The northern municipality will star in the launch of one of the toughest self-sufficiency races in the world, which celebrates its eleventh edition from November 4 to 8
Gáldar will this year be the epicenter from which an adventure that few human beings are capable of completing will begin. The municipality in the north of Gran Canaria will host the start of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria 2026, the eleventh edition of one of the most demanding and internationally recognized self-sufficiency races in the world of trail running.
The competition will take place from November 4 to 8 and will put its participants to the test with a course of more than 240 kilometres and a positive elevation gain of over 12,000 metres across five days of extreme hardship.
The race, born in 2017, has consolidated its position as a world reference thanks to a unique format: the route is revealed only ten days before the start, is unmarked, and runs through constantly changing natural conditions. Mastery of navigation, sleep management, and flawless personal logistics are the determining factors to reach the finish line. The life bases, distributed along the course, represent the only support points available to runners.
A Legacy of Success
The 2025 edition set a historic participation record with 107 athletes from 22 nationalities, of whom 84 managed to complete the challenge. Among the highlights of that year stands out the triumph of José Bordón, the first Canarian to claim overall victory, as well as the women’s podium led by winner Anita Lehmann, flanked by Canarian runners Nira Castro and Guacimara Suárez. In addition, the event broke audience records with 30 hours of live streaming broadcast.
The Mayor of Gáldar, Teodoro Sosa, underlined the value of this announcement for the municipality, describing the race as a one-of-a-kind event: “Gáldar will be the origin of the impossible. This is not just a race — it is a test of pure survival.”
Sosa also highlighted the transformative nature of the event for the international profile of the municipality: “We are not just hosting a start — we are igniting the spark of one of the most extreme adventures on the international calendar. History will be written from Gáldar; everything will begin here.”
For his part, Carlos González, director of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, noted that Gáldar hosting the start “is news that reinforces the unique character of this race.” “We are talking about a municipality with a very strong identity, with history, landscape and personality, which fits perfectly with the spirit of self-sufficiency and extreme adventure that defines the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria,” he added.
Regarding the race itself, González highlighted the features that make it a truly unique event: “In barely a decade we have built a globally recognized race that attracts runners with very specific profiles, ready to face a total challenge. Each edition is different, unpredictable, and that is precisely what makes it something so special.”
With this eleventh edition, Gáldar becomes not only a sporting stage, but the symbol of resilience from which one of the most epic adventures on the planet begins.
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is organized by Arista Eventos, with the sponsorship of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Instituto Insular de Deportes; the Government of the Canary Islands with Promotur – Islas Canarias; Gáldar Town Council; Tejeda Town Council; Joma and Fred. Olsen Express; and the collaboration of Aguas de Teror, Pepsi, Gofio La Piña, Bonflex, Provital and Inetel.
