The 10 best trails to run in France in 2026: the full calendar
TL;DR. From the MaXi-Race d'Annecy in late May to the iconic night run SaintéLyon in November, France's 2026 trail calendar is stacked. Here are the 10 must-do trail races — distances, confirmed dates, recommended level, and registration tips.
France remains one of the most spectacular trail playgrounds on the planet: Alps, Pyrenees, Causses, Corsica, Reunion Island… every massif has its mythical race. We've picked the 10 most emblematic of the 2026 calendar, sorted by date — so you can plan your season without missing a registration window.
This guide mixes beginner-friendly formats (15–25 km, 800–1,500 m D+) with bucket-list ultras for seasoned trail runners (100+ km, 6,000 m+ D+). Each entry covers the flagship distance, the date, the scenery, and the recommended runner profile.
The 10 best trails in France in 2026
- MaXi-Race d'Annecy — May 28–31
- Marathon du Mont-Blanc — June 26–28
- 6000D – Trail de Légende — July 30 → August 1
- Grand Raid des Pyrénées — August 20–22
- HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc — August 24–30
- Trail des Aiguilles Rouges — September 27
- EcoTrail Paris by Salomon — October 17
- Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion) — October 16–18
- Festival des Templiers — October 16–18
- ASICS SaintéLyon — November 28–29
1. MaXi-Race d'Annecy — May 28–31, 2026
Flagship race: MaXi-Race tOur du lac (1-day solo)
Other distances: Mini-Race, Quart de tour, Demi tOur, Marathon-eXpérience, tOur du lac in 2 days (XL-Race 82 km / 5,200 m D+ and XXL-Race 115 km / 7,500 m D+), Relay, Ado-Race
Scenery: Lake Annecy, La Tournette, Massif des Bauges, Veyrier
Level: beginner (Mini-Race) to advanced (XXL-Race over 2 days)
15th edition, spread over 4 days from Thursday May 28 to Sunday May 31, 2026. Big news for 2026: the tOur du lac runs clockwise for the first time, with the Massif du Veyrier as the opening climb. A wide range of formats — something for everyone, from the family-friendly Mini-Race to the self-supported XXL-Race over two days.
2. Marathon du Mont-Blanc — June 26–28, 2026
Flagship race: Marathon 42 km, 2,700 m D+
Other distances: Vertical KM / 10 km / 23 km (Cross du Mont-Blanc) / 90 km
Scenery: Chamonix, Brévent, Aiguille Rouge
Level: advanced — the 42 km tops out at 2,525 m altitude
Three days of trail festival in Chamonix. The 42 km marathon is an elite showcase, but most runners pick the 23 km Cross du Mont-Blanc or the 10 km, both far more accessible. It's also a great race to validate a UTMB Index in view of qualifying for Mont-Blanc the following year.
3. 6000D – Trail de Légende — July 30 → August 1, 2026
Flagship race: La 6000D, 69 km, 3,400 m D+ — Saturday August 1, 4:30 a.m. start from Aime
Other distances: 6D Marathon (43 km / 2,100 m D+), 6D Lacs (30 km / 1,500 m D+), 6D Crêtes (21 km / 1,300 m D+), 6 Découverte (11 km), 6D Foulée (5 km), 6D Bob (1.5 km), 3-runner relay
Scenery: La Plagne, Vanoise glaciers, Bellecôte (3,416 m)
Level: intermediate to advanced, high-altitude experience helpful
A Savoyard legend since 1989. Festive village atmosphere at the foot of the Bellecôte, with a full lineup of races covering the entire spectrum — from a 5 km family race to the 69 km above 3,000 m. Perfect to turn a trail weekend into a mountain mini-vacation.
→ Find your bib on BPMoov — every summer 2026 race in one free app (iOS and Android).
4. Grand Raid des Pyrénées — August 20–22, 2026
Flagship race: Ultra Tour 220 km, 12,000 m D+
Other distances: Tour des Lacs / 80 km / 40 km
Scenery: Vielle-Aure, Pic du Midi, Cirque de Gavarnie, Lacs de Néouvielle
Level: ultra-runners looking for a Pyrenean alternative to UTMB
Three days of Pyrenean epic, Thursday Aug 20 to Saturday Aug 22, 2026. Four exceptional courses across the Hautes-Pyrénées. The 220 km Ultra Tour is one of the rare French 220 km races with no mandatory rest period — seven to eight days of effort compressed into one push. Néouvielle lakes, Pic du Midi, Cirque d'Estaubé and Gavarnie all on the menu.
5. HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc — August 24–30, 2026
Flagship race: UTMB 171 km, 10,000 m D+
Other distances: OCC (56 km), CCC (101 km), TDS (148 km), MCC, PTL, YCC, ETC
Scenery: loop around Mont-Blanc, France-Italy-Switzerland
Level: highly selective — Running Stones and a UTMB Index are required
Trail's holy week: Monday Aug 24 to Sunday Aug 30, 2026. More than 10,000 runners, 8 races, global elites and a unique qualifying system. For 2026 you need at least 1 active Running Stone and a UTMB Index to enter the mid-January lottery. The Friday-night UTMB start in Chamonix is a pilgrimage in itself.
6. Trail des Aiguilles Rouges — September 27, 2026
Flagship race: TAR 53 km, 4,000 m D+
Other distances: Vertical / 24 km
Scenery: Chamonix facing Mont-Blanc, alpine lakes and ridges
Level: advanced runners looking for a technical alpine ridge race
Race day Sunday September 27, 2026. Chamonix's other rendez-vous, more intimate than UTMB. The 53 km is widely considered one of France's most beautiful high-altitude ridge courses: Col de la Glière, Lac Cornu, Brèche de Bérard — Mont-Blanc in your face for 80% of the route.
7. EcoTrail Paris by Salomon — October 17, 2026
Flagship race: Trail 80 km Autumn
Other distances: Trail 20 km, Trail 50 km
Scenery: Île de Loisirs de Cergy → Forêt de Saint-Germain → Domaine de Marly → Haras de Jardy → Bois de Boulogne
Level: an "easy" urban-flavored trail, perfect for road marathoners crossing over
Brand-new autumn edition, Saturday October 17, 2026: the EcoTrail moves to fall with three new distances — 20, 50 and 80 km (the 45 km, 80 km Spring and 120 km formats remain reserved for the spring edition). The 80 km autumn route crosses western Île-de-France to the iconic finish on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower. Almost 100% runnable terrain — an ideal first-ultra format, or a great trail entry point for road marathoners.
8. Diagonale des Fous – Grand Raid de la Réunion — October 16–18, 2026
Flagship race: Diagonale des Fous, 165 km, 10,000 m D+
Other distances: Trail de Bourbon (110 km), Mascareignes (75 km), Métis Trail
Scenery: Reunion Island, Saint-Pierre → Saint-Denis
Level: ultra-runners with volcanic / jungle terrain experience
The big Reunion weekend: Friday Oct 16 to Sunday Oct 18, 2026. The "Diagonale" remains one of the three or four most mythical ultras on the planet. Night start in Saint-Pierre, full crossing of the island via the cirques (Mafate, Cilaos) and volcanic peaks, finish in Saint-Denis. Tropical heat, technical descents, and a level of local fervor unmatched anywhere else.
9. Festival des Templiers — October 16–18, 2026
Flagship race: Grand Trail des Templiers, 76 km, 3,200 m D+
Other distances: 14 races, from 5 km to 100 km
Scenery: Causses du Larzac, Millau (Aveyron)
Level: all levels — one of Europe's most complete trail festivals
Three festival days on the Larzac, Friday Oct 16 to Sunday Oct 18, 2026 — same weekend as the Diagonale des Fous, a tough call depending on your travel budget. Around 13,000 runners, 14 races, festival vibe. The Grand Trail des Templiers is the must-do for advanced runners, but the festival hosts formats starting at 5 km: an excellent gateway into trail culture for the whole family.
→ Save these races in BPMoov — turn on alerts so you don't miss a registration opening (some sell out within hours).
10. ASICS SaintéLyon — November 28–29, 2026
Flagship race: SaintéLyon 80 km solo (the historic night race, Saint-Étienne → Lyon, 65% trail / 35% road, Saturday 11:30 p.m. start)
Other distances: Lyon SaintéLyon 160 km (the Ultra format: Lyon → Saint-Étienne → Lyon round trip, Saturday 9 a.m. start from Halle Tony Garnier, capped at 800 runners — the famous yellow bibs), Relay 2/3/4, SaintExpress 45 km, SaintéVia 35 km (new in 2026), SaintéTrott 24 km, SaintéSprint 13 km
Scenery: ridges of the Monts du Lyonnais
Level: a French classic — manageable if you can run between 2 °C and 8 °C with a headlamp
72nd edition, 9 events, 20,000 bibs went on sale on March 17, 2026 and sold out within hours. The hardcore fan-favorite is the Lyon SaintéLyon 160 km: officialized in 2019 after years run unofficially, it pairs an outbound Lyon → Saint-Étienne leg in 13 h max — untimed, no ranking, run your own strategy — with a rest and meal stop in Saint-Étienne, then a return leg where the clock starts and the ranking is decided, with runners taking the front row alongside the 80 km solos. An ultra-intimate format capped at 800 runners, cheered all the way back thanks to their iconic yellow bibs. Alexandre Boucheix aka Casquette Verte won the first three men's editions. The actual 2026 novelty is the 35 km SaintéVia (10:30 p.m. start from Mornant), aimed at runners who missed the 80 km bib window.
How to pick your trail in 2026
New to trail? Stick to 15–25 km / 800–1,500 m D+: Cross du Mont-Blanc 23 km, Templiers 14 km, EcoTrail 20 km, Mini-Race in Annecy. Pick a well-marked race, summer or early autumn, with aid stations every 6–8 km.
Aiming for your first ultra (60–90 km)? The Marathon du Mont-Blanc 90 km, EcoTrail 80 km autumn or Templiers 76 km are great launchpads. Plan 18–20 weeks of prep, two long runs per month, a 50 km test, and specific downhill work.
Chasing UTMB or the Diagonale? Plan two years out: collect Running Stones, validate a UTMB Index, then enter the lottery. UTMB rewards consistent World Series runners — don't underestimate the qualifying side of it.
See also our companion guide The 10 best marathons to run in France in 2026 for a road counterpart, or our report on Vincent Esmiol's MIUT 2026 win to see where French ultra-trail stands at the elite level.
FAQ
What is the most beautiful trail race in France?
It's a tough call — UTMB Mont-Blanc carries the most prestige, but Marathon du Mont-Blanc, 6000D and Trail des Aiguilles Rouges offer comparable Alpine scenery with less pressure. For pure scenery, many place the Diagonale des Fous (Réunion) at the very top.
When do trail registrations open in 2026?
The big races (UTMB, SaintéLyon, Diagonale des Fous) typically open registrations 6 to 9 months in advance and can sell out within hours. SaintéLyon 2026 dropped its 20,000 bibs on March 17, 2026 — gone in hours. Use BPMoov alerts or official newsletters to stay ahead.
What's the difference between Marathon du Mont-Blanc and UTMB?
Marathon du Mont-Blanc runs in late June over 42 km / 2,700 m D+ around Chamonix — without a full Mont-Blanc loop. UTMB runs in late August over 171 km / 10,000 m D+, looping through France-Italy-Switzerland — a mythical, qualifying, highly selective race.
Do you need experience to run a trail race in France?
No. Many races on the calendar offer discovery formats between 10 and 25 km: Cross du Mont-Blanc 23 km, EcoTrail Paris 20 km, Templiers 14 km, Mini-Race in Annecy. Ideal way to discover trail running without jumping straight into an ultra.
Has mandatory trail kit changed in 2026?
Mandatory kit (pack, cup, survival blanket, headlamp, whistle, waterproof jacket, phone, minimum 1 L water) is set by each organizer. On UTMB World Series ultras (UTMB, Restonica, Verbier-St-Bernard, Grand Raid Ventoux, EcoTrail), the list aligns with the UTMB standard. Always check your race's official rules.
How do I qualify for UTMB Mont-Blanc 2027?
You need to accumulate Running Stones (minimum 1 active stone) by running UTMB World Series races, validate a UTMB Index on a long-format race, and enter the mid-January 2027 lottery. The system rewards consistent World Series runners. Full details on the official UTMB site.
Ready to lock in your 2026 trail season?
Whether you're chasing your first Mini-Race at Lake Annecy, your first ultra on the EcoTrail 80 km autumn, or the Diagonale des Fous two years out, 2026 gives you 10 chances to run something memorable in France. From Mont-Blanc to Réunion, via the Pyrenees, Larzac and Pilat, there's a trail with your name on it.
→ Download BPMoov — free, iOS and Android, 2,000+ road and trail races referenced across France and Europe, registration-opening alerts, personal calendar, time tracker.
Train well — and we'll see you on the trails.
Published May 4, 2026. Sources: official organizer websites (maxi-race.org, la6000d.com, ecotrailparis.com, saintelyon.com, festivaldestempliers.com, grandraidpyrenees.com, montblanc.utmb.world, aiguillesrouges.fr, grandraid-reunion.com, montblanc-marathon.com). Dates and details may evolve — always check official race websites before finalizing your registration.