#merlinolympics

Merlin Winter Olympics 2026 Info

❄WHEN?❄

Prompting - The prompt collection will be open for submitting prompts from August 6 to February 5.

Creating - This is on your own schedule! Good luck!

Posting/Sharing - February 6 - March 15

❄WHERE?❄

Here at merlinbbcolympics on Tumblr, and on our dedicated channel on The Tavern's Discord.

❄WHO?❄

Anyone can take part : writers, artists, podficcers, video editors, photo manippers... lurkers...

🔞 Be aware that this is a +18 fest and that the Tavern's Discord is a +18 place!

❄Important Links❄

AO3 - General Winter Collection

AO3 - Winter 2026 Prompt Collection

Tavern Discord

❄HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?❄

There are multiple ways to take part in this fest! You are free to participate in one way or in multiple ones!

There are no sign-ups.

🥉COMMENTING🥉

Leave comments on old works from previous fests or on this year's works.

🥈PROMPTING🥈

Leave prompts for creators in the Winter 2026 Collection!

🥇CREATING🥇

Create anything you want!

There are no words limitations, no min or max!

Use your own ideas!

Find a prompt! Head to our 2026 prompt collection and if you find one you like, click 'claim prompt'! Claiming prompts is anonymous and there is no obligation to fulfill a prompt!

🥇POSTING🥇

Tag us here on Tumblr! Tag the blog specifically and/or use the tag #merlinolympics26

Add your work to our general winter collection if you used your own idea.

Add your work to our winter 2026 prompt collection if you're fulfilling a prompt.

Both collection will open for posting on February 6!

🥇CHEERING🥇

Join the discord and encourage all the participants!

❄RULES❄

All content created for this fest must be linked to the Winter Olympics.

Any Olympics (past, present, imaginary)

Any pairing (M/M, F/F, M/F, Multi, Gen &)

Any rating (G, T, M, E, NR)

Tag your works appropriately.

All content must be original and new. Any use of AI-generated images or words is prohibited for this event. [**new**: using an old idea is fine. posting a sequel/prequel/etc of an existing work is fine. adding a new chapter to an existing, published work will not count for this event]

List of Winter Olympics sports :

Alpine skiing

Biathlon

Bobsleigh

Cross-country skiing

Curling

Figure skating

Freestyle skiing

Ice hockey

Luge

Nordic combined

Short-track speed skating

Skeleton

Ski jumping

Ski mountaineering

Snowboarding

Speed skating

Created for MerlinOlympics 2018 on lj and AO3

Merlin / Arthur Ice Short track speed skating AU

Short track speed skating is a lightning-fast, adrenaline-fuelled winter sport full of unpredictability, where skaters reach speeds of up to 50-kmph on blades 46cm long and only 1mm thick. It is a highly tactical and physically demanding sport with split-second decision making and race strategy playing a crucial role in racing, where skaters go head-to-head in races of 4 to 6 skaters in a knock-out style of competition.(x)

***

Arthur Pendragon is a skater of high renown and popularity

It’s Arthur’s third time at the Olympic games

It’s only due to his hard work that he can skate again at all

A mean accident destroyed both his knees 3 years ago and every doctor told him he has to give up skating

Arthur giving up what he loves and ending his career with anything but a medal? Was not going to happen. He found the best physio rehab coach there is - and he made it

After these games he’ll take over as Sporting Coach Director for the National Ice Skating Association, planning to reach out for the youth and staring a child support team

But first: A medal!

Arthur will surely skate for Gold this year, but any position on the pedastal is fine for him since he’s planning to give Merlin - his trustworthy, supportive and adorable Merlin -  a very special kind of gold in exchange for a life together, on and off the ice

***

Merlin Emrys is the Olympics newcomer and bound to secure his place on the pedestal after some expectionelly successful seasons

Probably even beating Pendragon to Gold

Some say there must be magic in the elegance and speed of his skating.

When Merlin fist saw Arthur after the accident, his heart stopped with worry and he’s been even closer at Arthur’s side ever since

After having trained with Pendragon, he’s looking forward to being trained by him

Merlin knows Arthur is up to something but he just can’t figure out what it is…

• If you missed your posting date (or even if you never officially signed up but you still want to play along) you can use the next week to post your Olympic themed creations! • Remember there are no word count limits and we welcome art and fic of any kind including drabbles, drawbles, short fic, picspam, graphics, etc! If you can create it, we want it! • If you need some extra inspiration, you can see the prompts HERE. • Post anytime between now and March 5th to be included in the fest! 

🌞AND GO! GO! GO!🌞

It is officially time to bring the HEAT!! You can find out more about the event guidelines on this post, but quick recap: From now until the 16th of August, you can participate in several ways! Celebrate past summer Olympic fics by (re)reading them and commenting! Cheer on and support fellow fans in their creative endeavors! Submit prompt ideas for creators! Join in creating fic, art, podfic, manips, fanvids, moodboards, or however else you want to celebrate Merlin BBC at the summer Olympics. You can post your creation anytime to the AO3 collection and/or tag us in your tumblr post. We'll also be doing our best to track #merlinolympics24. Give us 24 hours and if we don't add your work to the collection or reblog your post, feel free to reach out and see if we missed it <3

This is the closest Merlin will ever get to flying. That split second of sky over the bar before he crashes to the mat. His sixth jump cleared, but instead of exhaustion clinging to his limbs, anticipation makes them lighter. Today he's going to fly even higher. The finals are down to him and two others, and the bar is raised higher and higher. 2.46 meters. If Merlin can do this—When Merlin does this— He runs, nine bounding, leaping steps that builds up his momentum and propel him forward. Forward and upward. He leaps. Merlin soars, back arching over the bar, and for just a moment, he's free.

🌞Get set!! Tomorrow's the day!!🌞

It's hot. The lights, the weight of everyone's gaze on him as he steps onto the scale. The cheers when he's within regulation. Each footstep takes him closer and closer to the Olympic stage. It's the culmination of everything he's been working for. Standing there, on top of the world, he closes his eyes. Everything fades away. There is only him. Only his strong, steady heartbeat. He opens his eyes. The bell rings. Arthur throws the first punch.

🌞are you getting ready to bring the HEAT?🌞

Due to the short delay before the opening of the Olympic Games, this will be a low-key version focused on sharing our love for Merlin and the Summer Olympics!

🌞WHEN?🌞

From the 26th of July (start of the first competitions) to the 16th of August!!

3 weeks to create, share, react, cheer and have fun!

🌞WHERE?🌞

On merlinolympics on LJ, here at merlinbbcolympics on Tumblr, and on our dedicated channel on The Tavern's Discord.

🌞WHO?🌞

Anyone can take part : writers, artists, podficcers, lurkers...

🔞 Be aware that this is a +18 fest and that the Tavern's Discord is a +18 place!

🌞HOW?🌞

There are multiple ways to take part in this fest! You are free to participate in one way or in multiple ones!

There is no need to sign-up.

🥉COMMENTING🥉

Leave comments on old works from previous fests or on this year's works.

AO3 Collection

🥈PROMPTING🥈

Leaves prompt for artists and writers to use on this post on livejournal or in our ask box!

🥇CREATING (fic, art, vid, icons, podfic...)🥇

Create anything you want!

There are no words limitations or anything!

You can pick a prompt (no need to claim it officially) or you can use your own ideas! If you pick a prompt, just let the prompter know! (one prompt can be used more than once).

If you need inspiration, go check our prompting post or the asks we post here!

🥇POSTING🥇

You can tag us here on Tumblr and use the tag #merlinolympics24

You can also add your work to our AO3 Collection and post your work to our Livejournal Community using the header.

You can post whenever you want during the fest duration.

🥇CHEERING🥇

Encourage all the participants on the Discord channel!

🌞RULES🌞

All content created for this fest must be linked to the Summer Olympics.

- Any Olympics (past, present, imaginary)

- Any pairing (M/M, F/F, M/F, Gen, multiple,..)

- Any rating

- Please tag your works appropriately for any kinks, triggers, warnings needed.

- All content must be original. Any use of AI-generated images or words is prohibited for this event.

List of Summer Olympics sports :

-Archery

-Artistic Gymnastics

-Artistic Swimming

-Athletics

-Badminton

-Basketball

-Basketball 3x3

-Beach Volleyball

-Boxing

-Breaking

-Canoe Slalom

-Canoe Sprint

-Cycling BMX Freestyle

-Cycling BMX Racing

-Cycling Mountain Bike

-Cycling Road

-Cycling Track

-Diving

-Equestrian

-Fencing

-Football

-Golf

-Handball

-Hockey

-Judo

-Marathon Swimming

-Modern Pentathlon

-Rhythmic Gymnastics

-Rowing

-Rugby Sevens

-Sailing

-Shooting

-Skateboarding

-Sport Climbing

-Surfing

-Swimming

-Table Tennis

-Taekwondo

-Tennis

-Trampoline

-Triathlon

-Volleyball

-Water Polo

-Weightlifting

-Wrestling

Elyan has been running his whole life. From something. Chasing a feeling of being too big for his skin to contain. Too confined to one place, one definition. And then suddenly he was running to something. For something. For the first time in his life, he felt settled. He knew who he was. He hasn't looked back since. And now he's here, on the track in front of hundreds—thousands—the whole world. His blood is hot with adrenaline but each breath cools its fire. He needs clarity. Focus. The race is about to begin. He kneels down, taking his mark. He's ready. And the gun goes off. The thunder of feet striking the pavement fills his ears. He clears the first hurdles with ease, but he can't be complacent. He has to push himself further. Faster. Become one with the wind at his back. Elyan leaps, extending his left leg and tucking his right, and sails over the final hurdle.

🌞Get ready!!!🌞