Trail race calendar in Nouvelle-Aquitaine 2026
Also known as Limousin and Basque Pyrenees
France's largest region: from the granite and forests of Limousin to the Rhune and the Basque Pyrenees, via Bordeaux, the Landes and the Atlantic coast. Mid-mountain trail, dense forest and cider, with Spain next door.
Calendar updated October 2026
Photo: Lucas Destrem / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Unsplash(opens in a new tab)For cold and dark miles
Headlamp, thermal layer and a good watch: what matters when daylight runs short.
#1 · Best OverallPetzl Iko CoreView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best Rain JacketGore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best OverallCoros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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Upcoming races: 2026 calendar
2 upcoming races
No races match these filters.
For your vertical km
Poles, grippy shoes and a light vest for a 1,000 m climb.
#1 · Best OverallBlack Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a short race
Shoes, socks and sun protection: just what you need to run fast.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best OverallCompressport Pro Racing Socks V3.0 TrailView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best OverallISDIN Fusion Water Sunscreen SPF 50+View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a mid-distance race
Shoes, vest and hydration for 21-42 km without suffering.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #2 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best Gel OverallMaurten Gel 100View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a long race
Vest, headlamp and nutrition for all those hours in the mountains.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #2 · Best OverallPetzl Iko CoreView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #3 · Best Gel OverallMaurten Gel 100View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
For your ultra
A watch with battery to spare, a powerful headlamp and poles: the gear that can't fail.
- #1 · Best OverallCoros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #2 · Best OverallPetzl Iko CoreView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #3 · Best OverallBlack Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Essential gear for trails in this area
Most-bought gear for running in may.
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Ultralight carbon Z-pole foldable trekking poles. 137 g per pole in 110 cm length, 33 cm folded. EVA grip and adjustable strap. The trail running reference.
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 7
The best-selling trail shoe in the US and an absolute ultra-trail classic. Max Hoka cushioning, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs for grip in mud and technical terrain, and a snug Matryx upper. Built to eat up kilometres without punishing your legs in long races.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis LS Crewe
Long-sleeve thermal top in 100% merino wool (200g). Natural temperature regulation, genuine multi-day odor resistance and a soft, non-itch handfeel from the fine merino yarn.
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 9
Trail running shoe with zero drop and wide FootShape toe box that allows natural toe splay. 25 mm stack with EGO foam for balanced cushioning without losing ground contact. MaxTrac outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, ideal for non-technical trails, forest tracks and long-distance paths.
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Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
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Races by area
Races in Alta Vienne
Races in Dordogne
Race map
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About the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
“Granite, forest and cider”
Key facts about the region
12.000
People at the Ambazac event
2.974 m
Max altitude (Basque Pyrenees)
Irún
Spanish border 30 min away
2
Races
10 – 90 km
Distance range
140 – 2,400 D+
Elevation range
May
Race months
Difficulty
Terrain
Two worlds in one region. Limousin is granite, oaks, chestnuts and lakes: hills of 500 to 700 m, shaded paths and plenty of mud. The Basque Pyrenees to the south offer the Rhune and its 900 m, with short but brutal climbs on grass and rock. There is no glacial high mountain, but the gradients are felt.
Key areas
Climate & best season
Wet oceanic in Limousin, milder and sunnier near the Basque Pyrenees. Spring and early autumn are the dry windows; summer is mild inland and warm on the coast. Mud, not heat, is the real limiting factor.
Trail culture
Nouvelle-Aquitaine blends very different identities: the Basque culture of Bayonne and Ascain, rural livestock Limousin, the vineyards of Bordeaux and the surf coast of the Landes. For a Spanish runner it is the natural gateway to France: cross at Irun and you are on the Rhune within an hour. The calendar mixes 10,000-person family events with elite skyraces.
Iconic races in the region