Skyrunning World Championship 2026 in La Gomera: full ISF guide
La Gomera hosts the 2026 Skyrunning World Championship
The International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) has chosen La Gomera as the venue for the 2026 Skyrunning World Championship. On September 18 and 19 the Canary Island will gather the world’s elite skyrunners within the Gomera Paradise Trail, its flagship race.
It is the first time the World Championship is held in the Canary Islands and a chance for Spanish skyrunning to take the international stage at home. This guide covers everything that matters: what the Championship is, why La Gomera, the course and how to follow it live.
What is the Skyrunning World Championship?
The Skyrunning World Championship is the premier international competition organised by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), the governing body that has defined the discipline since 1995. It is held biennially and brings together the affiliated national federations.
Unlike the UTMB World Series — focused on ultra-distance — skyrunning rewards a very specific profile:
- Altitude and vertical gain as the sport’s kings.
- Medium distances (typically 20 to 50 km in the Sky race).
- Technical terrain: rock, exposed ridges, sections with fixed chains or ropes.
- Average gradient above 6% and sections steeper than 30%.
The Championship crowns titles across three official ISF disciplines:
| Discipline | Typical distance | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Sky | 20-49 km · +1,300m D+ | Technical mountain |
| Vertical | under 5 km · +1,000m D+ pure climb | Vertical speed |
| SkyUltra | over 50 km · massive elevation | Technical mountain ultra |
Why La Gomera
Choosing La Gomera is no coincidence. The island ticks the ISF manual almost box by box:
1. Brutal verticality in little distance. La Gomera packs more cumulative elevation per kilometre than most regular circuit venues. The Sky 30K of the Gomera Paradise accumulates 2,536 metres of positive elevation in just 30 kilometres: a density close to 85m D+ per kilometre.
2. Maximum technical terrain. The course crosses Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The combination of wet, slippery laurel forest, volcanic ravines and wind-exposed ridges delivers the kind of course the ISF wants for crowning its champions.
3. Extreme climate contrast. In a single race you can go from the stifling heat of the southern ravines (above 25 °C) to dense, cold fog on the Garajonay summits (below 15 °C). This demands impeccable pacing, nutrition and gear management.
4. Competitive track record. The Gomera Paradise has been a scoring round of the Sky Fecamon Tour for years and has hosted European circuit events with top-level sporting results.
The 2026 Championship course
The World Championship is held within the Gomera Paradise distances:
Sky 30K — the Championship’s flagship race
- Distance: 30 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 2,536 metres
- Time limit: 8 hours
- Start/finish: San Sebastián de La Gomera
The route climbs from sea level to the Garajonay plateau, crosses the laurel forest on millennia-old paths used by the Gomeros since pre-Hispanic times, and returns to the coast through a sequence of ravines. This is where the 2026 Sky world champions — men and women — will be crowned.
Short Sky 16K and Starter 10K
The shorter distances do not score for the Championship but allow amateur participation:
- Short Sky 16K — 993m D+, time limit 5h
- Starter 10K — 367m D+, time limit 3h
They are held on Friday September 18 and share some sections with the main course.
Favourites and names to watch
The Championship gathers the best skyrunners on the planet. In recent ISF World Championship editions the scene has been dominated by:
- Petter Engdahl (SWE) — European reference in extreme-elevation events.
- Manuel Merillas (ESP) — world champion in previous editions and a technical-terrain specialist.
- Sara Alonso (ESP) — top Spanish female benchmark.
- Judith Wyder (SUI) — world champion across multiple mountain disciplines.
- Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR) — rising name on the circuit with recent podiums.
The Spanish team is traditionally strong in this discipline and the host-country status creates a level of media pressure that makes a home World Championship a once-in-a-career opportunity.
How to follow the Championship if you don’t race
The organisation plans live coverage through:
- Official streaming from the Gomera Paradise and ISF websites.
- Live GPS tracking of elite runners (available in the official app).
- Social media with real-time coverage (Instagram and X: @gomeraparadise and @skyrunning_isf).
- Spectator-accessible points along the course: start, finish line in San Sebastián and several intermediate points reachable by car or organised transport.
If you want to experience it on-site, book accommodation well in advance: a large influx of press and international delegations is expected.
How to take part as an amateur
The ISF World Championship is reserved for national selections, but the Gomera Paradise Trail is open to the general public across all distances (Sky 30K, Short Sky 16K and Starter 10K). Signing up means running the same course in the same week as the world champions.
Requirements and tips:
- Federation licence or day insurance mandatory.
- Limited spots and high demand due to the Championship effect: formalise your registration as soon as the window opens.
- Minimum recommended level for the Sky 30K: previous experience on technical mountain trails with more than 2,000m D+.
Full registration details, prices and course info are available on the Gomera Paradise 2026 race page.
How to get to La Gomera
La Gomera has no commercial airport. Standard access is:
- Fly to Tenerife South (TFS) from any European capital.
- Transfer to Los Cristianos (south of Tenerife) by motorway (~25 min).
- Ferry to San Sebastián de La Gomera:
- Fred Olsen Express: ~50 minutes.
- Naviera Armas: ~60 minutes.
La Gomera has a small airport (GMZ) with limited inter-island flights from Tenerife North (TFN) and Gran Canaria, but frequency is low and the ferry is usually the more reliable option.
Full race pack
If you have decided to run the Gomera Paradise in Championship year, logistics matter as much as training:
- Accommodation — San Sebastián de La Gomera is the best base. Valle Gran Rey and Playa Santiago are charming alternatives.
- Technical gear — the course demands shoes with aggressive grip, poles and a windbreaker. The laurel forest is slippery and Garajonay ridges can be foggy and cold.
- Nutrition — the thermal contrast between ravines and summits forces careful planning of salt intake.
- Local transport — the island is small but roads are slow and winding. Renting a car is recommended unless you stay in San Sebastián.
All of this is detailed in the race’s Pack 360.
Bottom line
The 2026 Skyrunning World Championship in La Gomera is one of the year’s most important mountain sporting events in Spain. It offers three layers of interest:
- To follow: official streaming and the chance to be at the finish line watching the world’s best.
- To race: all three Gomera Paradise distances are open to the public.
- To travel: La Gomera is one of Europe’s most singular trail-running destinations.
The key dates are September 18-19, 2026. Amateur registration opens with limited lead time. If the race interests you, check the official Gomera Paradise page now and mark your calendar.