The "Rocks of Russia" festival in the Elbrus region will connect two centuries of mountaineering.

From June 9-15, the Baksan Gorge in Kabardino-Balkaria will host the all-Russian climbing festival "Rocks of Russia. Elbrus 2026" for the third time, a joint project of the country's rock climbing and mountaineering federations.

Participants will explore cliffs near the town of Tyrnyauz and the surrounding area of ​​the Dzhan-Tugan alpine camp. Hundreds of routes are divided into three disciplines: lead climbing; bouldering—short, challenging routes without ropes; and multi-pitch routes on steep cliffs.

In addition to the festival's free climbing, the program includes a stage of the Russian Mountaineering Cup in the "class-rock" discipline, the Russian Armed Forces Climbing Championship, the Open Women's Mountaineering Cup, the FAR Cup, a bouldering contest featuring leading Russian rock climbers, and a "Beginners" category for those with up to one year of climbing experience.

This year, the organizers added a special Women's Cup category—" 1936-2026 ." It is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the first ascent in the history of Russian mountaineering by an all-female team.

"In the summer of 1936, three Leningrad climbers—Maria Potapova, Konstantsiya Narbut, and Natalia Sidorova—climbed the main summit of Dombay-Ulgen (4,046 m) via a 3B-category route. "Today, it's very exciting and honorable to announce a nomination in honor of our brave Soviet climbers," notes Irina Morozova, initiator of the first FAR Women's Mountaineering Cup, one of the masterminds behind the Steel Angel award, and senior coach of the Rocks of Russia: Elbrus 2026 festival.

The main prize in the special nomination is a certificate for ten-day accommodation at Bezengi, one of the country's most historic mountaineering bases.

"This semantic emphasis is very close to our hearts. During the Soviet years, the Elbrus region became the birthplace of mass mountaineering in the country. Schools, routes, and entire generations of climbers were established here. This theme is one of the key ones in our "Archive of Heights" project, where we explore and collect the legacy of Soviet highland architecture, science, and recreational culture—everything that makes Elbrus legendary. "And when heritage has multiple voices—sports, research, and culture—it becomes a living part of today's landscape," explains Khasan Timizhev, Executive Director of Kavkaz.RF.

Alongside the competitions, the festival will also feature a Multi-Pitch School (a training program on climbing techniques on long, multi-pitch routes). This year, it will be held in an expanded format: basic and advanced modules, as well as a separate trad module for working with your own anchors. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate in the mountaineering training program.

Registration continues via the mobile app. The festival is also open to spectators: you can climb the cliffs and watch the climbing freely during the competition days. According to the organizers, the most spectacular event is night bouldering.

The festival organizers are the Russian Climbing Federation, the Russian Mountaineering Federation, the Ministry of Sports of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, and the Central Sports Club of the Army. Media partner: Kavkaz.RF.

Elbrus Resort staff laid flowers at the "Heroes of the Defense of Elbrus Region" memorial, located on the slope of Mount Elbrus in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

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The monument was erected in 1987, based on a design by Viktor Savostikov, Valery Korneev, and Nikolai Kravchenko. The "Heroes of the Defense of Elbrus Region" monument is dedicated to all those who died defending the impregnable slopes of Elbrus during the Great Patriotic War.

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Construction of the "Heroes of the Defense of Elbrus Region" monument began in 1986 and was completed a year later, with the grand opening taking place on May 9. The monument consists of seven aluminum steles of varying heights, the central one reaching four and a half meters, mounted on a two-meter-thick foundation made of stone blocks. The steles contain the names of 219 Heroes of the Soviet Union who died in the battles on Elbrus.

From May 2nd to 8th, Elbrus will host the 17th edition of the Red Fox Elbrus Race 2026 festival.

On May 3rd, the individual ski mountaineering race will take place. This sport debuted at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Nikita Filippov, a regular participant in the Red Fox Elbrus Race, won silver in the sprint. The Elbrus race will be the final stage of the Russian Cup and a powerful conclusion to the season for professional athletes.

On May 5th, the vertical kilometer race will take place from 2,450 to 3,450 meters. This is the largest race of the festival and a stage of the Russian Cup. Skyrunners must complete the race within two hours.

On May 7th, the sky marathon race will take place, a race to the Western Summit of Elbrus (5,642 meters). The race will be held in two stages: from the Azau glade (2,350 m) and from the Bochki shelter (3,750 m).

Participants include national team representatives, winners of national championships, and World Cup stages. Athletes of any experience are also eligible to participate in the overall standings in all three events.

Elbrus has launched its annual training camp for professional athletes, including alpine skiers and freestyle skiers. Students from sports schools in Moscow, the Moscow region, and Minsk are grooming the Garabashi-Mir trail. Sixty-five people have arrived, and in May, they will be joined by members of the Russian national teams, including Paralympic athletes.

The operations team meticulously prepares the trail twice a day: for both athletes and resort guests. A special sports slope on the famous Garabashi Glacier will also be in operation in May.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, Kabardino-Balkarian Sports Minister Islam Khasanov, and Kavkaz.RF Deputy Director General Khisa Bekkaev met in an unusual location – at an altitude of 4,000 meters, at the Elbrus resort.

They discussed creating infrastructure for year-round training for national teams of Russia and other friendly countries.

Here, climbers from all over the world prepare to conquer Europe's highest peak, Mount Elbrus.

Elbrus welcomes the strongest freeriders to its slopes.

From March 25-29, the AlpIndustria chain of stores will host the final stage of the Freeride World Qualifier competition in Russia. Three stars offer more challenging terrain than 1- and 2-star levels, and riders earn more points toward qualifying for international competitions, the Freeride World Tour.

Brothers Marat and Kaisyn Uzdenov held a preparatory training session at Elbrus before the competition.

Elbrus is updating its hotel landscape.

Elbrus Group has received a positive assessment from the Main State Expertise Authority (Glavgosexpertiza) and is preparing to build a new complex in the Azau glade.

The complex will include:

Five four-star hotels with 600 rooms.

A children's entertainment center (cafe, play areas for children up to three years old, areas for workshops, board games, and active games).

SPA (saunas, hammam, group exercise room, and cardiovascular equipment).

Restaurants, a conference and banquet hall, meeting rooms, and shops.

All buildings are designed with the needs of guests with limited mobility in mind: wheelchair turning areas, handrails, and adjoining rooms for accompanying persons.

Opening is scheduled for the end of 2028. At the same time, four more cable cars in the eastern sector, near the observatory, will be launched.

Upcoming events calendar at Elbrus.

March 25-29 — Final stage of the main freeride competition, FWQ 3* (registration is now open!). Spectacular tricks and graceful lines from the most experienced riders.

May 2-8 — Red Fox Elbrus Race: this will bring together skyrunning, ski mountaineering, and snowshoeing enthusiasts.

August 1-3 — Alpindustria Elbrus Race trail running festival, with a 131-km lead course, a "ring" around Elbrus.

June 9-15 — Rocks of Russia climbing festival.

Almost 70 km of eco-trails have been laid, including 12 km of new routes. The high-altitude ones will open in July, while the lower ones will become accessible earlier, in June.

Thanks to the Garabashi Glacier, the resort remains a training and educational base this summer: it will host National League of Instructors courses, and the Russian alpine skiing and freestyle skiing teams will also attend. Training will culminate with the Elbrus Prize competition for teenagers aged 12-15, a giant slalom race at an altitude of 4,100 meters.

Evening skiing on Elbrus has become a daily occurrence.

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to the Krugozor-Azau trail," guests are reacting to the news from Kavkaz.RF about the introduction of daily evening skiing. Elbrus' lower trail attracts up to 500 riders at a time and serves as a source of inspiration for creating atmospheric content.

"It's important that the trail's level is suitable not only for professionals but also for intermediate skiers. Although we regularly see local FWQ champions Idris Uzdenov, Alim Matkovskiy, Sofia Vukovich, and others on it. The decision to offer daily evening skiing certainly forces the operations department to work significantly harder, but it's all done for the guests, their experiences, and their joy," says Khisa Bekkaev, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, responsible for resort operations.

Night skiing has become the most anticipated new feature of the 2025/2026 winter season, along with the eastern sector ski area. Fifty-four illuminated masts were installed specifically for this ski area along a 2.4-kilometer stretch. Since its launch, 7,500 people have enjoyed the "evening skiing."

"Night skiing is the best thing that has ever happened to the Krugozor-Azau trail. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, and now every day! Life on Elbrus will now be vibrant in the evenings," shares rider and blogger Darina Dzhappueva.

Every evening, guests can enjoy fresh corduroy skis when the lights are turned on. A ski pass costs less than a day pass – 2,200 rubles for adults and 1,300 rubles for children. A special offer applies when purchasing online: a 10% discount thanks to instant cashback when paying via the fast payment system.

The team from the travel show "Let's Go!" visited Mount Elbrus.

While filming a segment about the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the show's television crew landed at 3,912 meters—at the high-altitude Liprus Hotel. They experienced all the joys of acclimatization and rehearsed preparations for the climb.

"Let's Go!" has been airing on Channel One since 2022. The hosts have traveled throughout the Caucasus, visiting North Ossetia, Kislovodsk, Arkhyz, and Dagestan, and have returned to the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic for the second time.

The highest hotel on Elbrus will operate under the Cosmos brand.

Russia's leading hotel operator, Cosmos Hotel Group, and the development institute Kavkaz.RF signed an agreement to jointly develop hotel services for mountain climbers at the Elbrus resort in Kabardino-Balkaria. The first stage of the collaboration was the transfer of the existing high-altitude Leaprus hotel and shelter, located at an altitude of 3,912 meters above sea level, to the Cosmos brand and franchise, guaranteeing operation according to the service and quality standards of the national operator.

With the start of the new 2026 mountaineering season, which traditionally runs from April to September, the eco-hotel LeapRus will open as the Cosmos Elbrus Leaprus Camp. It is now available for reservations on the Cosmos Hotel Group website for stays from April to September 2026. Additionally, the property will be included in the Cosmos Stars loyalty program, allowing members to pay for their stays with accumulated points.

The eco-hotel was built in 2013 and is located at an altitude of 3,912 meters above sea level near the Garabashi cable car station at the Elbrus resort. The nearest settlement is the village of Terskol. The hotel's reception desk is located on the Azau glade, next to the cable car ticket offices.

The hotel has become an acclimatization and recreation center for professional climbers and those pursuing active or ecotourism at the summit of Elbrus. For comfortable accommodation, the hotel offers a total of 34 beds in modules equipped with heating, hot water, and a shower, a dressing area, and a large panoramic window overlooking the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. Wi-Fi is available on site, along with a cafeteria and a drying room for gear. At night, the hotel grounds are illuminated and equipped with a signaling system.

"For us, this is a landmark project and the first highest-altitude hotel in Europe under our brand." "It's important for us to create and develop high-quality hotel services for a wide range of guests, including extreme tourists and mountain climbers. I am confident that the combined experience and expertise of Cosmos Hotel Group and the Kavkaz.rf development institute will create a comfortable vacation for those from all over the world who conquer Elbrus," noted Alexander Biba, President of Cosmos Hotel Group.

"All projects related to the Elbrus highlands are, by default, the 'most challenging' in the country: first and foremost, the most technically and logistically complex. We are currently continuing to build infrastructure for climbing: we are constructing a 68-bed alpine village and preparing to begin construction on the 'Shelter of Eleven,' so our experience in developing high-altitude hotel services will be more in demand than ever in the coming years. Furthermore, working on the mountain is a transformative experience akin to climbing: those who overcome the challenges here will be able to achieve any heights on the plains." "Therefore, I am confident that the experience of working with Leaprus will influence the overall operations of Cosmos Hotel Group," said Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF.

Earlier, at the Caucasus Investment Forum, Cosmos Hotel Group and the development institute Kavkaz.RF signed an agreement on the joint development of tourism and training for the hospitality industry in the North Caucasus regions.

Elbrus is the legendary and highest mountain resort in the country, offering guests access to an altitude of 3,847 meters above sea level. It has been operating since the 1970s and remains one of the country's leading centers for skiing, sports, and mountaineering. Kavkaz.RF is managing the resort's modernization: this season, the ski area has been expanded and a snowmaking system has been launched, extending what is already the longest ski season in Russia—from November to July.

LeapRus is one of the highest hotels in the world, a modern acclimatization base for climbers, boasting comforts unusual for an altitude of 3,912 meters: electricity, hot water, internet access, and drying chambers. In the main cabin, you can prepare your own meals or dine buffet-style. Two living modules accommodate 24 guests.

The hotel was built by the Italian company Leapfactory for the North Caucasus Mountain Club. Heat recovery technology, LED lighting, and the insulating and antibacterial properties of the materials all contribute to the complex's maximum autonomy, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness. The dismountable capsule elements, mounted to the foundation using helicopters, ensure seismic resistance for all structures.

The hotel complex's architecture—sleek design, portholes, panoramic glazing, and geometric lines—refers to retrofuturism and mid-century modernism.

Cosmos Hotel Group is a leading federal hotel operator in Russia, founded in 2018. The company's portfolio includes 44 hotels, ranging in category from 3* (city hotels) to 5* (premium hotels, including resort complexes), in 28 Russian cities. The company manages assets with over 11,500 rooms.

By winter, builders at Kavkaz.RF are preparing the long-awaited lighting for the slopes. This means that the resort will soon offer a new service—evening skiing.

The first section to be lit will be Azau–Krugosor. Fifty-four masts will be installed along this 2.4 km section, on which the lights will be mounted. Some of the masts will be 16 meters high, classic, and three will be 20 meters high. They will be located in the run-out zone at Polyana Azau and will illuminate the entire area.

The artificial snowmaking system on the slopes will also be upgraded before the start of the season: specialists are building a second pumping station and two transformer stations, and laying 3.3 km of pipes.

The lighting and snowmaking systems will be ready at the resort by early November, and Elbrus will be ready to welcome all ski lovers for the 56th time!

Over 3,700 volunteers, including more than 500 children, took part in the annual Clean Mountain environmental tourism festival at the Elbrus resort. This year, 14 tons of trash were collected on the slopes of Elbrus.

This was the eighth time the high-altitude clean-up day had been held. The eco-festival was organized by the Caucasus Development Institute with the support of the Government of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Accompanied by experienced instructors and resort rescue workers, the volunteers cleaned up six areas.

The Clean Mountain festival brings together volunteers who care about ecology, nature conservation, conscious lifestyles, and waste-free consumption, and helps to shape a culture of recreation and responsible attitudes towards the environment. From a one-off initiative, the festival has grown into a major celebration involving several generations of families.