World Mountain and Trail Running Championships

The World Mountain & Trail Running Championships ('WMTRC') is where the world’s best runners take on nature’s toughest terrain.

World Athletics works with the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) in organising the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) on a biennial basis and the next available edition is in 2029.

Held over four days, national team athletes compete in a total of 10 official world championships across four competition formats.

Hosts:

WMTRC 2029 hosting opportunity

To be held before 15 June or after 15 September 2029.

WMTRC 2029 bid process

WMTRC 2023 facts & impact summary

Based on the WMTRC Innsbruck-Stubai, Austria, 2023:

WMTRC 2029 hosting rights

Full commercial rights are granted to the local organising committee (including title sponsorships, event sponsorship, media and domestic broadcasting rights, mass participation entry fees, expo sales, corporate hospitality and merchandise etc.)

WMTRC 2029 hosting requirements

• Mountainous terrain and suitably challenging trails to facilitate the competition format courses listed below, as well as additional running trails for training
• Hosting fee of minimum US$200,000
• Prize money purse of minimum US$120,000
• Live stream broadcast production
• International airport within a three-hour bus ride
• Event transportation system provided between airports and/or main train station, official hotels and official venues
• Expect about 250–300 accredited media representatives (265 at Canfranc WMTRC 2025)
• Accommodation in a 3* hotel (or superior) for athletes, officials, World Athletics Family and media for a period of five nights:
  •       Athletes and team officials: circa 1300 beds (575 twins, 150 single)
  •       World Athletics Family (including World Athletics, WMRA, ITRA and IAU): circa 50 beds (single rooms)
  •       Media: at least 100 beds (single rooms)

WMTRC 2029 competition formats

1. The classic 'up and down' mountain race: senior women, senior men, U20 women and U20 men.
   
   
2. The uphill mountain race: senior women and men.
   
   
3. Long trail: senior women and senior men.
   
   
4. Short trail: senior women and senior men.

(Please refer to World Athletics Rule 57 for more details on race formats)