New Map Ochsenkopf 2026
New Map Ochsenkopf 2026
New Map Ochsenkopf 2026
We have been been busy and a lot has happened since the last news.
In May, all the course designs were finalized and we pre-marked 240 controls. Naturally, that lead to the usual discussions about the best control locations, improving the map, adjusting the courses and so on…. Finally we got to a point where we are convinced that we have included many good control locations plus some really great ones! The map has a lot to offer and in general the courses are technically demanding, as there are many larger stone fields, some with 10m high rocks.
We have also enlarged, to the north, and completed the map for the MTBO. Unfortunately, a cold front passed through that day and we had snow: it was freezing cold in the middle of May!! Mark set the courses for the middle distance MTBO (Saturday), and the course data has now also been published, here is the link to the MTB page.
The course information for all 5 days has now been published. There are some minor changes, but that should be it set now! We have confirmed the catering, with the folks at the local ski club in Fichtelberg/Neubau and the proceeds will go towards their youth programme. In Weissenstadt on day 5, the local butcher's will provide the catering and I'm looking forward to a few local delicacies. During the period of the BF5Days the open air summer cinema has screenings in the Spa Park in Bad Weißenstadt, where our WKZ will be. Do check out the movie schedule for during those days.
Our 2026 OL Shirt has been receiving some positive feedback and pre orders are up this year. You have until the 20th June 2026 to place your pre orders for the 2026 Shirt, Lederhosen Shirt, BF5Days T-shirts and Hoodies and qualify for the discounted Pre Order price. As in previous years, we will have a few extra sizes/colours on sale at the Event Centre at Event prices.
The day to day information has been updated with some changes to the Start locations. Be sure to check these out here.
Something that is important to me personally, is our Hall of Fame All Stars. We are very proud that many of you have supported the BF5Days every year for the last 4 years. Simon now keeps a record of all orienteers who have taken part in all the 4 BF5Days, and their rankings. 2025 was the first time we honoured the first 3 All Stars and we plan to do this again in 2026 as part of the 5th anniversary of the BF5Days. Whoever makes it for the 10th anniversary is guaranteed a special prize! Let me share our Hall of Fame with you, click th botton below. Please let me know if you think there are any discrepancies.
Knödel Relay: don’t forget your relay team planning! Remember, your team does not have to come from the same club. There is no minimum number of women/men/kids in a relay team and must consist of 3 runners with at least 7 points total. See here for more details.
For the BF5Days 2026 Shirts we have come up with something a little bit special and hope you think the same. We wanted to project the images of the dark forests of the Ochsenkopf so that you’ll stand out when wearing the shirt, regardless of the event. Along with our classic BF5Days T-Shirts and hoodies, the OL Shirt can be ordered via our online shop. Collection of pre-orders is then at the Event Centre during the event, 1-5 August 2026.
Of course, we will have a few extra OL Shirts produced for sale on the day, but to guarantee the correct size, at a cheaper price, we recommend you pre-order.
Deadline for pre-orders via the webshop is the 20th June 2026 for the discounted Pre Order price.
After Ingo completed the map in October, we took advantage of the fantastic autumn weather and spent a few days in the Ochsenkopf area of the Fichtelgebirge.
We've now finalized the Start and Finish for all four days. You will be happy to hear that there will once again be short distances from/to the Event Centre to the Start and Finish. The course setters have been busy and tested out their course concepts and already visited most of the control points. Ingo's map is massive and covers almost the entire eastern part of the Ochsenkopf. You can see current map samples on this page. On each of the four days, we will run on a different part of the map, with three of those days finishing directly at the Event Centre. This also means that you can leave your club tents at the Event Centre for all four days! One of the days will be in a classic rock labyrinth with a map scale of 1:5000. Roland will be setting those courses.
During that first week of November, we explored all the paths and rideable mountain bike tracks and finalised the map for the MTBO. We were pleasantly surprised by the sheer number and variety of local restaurants on offer and managed to eat very well at a different one every evening, while sampling the local beer…in the name of research. You certainly won't go hungry, or thirsty! There are also a varied range of accommodation options available and as mentioned before, they don’t automatically appear on booking.com but mostly via the local tourism office portals. See our page on Accommodation.
As for the city sprint in Bad Weissenstadt, we met up with the local butcher, who will be providing the catering during the Sprint day, with his Mobile Grill Wagon. We have the important things ticked off the list!
After our recce we had enough details to define the key points of the individual competitions days. While there will be still some small changes, we have compiled a PDF with the key information:
We've been planning where to have the BF5Days 2026 since mid-2024. After spending four years in the Bavarian Forest, we're now moving to a completely new orienteering area for 2026: the Fichtelgebirge in northern Bavaria. (BF5Days = Bavarian Fichtelgebirge 5 Days). The Fichtelgebirge area is easily accessible via the two motorways on either side of the area, and can also be reached by train and bus. It's only 40 km from the Czech border and is no further distance than Philippsreut was from the Swiss border.
Of course, the Fichtelgebirge has a lot to offer: stunning natural scenery with endless forests that invite you to hike, run, and cycle. There are amazing rock formations, summit towers, and a wide range of accommodation options, from simple campsites to wellness resorts!
We're planning to run for four days on and around Ochsenkopf mountain, one of the most distinctive peaks in the region. The Event Centre, will be located at the Biathlon Centre in Neubau. Day 5’s traditional city sprint will take place in the historical town of Bad Weissenstadt, with the Event Centre directly on the lake.
Many key points have already been finalized: on the 2026 Event Details subpage, you'll find Bulletin 1 with the schedule, format, categories, etc. After it's success in 2025, the Knödel Relay will return: a short but intense three-person relay for all of you who enjoy the action of an orienteering relay. It will take place on Monday, Day 3. New for 2026: a MTBO on the afternoon of Days 1 and 2 after the orienteering competitions. Anyone who enjoys cycling in addition to running should definitely bring their mountain bike. We want to open up the beautiful forests around the Ochsenkopf to all you MTBO riders as well. Both MTBO days will count towards the Germany Cup.
There will, of course, be a 2026 orienteering shirt again. We're still working on the design so keep checking the website for updates.
Feel free to contact me with any questions. Otherwise, I'll see you in the Fichtelgebirge in 2026. I'm looking forward to it!
Registration for 2026 is now open on Orienteering Online: you can register for 2026. As with every year, the first 9 participants to register AND pay their entry fees will receive their own golden start number!
At the last Bayern Cup, we (the BF5Days Team) received a very special honour: for our services to Bavarian Orienteering through the organization of the BF5Days, Peter and the entire organizing team were awarded the "Wollperdinger" Award by the Association for the Support of Orienteering in Bavaria. This honour goes especially to all those helpers in the background who are out pre-marking and setting up controls, providing parking services, and making the big clean up after the event.
Thanks to our most important Partner!
Organizing and running a 5 day orienteering event in Bavarian forest is a fairly big undertaking, including over a year of planning, many visits to the area as well as hours on the computer, by many people. Here is a short list what you are getting for your entry fee:
• Free parking on all 5 days, no extra parking fees! We will rent the entire car park at the event centre from the local council. This is usually pay as you park, but with this arrangment there are no additional costs to our participants.
• 4 high quality forest maps, made by Ingo Horst. Ingo updates these maps again 1 month before the event!
• Land usage fees we have to pay to the property owners: Permission to run in these forests does not come cheaply.
• A well-oiled IT and timing machine: Live results, monitors and publications of the results directly after the run.
• All other services a large orienteering event offers: all relevant permission, price giving ceremony and class prices, food and drink providers, toilets, orienteering shop and a competent and friendly event team
Our staff team 2024 on the Almberg
Our staff team 2025 on the Dreisessel
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