An internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover, wherein in order to activate charge cycle valves, at least one rotatably mounted cam shaft is provided with at least one sliding cam which can be slid axially on the respective cam shaft, wherein the respective sliding cam has at least one slotted link section with at least one groove, wherein in order to bring about axial sliding of the respective sliding cam, an actuator is provided, and wherein after axial sliding on the respective cam shaft, the respective sliding cam can be latched in its axial relative position relative to a charge cycle valve to be activated by a locking device which has a first latching element with a plurality of latching depressions and at least one second latching element which interacts with the first latching element.