#RoadToDements26
The road to Skymasters 2026 starts now
We’ve just wrapped up the 2025 edition, and the 2026 season is already underway. No pause, no rest. That’s how a sporting event like Dements works: continuity, commitment, and passion.
We had doubts when the idea of hosting the Skymasters 2024 first came up. We had conviction when bringing the Skymasters 2025 to our home. And now we are absolutely certain that the Skymasters 2026 will close a cycle by raising the bar even higher than the previous two finals.
What’s new in the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series 2026
The season arrives with some changes:
- Calendar reduced to 19 races
- New events added
- Three scoring categories:
- White Skyrace® (x1) – 11 races
- Red Skyrace® (x1.5) – 7 races
- Skymasters (x2) – 1 race
The goal is clear: to find the world’s best skyrunner®, those capable of proving it on technical mountains, demanding distances, steep elevation profiles, and all kinds of terrain.
Scoring system
Athletes and organizers have been heard, and the system evolves to boost competitiveness:
- The top 30 finishers score points.
- To qualify for the final, athletes must score at least once within the top 20.
- White races award 100 points to the winner, 85 to second place, 77 to third… down to 30th place.
- Red races multiply points by 1.5, and the Skymasters by 2.
How to qualify for the Skymasters – Marató dels Dements
Athletes must complete 4 races, choosing one of these combinations:
- 2 red + 2 white
- 1 red + 3 white
You may compete in as many races as you want, but only the best results of each category will count.
To fight for the world title and the final prizes, it is mandatory to compete in and finish the Skymasters. Total: 4 races + the final.
Prize money
- €250,000 distributed across all races.
- €100,000 for the top 10 skyrunners® in the world, who will once again be in Eslida and Aín in November.
2026 Calendar – 19 races, 3 continents, 12 countries
Àsia
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Penang Skyrace® (1) – Malaysia The circuit returns to the lush, humid jungle, with its winding paths. | Ueda Skyrace® (1,5) – Japan Repeat the Japanese race: The home of the Skyrunning in Japan. |
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Mt. Kinabalu Intl. Climbathlon (1) – Malaysia Uphill of the mythical Kinabalu. Who will write their name alongside the legendary Kilian, Luis Alberto, Bruno Brunod or Marco de Gasperi? | Yading Skyrace® (1,5) – China After too many years, the circuit returns to China. |
It’s not a visit to South Korea.
America
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace® (1) – Xile Cerro del Plomo, 5424 msnm, Feels like -20°C at the summit, race start at -3°C at 2980 msnm | Ibarra Skyrace® (1) – Equador Climb of the Imbabura volcano, with its summit at 4,640 metres above sea level. |
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Cordillera Blanca Skyrace® (1) – Perú The third visit of the World Series to the heart of the Andes. The 4,000-metre mark above sea level is surpassed again. | Beast of Big Creek (1,5) – USA The MSWS return to the United States seven years later to summit the mythical Mount Ellionor in the Olympic Mountains in Washington state. |
 @MSWS Cuatro Refugios (1,5) – Argentina Red course to kick off the 2026 Skyrunner World Series, 40 km and +/- 3350 m in Argentine Patagonia, pure technicality. | |
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There will be no race in Mexico or Canada.
Europe
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Acantilados del Norte (1,5) – Spain WILD!!! A tour of the wildest part of the Isla Bonita. | Calamorro Skyrace® (1) – Spain Pure Skyrunning on the edge of the Andalusian Mediterranean. |
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Skyrace® des Matheysins (1,5) – France Will we return in this edition to tread the snow of the Alps and a relentless battle on the descents? | Skyrace® Gorges du Tarn (1) – France Once again, the Tarn gorges will not give you a moment’s respite with their constant ups and downs. |
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme (1) – Switzerland A view of the Matterhorn, Cervino, Cervins… possibly one of the most iconic mountains in the world, in the Swiss Alps. | Trofeo Kima (1) – Itàlia Held every two years, it has become a classic on the circuit. 52km of pure technicality in Val Masino/Di Mello, in the Italian region of Lombardy. |
 @MSWS |  @MSWS |
Maga Skymarathon (1) – Italy Like the Trofeo Kima, it is held biannually. High-altitude mountaineering in Val Serina. | Gorbeia Suzien (1,5) – Spain A classic of the circuit. Euskadi, where the mountain is a religion, racing is a passion and the public a fundamental part of the event. |
 @MSWS |  |
Sobrescobio Skyrace® (1) – final U23 The Pics d’Europa Skyrace®, in the Redes Natural Park. | Marató dels Dements (x2) – The Skymasters Our home, Our race |
Do not form part of the 2026 circuit: Monte Zerbión (biannual), Grigne (biannual), Hochkonigman, Tatra, Saint Jeorie, Mourne Skyline or Turkey.
U23 – Esteban Olivero Trophy
The third edition continues to strongly support young talent.
- We were proud to host the first U23 final in 2024 at the Mitja Marató dels Dements in Aín.
- The 2026 final will once again take place in Asturias, at the Sobrescobio Redes Trail.
- To qualify: minimum 2 races.
An exciting 2026 ahead
Every MSWS season has had its own personality, and this one will be no different: new races, returning classics, established veterans, rising young stars… and the most technical, mountainous playground in the world.
Pure skyrunning.
We also have our own news to share, but we still need to finalize a few conversations. A bit of patience: we’ll announce everything as soon as we can.
Registrations open in May.
