The season started on 17 December 1987 in Hochfilzen, Austria, and ended on 20 March 1988 in Jyväskylä, Finland.

It was the 11th season of the Biathlon World Cup.

The first round of the World Cup in Hochfilzen had scheduled individuals, sprints and relays, but the sprints and relays were cancelled due to heavy rainfall destroying the tracks.

[1] The sprint races were later held in Keuruu, with the rest of that World Cup round being held in Jyväskylä.

Below is the World Cup calendar for the 1987–88 season.