Africa’s First
World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
6–10 October 2027 · Cape Town, South Africa. The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships come to Table Mountain - a New 7th Wonder of Nature and the sport's most cinematic stage yet.
What is WMTRC?
The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships is a biennial global event uniting the world's leading mountain and trail runners - sanctioned by four global governing bodies under one world championship platform.
World Athletics
Global governing body for the sport of athletics.
WMRA
World Mountain Running Association.
ITRA
International Trail Running Association.
IAU
International Association of Ultrarunners.
Africa's Debut
First edition of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships to be hosted in Africa.
First World Championship in an athletics discipline staged in South Africa since 1993.
Cape Town
In September 2025, World Athletics selected Cape Town as host city for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships - a world-class bid recognised for technical excellence, integrated course design and a long-term legacy vision.
- Technical excellence
- Integrated course design
- A long-term legacy vision
University of Cape Town
Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, beneath Devil's Peak, UCT is a centralised, secure and operationally efficient championship hub - perfectly positioned between mountain terrain and city infrastructure.
- Direct access to championship-level trails
- Exceptional scenery
- Modern event facilities · start, finish & event village
Ten World Titles. One Mountain.
Four days of world-class competition, 6–10 October 2027 - four disciplines deciding ten world titles. Athletes are selected by their Member Federations.
Mountain Runs
Uphill · Classic · U20 ClassicTrail Runs
Long Trail · Short TrailEach discipline crowns titles across Senior Men, Senior Women and U20 categories - ten world titles in total. Alongside the championship, a full programme of mass-participation races and community events welcomes runners of every level to the mountain.
Full course profiles and GPX tracks for each discipline will be published here as courses are finalised.
One Mountain, Many Courses
Africa's first WMTRC, staged on one of the most recognisable massifs on Earth - a flat-topped sandstone summit at 1,086m defining every finish-line skyline.
- Table MountainA flat-topped sandstone summit at 1,086m, defining the finish-line skyline.
- Lion's HeadThe spiralling cone above the Atlantic seaboard, 669m.
- Devil's PeakThe steep eastern buttress above the classic loops, 1,000m.
Table Mountain National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and home to the Cape Floral Kingdom - the world's smallest and richest floral kingdom.
Note: concept routes shown - subject to change ahead of final course confirmation.
Six Days.
One Week.
The 2027 WMTRC runs over four days of racing inside a full championship week - with an Expo and a full programme of mass-participation races running alongside the championship. Specific information for Member Federations will be further available in the Team Manual.
Run With the World
The world's best mountain and trail runners are coming to Cape Town. On championship weekend, so can you.
Lace up alongside the stars of the sport and take on the trails of Table Mountain National Park. The Mass Participation Run is open to runners of every level, from first-timers looking for a day on the mountain to seasoned trail runners chasing a new challenge. Come for the views, stay for the atmosphere, and be part of Africa's first World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
Be Part of the Mountain
Whatever your role - athlete, fan, volunteer or partner - race week on Table Mountain has a place for you.
Volunteers
Roles, benefits and sign-up. Volunteers are the backbone of race week.
Partners
Commercial tiers from Title Partner to Activation Parties.
Results
Real-time results and start lists, live from 5–10 October 2027.
Contact & FAQ
Enquiry routing for media, teams, partners and general questions.