Ultra Skyrunning Madeira 2026

Madeira mountain running is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular and demanding ultra trail experiences in the world — where running becomes a high-altitude journey across cliffs, ridges, and volcanic peaks.

First created in 2004, the discipline has grown into an international attraction, bringing around 200 runners from 21 countries to the island each year.

What makes Madeira truly unique is how the races unfold across time and light. While the Vertical Race starts early in the morning, the longer distances stretch into the evening and night, sending runners deep into the mountains under darkness — only to emerge above the clouds as dawn breaks across the peaks.

Running here means moving through night, altitude, and exhaustion — and then watching the island ignite in sunrise from above the clouds, in one of the most breathtaking finishes in mountain running anywhere in the world.