The 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) starts August 24 in Chamonix, France, attracting elite ultrarunners from around the world for a week of races around the Mont Blanc Massif. The event, considered the sport’s leading showcase, concludes with the 106-mile UTMB race—one of eight competitions held during the UTMB World Series Finals.
This year’s lineup includes three-time champ Courtney Dauwalter. The races will be broadcast live in the U.S. for free, offering viewers a chance to watch trail running’s biggest event.
How the races unfold
The UTMB World Series Finals feature three main events: the OCC, CCC, and UTMB. Each covers a different part of the Mont Blanc loop, with distances from 50K to 106 miles and elevation gains exceeding 32,800 feet in the longest race.
Competition begins August 27 with the OCC 50K, starting in Orsières, Switzerland, and following the final third of the loop to Chamonix. The next morning, the CCC 100K departs from Courmayeur, Italy, spanning the middle two-thirds of the route. The week’s highlight, the full UTMB, starts that evening at 5:45 p.m. local time in Chamonix’s town center.
Those running the UTMB will compete for about $23,400 for the win (plus multiples more in sponsorship bonuses) and eternal bragging rights on the sport’s biggest stage. The 106-mile race around Mont Blanc is a time-honored test piece for ultrarunners, producing fearless front-running, heartbreaking blowups, fierce rivalries, and awe-inspiring scenery.
Where to watch
All three championship races will stream live on FloTrack and UTMB Live. The OCC begins broadcasts on August 27 at 2:15 a.m. local time (8:15 a.m. ET), followed by the CCC on August 28 at 3:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. ET). The UTMB’s coverage starts at 11:45 a.m. local time (5:45 p.m. ET) the same day.
A livetracker provides real-time updates for all eight races. The system uses GPS transponders carried by participants, letting fans monitor progress, splits, and estimated finish times.
Filming combines drones, motorcycle-mounted cameras, and follow crews on foot to capture both the vast terrain and personal moments of the races.
The UTMB’s expansion into a weeklong event has transformed it into a trail running circus filled with races. The event’s growth mirrors trail running’s increasing popularity, but its essence remains the same: a test of endurance in the Alps’ toughest terrain.
For those watching from home, the coverage offers a rare look at a sport that usually unfolds out of sight. Alpine scenery and unscripted moments have turned the UTMB into a cultural event beyond the trail running community.
