The wait is over. The 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup gets underway this weekend, launching what promises to be the most spectacular season in the competition's 27-year history. 16 races, 10 countries, four continents, and months of breathtaking racing ahead.

From the mountains of Central Portugal to the peaks of Austria, Switzerland and beyond, the world's finest mountain runners will battle it out across some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet. China, Spain, North America, Italy, Poland and Canada all feature on a calendar that spans the globe and showcases the full, thrilling range of the sport.

But before all of that, Portugal. This Sunday, the curtain goes up with São Brás Cross in the Castro Daire region, and the 2026 season will begin in style, fittingly supported by Turismo Centro de Portugal – “MOVE CENTRO DE PORTUGAL – THE SPORTS REGION,” official sponsor of the Classic Up & Down category of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup 2026.

The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) has officially approved its 2026–2030 Strategy, setting a clear direction to further develop the sport and expand its global reach in the coming years.

The new strategy is a result of extensive discussion within the Council as well as consultation with key industry stakeholders and was formally approved at the most recent WMRA Council meeting on 1^st April 2026.

Here you can access the official WMRA Strategy 2026–2030 document.

The next generation of mountain running talent will gather in southern Italy on 21 June 2026, when Gagliano del Capo (Lecce) hosts the 19th International U18 Mountain Running Cup, one of the most important international competitions dedicated to youth mountain running.

Organised under the auspices of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) in collaboration with Italian Athletics (FIDAL) and the local organising committee Atletica Capo di Leuca, the event continues a long-standing tradition of providing young athletes with their first opportunity to compete internationally against peers from across the globe.

The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), in collaboration with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), is proud to announce the launch of the first-ever anti-doping education initiative specifically designed for mountain running athletes.

This milestone initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening integrity within the sport, aligning mountain running with the highest international standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The initial online session, in April, will be followed by the distribution of E-Info materials on anti-doping to all runners. This will be complemented by an in-person session during the weekend of Sierre-Zinal, where athletes will have the opportunity to meet AIU representatives face-to-face. An extended session will also be organised for coaches and managers over the same weekend.

CLASSIC UP & DOWN DISCIPLINE

The WMRA Mountain Running World Cup 2026 brings together a truly global calendar, spanning 10 events in 10 countries across four continents, and comprising 16 races across the three recognised mountain running disciplines: Uphill, Classic Up & Down, and Long Distance.

With 27 years of history, the World Cup has evolved from its origins as a European Grand Prix into today’s fully international competitive circuit, operating with the endorsement and support of World Athletics. Over nearly three decades, it has mirrored the evolution of mountain running itself — from its early European roots to a modern global series connecting cultures, landscapes and racing traditions.