Spiti Cup powered by Royal Enfield returns for Season 3, strengthens grassroots Ice hockey development in the Himalayas

• Third edition to be held from February 7 – 11, 2026 in Kaza, Himachal Pradesh
• Five zones to compete across Senior Men, Women, and U-18 Boy’s categories; Lahaul debuts in the Senior Men’s category

Center Zone and Pin Zone Men’s team in action during Spiti Cup Season 2

Rakesh Thapliyal

Kaza, Himachal Pradesh: The Spiti Cup, powered by Royal Enfield, is set to return for its third season from February 7 – 11, 2026, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone grassroots winter sports initiative in the Himalayas. Held during the region’s harsh winter, the tournament brings together remote villages, transforming frozen landscapes into shared arenas of participation, pride, and collective resilience.

With Ice hockey gaining momentum across Spiti and neighbouring valleys, the 2026 edition marks a significant step forward in scale and structure. The tournament expands to 22 games, up from 18 last season, featuring teams from five zones—Center, Tod, Sham, Pin, and Lahaul—across Senior Men, Women, and U-18 Boys categories.

Organised in collaboration with the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul and Spiti (IHALS), supported by Royal Enfield Social Mission, and held in partnership with the Spiti Administration, the Spiti Cup functions as a community-owned developmental competition. Beyond the games, it brings together players, families, volunteers, and supporters, reinforcing unity and shared identity in one of the country’s most challenging environments.

The 2026 edition will be played in a league format, with each team competing against every other team in its respective category. The team topping the points table at the end of the league stage will be crowned champion. The five-day tournament will feature 10 games in the Senior Men’s category and six games each in the Women’s and U-18 Boys categories.

Marking a significant step in the tournament’s evolution, players from Lahaul & Shimla will enter the Spiti Cup for the first time in the Senior Men’s category. A team from Sangla in Kinnaur Valley will also participate for the second consecutive year, underscoring sustained engagement from neighbouring regions beyond Spiti.

At the grassroots level, the Spiti Cup is anchored in a strong community-based structure. The pathway begins with 12 village- and cluster-level clubs, where players train for nearly a month during winter. These clubs come together to form zonal teams that ultimately compete in Kaza.

The tournament also serves as the competitive culmination of a season-long capacity-building effort. In the lead-up to the Cup, coaches from across the region underwent holistic training led by international instructor, Darryl Easson, focusing on technical skills, player development and game management. These coaches have since returned to their respective communities to scout talent, and prepare teams systematically.

In the month preceding the tournament, over 500 children and youth participate in structured Ice hockey training across villages and zones. These sessions are led by locally based coaches trained through formal programmes, ensuring consistent high-quality instruction.

Strengthening the ecosystem further, dedicated referee training initiatives have been conducted, focusing on rule interpretation, on-ice decision-making, and professional game management – helping build a sustainable pool of trained officials for the region.

Alongside Ice hockey, Spiti Cup will once again feature Speed Skating competition, encouraging wider participation across Under-16, Under 18, and senior categories. Notably, 7-10 skaters from Cheog (Shimla District) will also participate in Kaza, reflecting growing interest in winter sports across Himachal Pradesh.

As the Spiti Cup enters its third season, it continues to strengthen the Ice hockey ecosystem in the Himalayas—by investing in players, coaches, and officials alike, expanding access to competition, and building sustainable pathways for future talent.

About Royal Enfield Social Mission

About 75 years ago, the Himalayas became Royal Enfield’s spiritual home. Royal Enfield Social Mission is catalysing an ecosystem of collective action to meet its long-term vision of partnering with 100 Himalayan communities by 2030 towards building climate resilience.

The Royal Enfield Social Mission projects and initiatives include ‘The Himalayan Knot’ – a textile conservation project, bringing together pastoral communities, artisans and designers for wider market access; ‘The Himalayan Hub’ – a collective learning center for Climate Resilience; a network of community-run ‘Green Pit Stops’, embodying responsible travel; ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’ in partnership with UNESCO to document Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH); the Royal Enfield ‘Ice Hockey League’ promoting rural sports and winter tourism; conserving biodiversity and wildlife through the Keystone Species project; and ‘Helmets for India’ – a road safety initiative.

Through the Social Mission, Royal Enfield is also encouraging and inspiring one million riders to explore sustainably and ‘Leave every place better’.

In addition to the Social Mission, Royal Enfield also works with local communities near its manufacturing plants in Tamil Nadu, focusing on areas such as education, livelihood, sanitation, healthcare etc. Two multi-decade partnerships with Bodh Shiksha Samiti in Rajasthan and Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital in Delhi continue to be supported as legacy projects.

Royal Enfield Social Mission and other CSR initiatives are implemented by Eicher Group Foundation, a section 8 company incorporated in 2015 under the Companies Act of 2013.

About Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul-Spiti (IHALS)

The Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul and Spiti (IHALS) is a dedicated organization committed to promoting Ice Hockey in the high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh. Focused on grassroots development, talent nurturing, and community engagement, IHALS organizes training programs, tournaments, and infrastructure projects to grow the sport locally. With a vision to establish Lahaul and Spiti as a hub for winter sports in India, IHALS collaborates with government bodies and partners like Royal Enfield to create opportunities for athletes to excel at state, national, and international levels, fostering pride and resilience in the region.