The adidas Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival (IATF) remains true to its track record of success and, even after 11 years, is once again setting new standards: with 8,500 runners from 82 nations, Austria’s largest trail running event is not only more international than ever, but is now one of the three largest trail running festivals in Europe. From 29 April to 2 May 2026, Innsbruck will be transformed into the vibrant hub of mountain running. 60,000 visitors are expected, generating an economic impact of around 3.6 million euros.
INNSRUCK, 13.04.2026 – A highlight of the 11th edition of the IATF is the new elite race format “Trail Hunt”, an exciting two-stage pursuit race along the legendary Nordkette. With a total prize fund of 30,000 euros, it attracts the world’s elite trail runners to the Tyrolean capital – a concept that is hard to beat in terms of dynamism and follows on from the successful 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships Innsbruck-Stubai (WMTRC).
A highlight in the seasonal calendar
“With 8,500 participants from 82 nations, the Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival is an international flagship event for Tyrol as a sporting region. The combination of top sporting performance, the experience of nature and hospitality is exemplary and demonstrates what organising a high-quality sporting event looks like and how it works with such appeal,” emphasises Philip Wohlgemuth, First Deputy Governor and Provincial Minister for Sport of Tyrol.
With 12 races and distances ranging from around 7 kilometres with 250 metres of elevation gain to around 110 kilometres with 5,500 metres of elevation gain, the IATF offers races for every level – from beginners to ultra-runners. In addition to the spectacular trails and alpine panoramas, the expo, side events and culinary programme ensure a genuine festival atmosphere.
“For four days, the Trail Run Festival transforms Innsbruck into an international trail running hub for 60,000 visitors. It’s an ideal opportunity to showcase Innsbruck’s alpine-urban lifestyle – and to offer the city’s sports-loving population a top-class sporting event. Alexander Pittl and his dynamic team work tirelessly to organise one of Europe’s top three
running events year after year,” says Johannes Anzengruber, Mayor of Innsbruck, enthusiastically.
IATF: Economic strength and a collective effort
“Around 500 staff members, over 1,000 shifts and more than 20 clubs ensure that this major event runs smoothly and sustainably. Behind these impressive figures are people who work with passion and precision. Our aim is to offer athletes and visitors an unforgettable experience – at the highest level in terms of sport, logistics and emotion,” explains Alexander Pittl, organiser and managing director of Laufwerkstatt, adding: “With our new elite race format, the pursuit race, we are reaching many more top athletes in the scene – that makes us particularly happy.” Over four days, the festival connects urban Innsbruck with the surrounding mountain landscape.
As well as its sporting appeal, the festival also delivers economic benefits: Barbara Plattner, Managing Director of Innsbruck Tourism, adds: “The IATF is the most important trail running event in the German-speaking world and puts the Innsbruck region in the international spotlight. Almost three-quarters of the participants travel from outside Tyrol. Last year alone, we recorded 30,000 overnight stays and an economic impact of 3.6 million euros. The new annual participation records underline the event’s appeal, whilst at the same time the trail runners experience our region in a particularly authentic and nature-oriented way.”
Professional ski mountaineer and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles athlete Johanna Hiemer, as a partner and participant in the IATF 2026, is also looking forward to the event: “The trails around Innsbruck are unique – technically demanding, scenically spectacular. The IATF is a real challenge and, at the same time, a celebration for the entire trail running community. It brings together people from all over the world who share the same passion – that’s what defines the spirit of the event and motivates me to push my limits.”
Higher. Faster. Further.
The starting gun goes off on Wednesday, 29 April, at 6.00 pm on the forecourt of the Tyrolean State Theatre with the K7 Business Trail and the K7 Night Trail. On Thursday morning, the international elite and climbing specialists will compete in the “Trail Hunt – Vertical” and the “Vertical” as they head up to the Seegrube. In the afternoon, the young talents take centre stage in the “Young Talents Race”. Friday is all about the “Trail Hunt” competition: the women start at 9.30 am, the men at 10.00 am, followed by the mixed mass start at 10.30 am. In the afternoon, the up-and-coming talents will showcase their skills in the “Kids Trail” at 3.00 pm. Saturday is all about the middle and long distances. The two flagship races, the “K110 Master of Innsbruck” and the “K85 Heart of the Alps Ultra”, kick off as early as midnight. In the morning, the “K65 Panorama Ultra Trail”, the “K42 Trail Marathon”, the “K35 Discovery Race”, the “K25 Trail Half Marathon” and the “K15 Rookie Trail Run” will follow one after the other.
The IATF 2026 is supported by the AUSTRIA TREND Hotel Congress Innsbruck as the official hotel partner.
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