The adidas Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival (IATF) is experiencing an unprecedented rush with more than 8,000 participants so far. Fifty days before Europe’s third-largest trail running event, the added value is also thriving, as a recent study by the University of Innsbruck shows.
INNSBRUCK, 09. March 2026 The IATF will take place for the eleventh time from 29 April to 2 May 2026 and, with over 8,000 trail runners, has established itself as Tyrol’s most popular sporting event. As in the previous year, the event location is in front of the Tyrolean State Theatre in the heart of the provincial capital. A total of thirteen competitions will be offered. While there are still race bibs available for the prologue races, the main competitions have been sold out for several weeks. The organiser Laufwerkstatt, led by OK boss Alexander Pittl, is staging a premiere this year with the spectacular TRAIL HUNT. “We are inviting the world’s trail running elite here. The new format runs over two stages and offers prize money of €30,000.” explains Pittl. On April 30th, a vertical race over 7.4 kilometres and 1,330 metres of elevation gain will be held as part of the elite race, followed by a 25-kilometre pursuit race along the Nordkette mountain range the next day.
Last year, the IATF celebrated its tenth anniversary. To mark the anniversary edition, a tourist analysis of consumer behaviour and athlete satisfaction was conducted in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck. And the figures are impressive: 7,200 starters took part in 2025. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland were the leading countries.
‘As the most important trail running event in the German-speaking world, the Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival generates around 30,000 overnight stays, providing a significant boost and added value for tourism and the local community. At the same time, the event contributes to the international visibility of the region as an attractive outdoor and trail running destination, with almost 70% of participants coming from outside Tyrol.’ Barbara Plattner, Managing Director of Innsbruck Tourism
In 2025, the event generated €3.6 million in primary tourism value for Innsbruck’s hotel and restaurant industry.
Trailrunning is booming
Trail running is one of the booming sports of the present day. This trend could be further strengthened by its possible inclusion in the Olympic programme, Pittl emphasises: “Another factor in our favour is that Innsbruck has become the Mecca of the trail running scene – in terms of training opportunities and research expertise. When it comes to altitude training camps, such as Kühtai, our location in the heart of Europe is also perfect for many top athletes.”
The adidas Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival offers competitions for everyone from beginners to ultra-professionals. 2026 will not only be a record year in terms of participant numbers: the number of expo exhibitors has also increased from 35 last year to 50, including all the well-known brands in the outdoor sports scene. The number of visitors is also expected to rise further to 60,000 fans and trail running enthusiasts in the heart of Innsbruck.
Further information and registration for the event at: https://innsbruckalpine.at/
Download the IATF press release and media files: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4znv78nb903odyxgli4v2/AO1Q1uj1MirXOx2Pu3j3bDc?rlkey=efxw2wioc3u7cy830yp1g2n0n&st=kcml5vk1&dl=0
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LinkedIn: https://at.linkedin.com/company/laufwerkstat