Celebrating ten years since the first World Championships in 2016, the Youth Skyrunning World Championships will be hosted – for the first time – in Croatia on 8-10 May, 2026.
Croatia became an ISF member just two years ago and with teams participating in various World Championships, they secured their first medal in the recent Masters. Thanks to the rapid growth of the sport, the country is ready to host their first Skyrunning World Championships. The location is nothing less than spectacular in the Biokovo mountains high above the Adriatic Sea, where, on a clear day, the Italian Apennines can be seen – the very mountains where six editions of the Youth Championships have been held on Gran Sasso.
The hub of the events is centred around the coastal town of Makarska and will feature two skyrunning disciplines – VERTICAL and SKY – disputed on three different courses: the youngest categories (Youth A & B), will run a SKY course between 10 and 14 km long, while the other categories will run over a 20 km course. The courses are being specifically designed for the Championships and will be announced in the coming weeks.
The classic “sea to sky” concept is perfectly highlighted here, with the summit of the Biokovo mountains reaching 1,762m altitude on Sveti Jure.
Seventy-five medals are at stake, split across four age categories – Youth A (15-16), Youth B (17-18), Youth C (19-20) and U23 (21-23). Individual, combined and national titles will also be awarded.
Marino Giacometti, inventor of the sport and President, International Skyrunnning Federation, commented, “We look forward to experiencing Croatia, to discover a new country and new challenges for young runners from around the world where, as always, they will give it their all to beat the competition, but come away with new friends and a pocket-full of medals – as usual, an amazing inspiration!”
In 2025, Spain, Italy and Norway headed the medal count where no less than 30 countries from across five continents competed. The 2026 Youth Skyrunning World Championships look set for another sky-high showdown, ready to welcome young talent from across the globe.
Race director Marko Herman stated, “It is a great honour and pleasure for us that Croatia will host the Youth Skyrunning World Championships in 2026. Although skyrunning is a relatively young sport in our country, it has quickly found its community and developed strongly – thanks to people who share the same passion for mountains, challenges, and freedom.
“We will do our utmost to make every athlete, coach, and guest feel welcome, and to present Croatia as a country of open hearts and outstanding natural beauty. The Biokovo mountain range, said to have its feet in the sea and head in the sky, will provide a perfect stage for an unforgettable adventure in the true spirit of skyrunning.
“We look forward to sharing the skyrunning tagline – Less cloud. More sky!”
