The North Face Transgrancanaria 2026

Are you ready to experience The North Face Transgrancanaria with SportsShoes and the Pro Alpine Trail Team?

Transgrancanaria is one of the longest-running ultramarathons on the international calendar. Held each year in February, it serves as a season-opener and includes races across Gran Canaria.  

The blue riband event is the Classic Race, which challenges runners from around the world to traverse the island from end to end.  

Featuring diverse sections of dense forest and exposed volcanic rock, the 126km route includes over 6,800 vertical  metres – the ultimate test of end-to-end endurance.

This is Transgrancanaria!

ㅤ

ㅤ

The North Face Transgrancanaria 2026 looks for its next champions

The countdown is over: the 27th edition of Transgrancanaria gets underway this Wednesday, 4th March, starting with the spectacular Vertical Kilometer in the Agaete Valley.

More than 5,000 runners representing 70 countries will take part across six different race formats, setting the stage for one of the most international editions in the event’s history. This year’s start list features a stellar line-up, including The North Face athletes Jonathan Albon, Josh Wade, Elsey Davies, Pau Capell and Fernanda Maciel. They join a list of “ones to watch” in an edition featuring world-class figures such as Tom Evans, Ida Nilsson, Abel Carretero, Hannes Namberger, Stephanie Case, Hayden Hawks, Henriette Albon, Ida-Sophie Hegemann, Sunmaya Budha, Alain Santamaría, and Naiara Irigoyen.

The Classic distance remains the crown jewel of Transgrancanaria and is once again included among the 10 iconic premier races on the 2026 World Trail Majors calendar. Meanwhile, its sister event, the 47-kilometre Marathon, will count toward the Short Series standings of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors circuit.

Throughout the week, the Event Hub at Expomeloneras will host a diverse programme of activities. All visitors will be able to personalise their favourite gear alongside resident artist t_diary, and put the new Altamesa V2 to the test on a cutting-edge trail simulator featuring automatic incline, courtesy of The North Face.

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The week’s schedule is packed with additional experiences designed to bring the trail running community together:

Expedition Cinema:

A series of exclusive film screenings, including TALA, documenting Fernanda Maciel’s 800km traverse of the Pyrenees, and Cornwall Circuit, which captures Elsey Davies’s landmark record-breaking performance.

The North Face Speaker Series: Insightful and inspiring talks from sponsored athletes Elsey Davies, Stephanie Case, and Olivia Amber, exploring themes of performance boundaries, resilience, and outdoor culture, presented by The North Face.

Community Runs: An opportunity for runners to log meaningful miles on local trails while training side by side with elite athletes in a relaxed, social setting.

Summit Experience - Sunset at Roque Nublo: The week’s standout moment arrives on Thursday, 5th March, with a bucket-list trail adventure to Roque Nublo. Powered by the new Altamesa V2, participants will take on a special sunset route through one of the world’s most iconic natural landscapes, combining performance and scenery in equal measure.

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The Transgrancanaria Races: 4th - 8th March 2026

(In order of date/start)

This latest edition of Transgrancanaria has a five day schedule with six races: Classic, 126k; Advanced, 84k; Marathon, 46k; The Half, 21k; Promo and Family, 12k; and the Vertical Kilometer El Gigante.

ㅤ

VK El Gigante

Wednesday, 4th March 2026 @ 15:30pm

Valle de Agaete – Tamadaba

5.5KM - 1060M of elevation

ㅤ

Pictured: 2025 VK winner, Henri Aymonod, of The North Face

Photo credit: Benjy Johnson

ㅤ

The Vertical Kilometre = The Giant. And what a giant! Starting in the iconic Valle de Agaete, the runners have before them the wall of the Tamadaba massif: 1,130 meters of positive elevation gain in just 5.5 kilometres that puts the power of their legs to the ultimate test.

The Vertical Kilometre is a challenge for those who want to test the strength of their body and mind.

Want to know more about Vertical Kilometre challenges?

Click here to read our VK guide.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

The Half 23KM

Thursday, 5th March 2026 @9:00am

Tunte – Tejeda

23KM - 1400M of elevation

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The Transgrancanaria Starter takes runners to discover the astonishing south face of Gran Canaria. Starting in the small village of Tunte, trail runners will begin with one of the most beautiful climbs in the Archipelago: the La Plata trail.

Runners will enjoy a thrilling descent that will first take them through the La Culata neighborhood and then to Tejeda, where the finish line of one of the races will be located. Despite its short distance, it is one of the most spectacular races in the Canary Islands.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Promo 12KM

Thursday, 5th March 2025 @ 10:30am

Artenara – Tejeda

12KM - 730M of elevation

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The Transgrancanaria Promo is the best way to start trail running in style. It passes through incredibly beautiful landscapes and, above all, it runs between the two highest villages in Gran Canaria, known as the “municipios cumbreros”. Runners will discover the dense pine forest of Pinos de Gáldar along a path that borders the Caldera de Tejeda, which the philosopher Miguel de Unamuno described as the “petrified tempest.”

The route joins the summit towns of Artenara and Tejeda and, despite having a significant elevation and drop, is very attractive for sharing a family experience.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Marathon 46KM

Friday, 6th March 2026, 09:30am

Tejeda – Maspalomas

46KM - 1900M of elevation

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

If there’s something that defines the Transgrancanaria Marathon, it’s speed. But first, there’s the climb. Starting from Tejeda and the initial ascent to the iconic Roque Nublo, then we embark on a dizzying and technical descent that passes through impressive sections like the La Plata trail.

The descent is interrupted by the aid stations of Tunte and Ayagaures, which serve as a prelude to two more climbs with a gentle slope before the long-awaited arrival in Maspalomas. The Transgrancanaria Marathon is a true challenge that enriches the body and, above all, the soul.

The Marathon is the race where the number of registered participants has grown the most, exceeding 1,600 participants, who will start in three waves from the center of the municipality.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Classic 126KM

Friday, March 6th 2026 @ 23:59 h

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Maspalomas

126KM - 6804M of elevation

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The Transgrancanaria Classic is like life itself. It consists of 126 kilometers and 7,000 meters of positive elevation gain that transport you to a world of physical and psychological sensations that unfold as the hours go by.

Maspalomas awaits with open arms to welcome runners after 12, 15, 20, or 30 hours that seem like a lifetime.

The queen race will be the third stop of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors after Hong Kong 100 and Black Canyon Ultras. A thousand runners will take the start on the beach of Las Canteras on Friday 21 at 23.59 hours, a spectacle worth seeing in the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Advanced 84KM

Saturday, 7th March 2026 @08:00am

Agaete – Maspalomas

84KM - 4800M of elevation

ㅤ

Photo credit: Transgrancanaria

ㅤ

The race, whichstarts in the municipality of Teror, will be the last to kick off on Saturday at 9.00 am. 82 kilometers with 4,265 meters of elevation gain where runners will be able to discover a miniature continent.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

The SportsShoes x Pro Alpine Trail Team

This year, in partnership with The North Face, two of our SportsShoes PATT athletes will compete in three of the races at Transgrancanaria races;

ㅤ

Follow the Pro Alpine Trail team >

ㅤ

1. Madlen Kappeler- VK and 12K Race

Former middle-distance triathlete turned trail running weapon, Madlen comes alive when the gradient kicks up. Now racing short-distance trails with the SportsShoes Pro Alpine Trail Team, she’s already represented Germany on the world mountain running stage and she’s only just getting started.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Her achievements include;

SkySnow World Championships 2024 (Silver Medallist VK, Classic, Combined Ranking)
Bronze Medallist at Duathlon Middle Distance World Championships 2025
Bronze Medallist at Duathlon Long Distance World Championships 2025
Professional Athlete for Triathlon Middle Distance since 2024
Focusing on Trail Running since 2025, competed at World Championships for Team Germany in Canfranc (Uphill and Classic Distance)ㅤ

ㅤ

Follow Madlen on Strava

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

2. Vanessa Caba - Marathon 46K Race

Based in Andalusia, Vanessa has raced at a high level for several years. Alongside remote work as a cyber psychology researcher and current studies in sports psychology, she brings a thoughtful, measured approach to her running.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Vanessa is a specialist in the 50K distance and some of her acheivements include;

1st Tenerife Blue Trail 2024

16th UTMB ETC 2024

ㅤ

Follow Vanessa on Strava

ㅤ

ㅤ

About The North Face

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC, was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today they are the world’s leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested, expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits of human potential. They protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability.

ㅤ

SportsShoes is committed to organising the most exciting and unique races, whether it's on the track, road or trail. Keen to find out more? Then check out our Races category for more information about events, latest news and results. Because it's no fun standing still.