returns to Killington after the 2025 U.S. women’s World Cup races were held at Copper Mountain while the Superstar Six was under construction. One of the most attended women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in the world, the Stifel Killington Cup is expected to draw 40,000 fans throughout the weekend.
Coming off an Olympic year, this year’s Stifel Killington Cup field is expected to feature many athletes who competed in the 2026 Winter Games, including multiple Olympic medalists scheduled to return to Superstar. Expected competitors include Olympic gold medalists Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States and Federica Brignone of Italy, along with American Olympic medalist Paula Moltzan. The annual athlete bib draw is set for Friday, November 27, followed by giant slalom and slalom races on Saturday, November 28, and Sunday, November 29.
“The Stifel Killington Cup has become one of the premier women’s alpine racing events on the World Cup circuit and we’re excited to bring it back to Vermont this November,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Killington’s fans and the broader New England ski community create an incredible atmosphere for our athletes, and we look forward to seeing that energy this winter.”
View high-resolution images & b-roll of spring skiing and riding at Killington Resort and the 2024 Stifel Killington Cup.
About Killington Resort
Located in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Killington Resort has earned its moniker “The Beast of the East” with four seasons of adventure spread across six peaks, plus Pico Mountain. With the most expansive snowmaking and lift system in Eastern North America, Killington offers more than 200 trails and 92 miles of diverse snow sports terrain, including a world-class terrain park network and the longest season in the East. During the summer, Killington features a destination bike park with 30 miles of mountain biking trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, the family-friendly Snowshed Adventure Center, plus 15 miles of hiking trails. With elevated on-mountain dining, a plethora of après options and a commitment to investment, quality and the environment, Killington is a can’t-miss destination for the whole family. Killington is locally and independently owned and looking forward to a bright future including the forthcoming Great Gulf Village and more. Visit killington.com for more information and be social with #bethebeast.
Contact: Amy Laramie, VP of Marketing & Events
Cell: (201) 230-9084
Email: communications@killington.com