The International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) is thrilled to announce the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships will take place on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, from September 18–20, 2026.
National teams from around the world will head to this spectacular Atlantic island which has everything to offer — from sea to sky — under the umbrella of the Gomera Paradise events.
Three races, three skyrunning disciplines — VERTICAL, SKY, and SKYULTRA — with 27 medals and World Champion titles at stake.
Big names from the skyrunning world are expected to line up for this ninth edition of the Championships, open only to official national teams. The overall events will be open outside athletes with separate starts.
For the fourth time in Spain, the Skyrunning World Championships will be sanctioned by the ISF Member for Spain, FEDME (Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada), ensuring the same high standards that characterised the previous three Spanish editions. FEDME also hosted this year’s Spanish National Championships on La Gomera.
Gomera Paradise race director, José Antonio Rodríguez Herrera commented, “After a decade of tireless work with the goal of sharing with the world the island we love so deeply, hosting the Skyrunning World Championship is an honour, a privilege, and a natural step in our evolution after 14 editions of Gomera Paradise. The mountains, ravines, and the wild, magical beauty of our island make it the perfect destination for skyrunning.
“We are proud, and at the same time humbled and deeply grateful, to welcome athletes from around the world to feel and breathe the wonders of La Gomera, our island. Every corner, every space, every step is pure magic, making this 15th edition a unique and truly unforgettable one.”
“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Tourism Department of the Government of the Canary Islands, Islas Canarias, Latitud de Vida; the Council of La Gomera; and the municipalities of Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Hermigua, Agulo, and San Sebastián de La Gomera for their support in making this event possible on the 2026 sports calendar.”
Taking you “from hell to heaven”, as the Gomera Paradise motto says, the location is truly unique. Of volcanic origin, the island measures just 22 kilometres in diameter. It is situated in the North Atlantic, southwest of the island of Tenerife, and boasts a rich cultural and environmental heritage.
With its striking mountainous skyline reaching 1,487 metres, the higher areas are often shrouded in mist, nourished by the dense laurel forests of Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
La Gomera is also famed for its whistled language, once used by the island’s original inhabitants to communicate across the deep ravines and narrow valleys. Today, it is recognised and taught as a unique form of intangible cultural heritage.
The island was also Christopher Columbus’s final port of call before his 1492 voyage to the Americas.
ISF President and skyrunning founder Marino Giacometti stated, “We are pleased to return once again to Spain — a nation that represents one of the sport’s greatest followings and that has produced many of its greatest champions, thanks to our member FEDME.
“We had the opportunity to visit this magic island to see this year’s events in action and to meet with the team and authorities. We are confident these Championships will provide a spectacular showcase, attracting the world’s best skyrunners for intense competition on truly technical terrain.”
As a biennial event, the previous 2024 Skyrunning World Championships saw Spain, Italy, and Japan lead the country rankings at Desafío Urbión in Spain, where 310 athletes from a record 41 countries competed.
Skyrunning World Championships are not only about numbers, but the enormous passion that athletes, organisers, members, media, and fans bring to the sport, always true to its spirit: “Less cloud. More sky.”
Stay tuned for course details, travel information, and accommodation information, coming soon.
