The SKYULTRA brought the 2026 Masters Skyrunning World Championships to a close on October 4, 2026, in São Pedro do Sul, Portugal.

It was another day of glory for Portugal after taking the top slot for the country ranking* for the third consecutive year. United Kingdom and Japan completed the podium with the UK claiming their first silver in the Masters.

Three disciplines make up the 2026 Masters Skyrunning World Championships where world titles and 75 medals are awarded across four age categories – over 40, over 45, over 50, and over 55. The first 48 medals were assigned in the VERTICAL and SKY disciplines at the Pierra Menta Été events in France in July.

lOver-forties skyrunners are heading to Portugal for the final event of the 2026 Skyrunning Masters Championships. The SKYULTRA will be hosted at the Pisão Extreme on October 4, 2026, in São Pedro do Sul in the northern part of the country where the demanding terrain rolls out a massive 6,500m vertical climb on the 65 km course.

Overall, Masters’ titles and 75 medals are awarded at the championships. The VERTICAL and SKY disciplines were held at the Pierra Menta Été events in France in July, where the first 48 medals were awarded. To date, Portugal, Japan and the United Kingdom lead the country ranking.

At the SKYULTRA, 27 medals and individual world titles are at stake across four age categories – over 40, over 45, over 50, and over 55. Medals will also be awarded to top three countries in the final ranking*. The oldest male runner is Briton Barry Hale, 68, while the oldest woman is Spaniard Encarnacion Del Valle, 67.

The second day of the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships on the island of La Gomera in Spain’s Canary Islands, saw Italian Cristian Minoggio and Norwegian Shangave Balendran take the gold.

The stunning wild terrain of the island was the perfect stage for the challenging 63 kilometres and 4,100m of vertical climb of the SKYULTRA where 87 athletes participated.

Minoggio, 2022 and 2024 SKYULTRA World Champion, crossed the finish line in 6h12’12” on the new, specially designed course. His race was well calculated and after taking the lead, he closed almost seven minutes ahead of second man, Spaniard Julen Calvo who led for most of the race.

World medallists and skyrunning superstars from across the globe are heading for the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, from September 18–20, 2026.

From sea to sky, this tiny gem of an island in the Atlantic Ocean, has everything to offer – under the auspices of the Gomera Paradise events.

World titles and 27 medals are at stake for Individuals and Official Teams, together with a Combined title based on the best results of the VERTICAL and SKY races.

The fourth edition of the Masters Skyrunning World Championships were celebrated in the French Alps at the Pierra Mentà Eté events in Arêches, Savoie, on 3-4 July 2026 where over-forties skyrunners from 25 countries participated in the VERTICAL and SKY disciplines.

Four age categories – over 40, over 45, over 50, and over 55 were awarded 48 medals across the two disciplines, while the country ranking will be calculated after the SKYULTRA, the Masters final in October.

The events kicked off on Friday, July 3 with the VERTICAL at the new Pierra Menta Verticale, specifically designed for the Championships – 3.8 km long with 870m vertical climb delivering stretches with a challenging 50-70% incline.