Kilian to Race UTMB in 2026

This one’s for real (and apologizes one more time for my mistakenly jumping on the Barkley rumor).

Nnormal shares their athlete’s event calendars and here’s what on deck for Kilan Jornet in 2026:

• 27 June 2026: Western States, USA
• 8 August 2026: Sierre-Zinal Race, Switzerland
• 28 August 2026: UTMB, France

From Kilian’s Instagram with more on the announcement:

This year, the goal is simpler: show up at start lines that mean a lot to me. Western States, Sierre-Zinal and UTMB.
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And then there’s @utmbmontblanc, one of the few ultras in the world where the depth of the field pushes you to a different level. Although we haven’t always agreed on everything, we’re aligned on what matters, towards a better future for the sport we love. I’ve been impressed by everything done with @protrailrunners in the past year.

Fabrice Perrin, UTMB Chief of Sports on LinkedIn (translated):

I’m delighted. Not for the “headline” effect. But because it says something about how trail running is evolving. And on the way in which we choose to build it.
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Seeing Kilian return to racing in 2026, in this context, is also the symbol of a more mature sport. Who can go through tensions, then come back to the basics: discuss, build, progress.

If the sport is supposed to mature and professionalize you don’t just add more cameras and bigger prize purses, you also expect everyone in it to grow up with it. This will be an exciting summer in Chamonix, let’s just hope he, and all the other heavy hitters who announced they’ll be toeing the line, can stay healthy and actually make it to the starting line.