More than 5,000 participants from 68 nationalities confirm the international appeal of the race, with 44% foreign entries
The North Face Transgrancanaria has closed registrations for its 27th edition after selling out entries in all its main categories. The race, which will take place from March 4 to 8, 2026, solidifies its international prestige by surpassing 5,000 participants from 68 different nationalities. The event confirms itself as one of the essential dates on the global trail running calendar, highlighting the high demand from the very beginning.
Overwhelming success in registrations
The interest in The North Face Transgrancanaria was massive from the opening of registrations in July. In the first 48 hours of the flash period, 3,200 participants registered. The Marathon category sold out its 1,300 entries in just 54 hours, and in the same month, the Promo closed its quota with more than 400 registered runners.
The 5,000 athlete barrier was surpassed in September with the closure of the Advanced, and two weeks later, entries for the Classic, the main event, also sold out.
Given this demand, the organization has enabled a waiting list to cover potential vacancies in the sold-out categories. Likewise, there are still spots available for the introductory races: the Short (formerly Youth) and the Family, both starting in Teror and open to training categories.
A global profile: 44% foreign runners
The global nature of the race is reflected in its numbers: 44% of registered participants are foreign runners and 70% come from outside the province of Las Palmas. Among the more than 3,100 national runners, the 2,000 Canary Islands residents stand out.
Countries like France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy each contribute several hundred athletes, in addition to the presence of athletes from distant places such as the United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Australia, and China, underscoring the international scope of the event.
Carlos Díaz-Recio
Notable increase in female participation
A particularly noteworthy aspect is the high female participation, which represents 30% of the total number of registered persons. This percentage is especially notable in the Half category, where female participation reaches 40%; and in the Promo, where women outnumber men, reaching 60% of the total runners, reflecting the growing interest of female runners in trail running.
In this regard, Race Director, Carlos González, highlighted: “We close registrations for the Transgrancanaria with more than 5,000 registered runners, a spectacular international turnout with more than 40% foreign runners, combined with a fantastic participation of local and national runners. We’ve seen a significant increase in female participation, up to 60% in the Promo category, which indicates the growing interest of women in this sport.”
Commitment to sustainability
After reaching the planned quota of participants, the organization has decided to close registrations to limit the environmental impact and continue its work of respect and awareness regarding the care of Gran Canaria’s natural environment, a fundamental aspect of the event’s philosophy.
“With the idea of minimizing the environmental impact of the race, we planned to close at this time with these figures. We are now starting all the preparations for this great event that is part of the World Trail Majors circuit along with 11 other of the most prestigious races in the world. We are committed to making an event that boosts the image of the Canary Islands globally and serves as a benchmark for all Canarians,” said the Race Director.
Highlighted new features for 2026
The 2026 edition incorporates important new features that reinforce the race’s appeal. After several months of joint work with the Island Council’s Department of Environment, the Classic and Advanced categories will recover the passage through Roque Nublo, one of the island’s most emblematic natural sites. Furthermore, the Half race will make its start in Santa Lucía de Tirajana, offering runners a new perspective of the island’s territory.
The North Face Transgrancanaria maintains its international prestige with the Classic category being part of the select World Trail Majors circuit, along with 11 other of the world’s best races. For its part, the Marathon distance is integrated into the Short Series by World Trail Majors, consolidating the event’s presence in top-level circuits.
Competition schedule
The 27th edition of The North Face Transgrancanaria will turn Gran Canaria into the world epicenter of trail running for five days. The event will kick off on Wednesday, March 4, with the Kilómetro Vertical El Gigante from the Valle de Agaete, to continue on Thursday, March 5, with the Half and Promo races. Friday, March 6, will be one of the most anticipated days, with the start of the Marathon in the morning and, at midnight, the start of the emblematic Classic from Playa de Las Canteras. Saturday, March 7, will see the start of the Advanced, Short, and Family races, thus concluding the bulk of the event’s categories.
The North Face Transgrancanaria is a race organized by Arista Eventos with the sponsorship of institutions like the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Instituto Insular de Deportes; the Government of the Canary Islands with Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida; the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council through the Instituto Municipal de Deportes de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; the Teror City Council and the Tejeda City Council. It also has the support of companies such as The North Face, Hospitales Universitarios San Roque, Lopesan Hotel Group, ExpoMeloneras, 226ERS, Fred. Olsen Express, Sonocom Audiovisuales, and Aguas de Teror.
