FIS Announces Azerbaijan as Global Destination Partner

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency have agreed to a partnership that positions the country as snow sports’ Global Destination Partner, the first time the international federation has appointed a global partner.

Starting with the 2025–2026 and going through the 2029–2030 season, Azerbaijan will be a premium partner of the FIS World Championships across all disciplines. The agreement also positions the country as a title partner of the FIS World Cup in Moguls, Aerials, Ski Cross, and Snowboard Cross, as well as presenting partner in Nordic Combined.

“The partnership with Azerbaijan ticks all the boxes; it brings value to the entire range of our disciplines, to further the development of snow sports across all levels – from recreational to elite – and takes us into a new exciting growth market,” said FIS President Johan Eliasch.

The core element of the partnership is to promote and develop Azerbaijan’s status as a world-class winter sports destination. The country is home to several ski resorts, including the Shahdag Mountain Resort.

“Azerbaijan is a country brimming with tourism opportunities and over the course of the last few years we have built cutting-edge infrastructure and have gained extensive experience in organizing global events,” said Fuad Naghiyev, chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. “We are inviting the world to take another look and discover our country as a wonderful place of stunning mountain ranges and snow. The Azerbaijan Tourism Board will take the lead in implementing this partnership to ensure its full impact is realized.”