International pre-season ice hockey tournament in Laces/Latsch
The Vinschgau Cup is South Tyrol's premier international pre-season ice hockey tournament, hosted every summer at the ICEForum in Laces/Latsch, in the province of Bolzano. Established in 2015, the event has quickly become a late-August classic: four top-tier teams from major European leagues gather in the Vinschgau Valley to fine-tune their form ahead of the new season, treating fans to intense and spectacular matches.
The tournament spans three consecutive days, with a schedule that alternates matchups between the four invited clubs, culminating in the decisive games on Sunday. This pre-season format allows coaches to test players and tactics, yet the stakes and club pride make every encounter authentic and hard-fought. The ICEForum, a modern indoor facility in Laces, offers an intimate and engaging setting where the public can follow the action up close.
Over the years, the Vinschgau Cup has hosted prestigious teams from Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Notable past participants include the HC Pustertal, a key South Tyrolean club, the ERC Ingolstadt from the German DEL, and various teams from the ICE Hockey League. The presence of such high-caliber clubs makes the tournament a rare showcase for local fans, who can witness top-tier hockey without leaving their valley.
The Vinschgau Cup is organized by the Laces-Martello Tourist Association in collaboration with the Municipality of Laces and local sports organizations, including AHC Vinschgau. The event, supported by Audi as the main sponsor, also serves as a tourist attraction for the Vinschgau Valley and the entire Trentino-Alto Adige region, blending sport with local hospitality, mountain cuisine, and alpine landscapes.
The 2026 edition of the Vinschgau Cup celebrates the tournament's tenth anniversary and will be held from August 21st to 23rd, 2026, at the ICEForum in Laces/Latsch. Four teams will participate: ERC Ingolstadt (Germany), HC Falkensteiner Pustertal (Italy), Steinbach Black Wings Linz (Austria), and HC VERVA Litvínov (Czech Republic).
The tournament is organized by the Laces-Martello Tourist Association in partnership with the Municipality of Laces and is supported by Audi as the main sponsor.
The ICEForum is located in Laces/Latsch, in the Vinschgau Valley (province of Bolzano). By car: take the A22 motorway to the Bolzano Sud exit, then follow the Vinschgau Valley state road (SS38) to Laces. By train: take the Vinschgau Valley line to the Laces station, which is connected to Merano.
Tickets are available online and at the Laces Tourist Office, as well as at the stadium box office on match days. Prices range from approximately €20 per match to €70 for a full-tournament pass, with reduced rates for juniors and children.
Laces-Martello Tourist Association, tel. +39 0473 623109, [email protected].
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ICEForum Latsch