January
09
Tags
TRAIL RUNNING SPAIN 2026: TOP10 MARATHONS, FROM ZEGAMA TO TRANSVULCANIA.
TRAIL RUNNING SPAIN 2026: TOP10 MARATHONS, FROM ZEGAMA TO TRANSVULCANIA. Our MAYAYO RACE CALENDAR proposes ten “commandments” between 40 and 46 km to truly enjoy next year the astonishing diversity of Spanish landscapes.
For me, the mountain marathon —that magical range between 40 and 46 km— is where the body still dreams of running fast while the mountain already demands negotiation. It remains the queen discipline of trail running. We kick things off remembering Zegama 2025, and then dive straight into the list.
MOUNTAIN MARATHONS SPAIN 2026:
MY PERSONAL TOP10 – BY MAYAYO
This Top10 is not about the “most famous” or the “most Instagrammable” races. It is about ten Spanish mountain marathons that, in my personal view, stand out for history, atmosphere, course design and elevation gain. All of them have been experienced first-hand by our team. Each carries that spark that separates a nice race from a truly memorable one.
If 2026 finds you hungry for epic challenges, here is a full seasonal journey: May takes you to the sky in Zegama, to remember who’s in charge. The Canary Islands bring volcanoes and pine forests, so you never confuse “exotic” with “easy”. June lifts you into Guadarrama and Picos de Europa, where you learn how to suffer with elegance. Summer places you in Benasque, with the sun as an invisible rival. September leads you to Canfranc, where the Pyrenees speak seriously. October returns you to Bagà and classic trail spirit. November finishes you off with Dements, just to check if your mind still wants to play when your legs are already dreaming of blanket and soup.
-
Zegama-Aizkorri. 17 May 2026
This is trail running catechism, learned through cowbells, txistus and raw emotion.
Exactly 42.195 km —because even liturgy can be precise— with a staggering 5,472 m of cumulative elevation gain, which explains why in Zegama you don’t “run a marathon”: you cross an emotional storm.
The secret is not only in its legendary climbs or the human amphitheatre of Sancti Spiritu. It lies in the rare balance between highly technical terrain and real racing rhythm. Every surge has a cost; every doubt multiplies. Zegama is trail running university: you graduate… or you repeat the year. And the crowd does not carry you for free — it demands commitment.
-
Canfranc-Canfranc Marathon 45K. 12 September 2026
This is the Aragonese Pyrenees speaking out loud. The event runs from 11–13 September 2026, with the 45 km Marathon delivering 3,657 m D+. Start and finish at Canfranc-Estación, on a route through valleys and mountain passes that look cinematic — except you are not an actor, you are the extra who must actually run.
This marathon is genuinely alpine: terrain rules, weather can turn, and mental preparation matters as much as physical fitness. It also comes right after the historic world championship edition where Manuel Merillas, Sara Alonso and Andreu Blanes powered Spain to team gold on this very course.
-
Marató dels Dements. 8 November 2026
End-of-season for those who refuse to stop — or who suspect “rest” is overrated.
42.5 km with 3,808 m D+. “Dements” (madmen) is not a pretty name; it’s a warning. Short, brutally steep climbs repeated again and again are often more corrosive than one long pass.
This is a broken-rhythm race where smart management beats pure aggression. Add autumn light and shorter days, and suffering becomes strangely beautiful. In 2026 it will again host the Skyrunner World Series Final.
-
Marató Pirineu. 3 October 2026
Cadí-Moixeró at its purest: 42 km and 2,700 m D+, starting in Bagà. This race is not defined by a single summit, but by an entire natural park. Perfect balance between runnable sections and dignified hiking.
October in the Catalan Pyrenees adds crisp air and serious autumn vibes. Aid stations feel like refuges; technical descents become exams in composure.
-
Maratón de las Tucas. 18 July 2026
Part of Gran Trail Aneto-Posets, this is popular high mountain at its best.
42 km and 2,500 m D+, with long sections above 2,000 m altitude.
Benasque knows how to welcome runners like mountaineers. This is a race of sun management, hydration strategy and humility. In July, the mountain is generous — and demanding. Calculate well and you thrive; improvise and you melt.
-
Traveserina Picos de Europa. 6 June 2026
Officially a “marathon”, spiritually close to an ultra.
46 km and 3,160 m D+.
Picos de Europa is not scenery here — it is the main character. Limestone labyrinths, steep channels and trails seemingly drawn by an ill-tempered goat. True traversal running, forcing you to look far ahead while placing every step carefully. After Traveserina, you don’t just “visit” Picos — you know them through your legs. I certainly do, after running it in 2025.
-
Transvulcania Marathon. 9 May 2026
La Palma reminds us Spain is also volcanic, Atlantic and raw.
43.2 km, from Refugio de El Pilar to Puerto de Tazacorte, descending from high pine forest to sea level.
Running on ash and lava changes your stride and your mindset. Sometimes unstable, sometimes floating. This marathon is a vertical journey across an entire island, not just a race.
-
Reventón Trail El Paso Marathon. 28 March 2026
A privileged route through Caldera de Taburiente National Park and Cumbre Vieja Natural Park, passing close to Europe’s newest volcano.
42.2 km, 4,972 m total elevation change, five aid stations plus finish support.
Born in 2015 to attract top international marathon specialists, it hosted the 2022 European Off-Road Championships, where Spain earned three unforgettable medals.
-
Transgrancanaria Marathon. 6 March 2026
42 km, around 1,900 m D+ / 1,900 m D-, crossing the island from Agaete to Teror.
The perfect season opener: European winter, Canary climate, fast tracks mixed with technical trails. Not the most alpine, but one of the smartest races to build a strong year. You run more than expected — and pay dearly if you start without restraint.
-
Maratón Alpino Madrileño. 14 June 2026
Maybe not what it once was — but it’s the race of my hometown, Cercedilla, and it carries deep history.
44 km, a brutal 5,800 m accumulated elevation, max altitude around 2,430 m.
Guadarrama delivers honest mountain: deceptive tracks, ankle-biting trails, fierce sun and sudden wind above 2,000 m. No pretence here. A true alpine marathon in central Spain, built by people who understand that a bib number is a pact.
EPILOGUE: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT ELEVEN?
These ten races are neither the only ones nor “the best” for everyone. But for me they share three sacred ingredients: strong sense of place, history behind the bib, and organizations that put runners and mountains before revenue.
Which one would you add?
Tell me in the COMMENTS — that’s what they’re for 😊
