The Pontedilegno–Tonale event has earned widespread recognition from Italian and international trail and ultra running communities. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition (main event scheduled for September 25th–27th, side events on September 13th), the Adamello Vertical Kilometer will be included in the Italian Absolute and Category Vertical Kilometer Championships, while the Adamello Vertical Junior will count towards the Coppa Italia Giovani, supported by Mico.
Adamello Ultra Trail has recently announced the dates for its 2026 edition (September 25th–27th), yet the impact of a record-breaking 2025 season continues to resonate within the trail running community. For the first time, the event surpassed the milestone of 1,000 participants, supported by a record international turnout representing 34 Countries. These achievements were further reinforced by two prestigious accolades awarded to the Pontedilegno–Tonale race.
On one side, Adamello Ultra Trail was recognised by readers and trail running enthusiasts of trailrunning.it, which voted it as the fourth-best Italian race for “strong emotions and unforgettable memories.” On the other hand, the event was selected by the German running platform HD Sports as one of the 29 most beautiful races in Italy, described as a true “runner’s paradise”. These acknowledgements underline the long-term commitment of ASD Adamello Ultra Trail to continuously raising the event’s standards across all areas.
Over the years, the event has evolved from a single 180 km race into a comprehensive programme featuring eight different distances, evenly split between the main event and its side initiatives. The main event includes four challenges: 100 miles (11,500 m of elevation gain), 100 km (6,050 m elevation gain), 60 km (4,000 m elevation gain), and 35 km (2,200 m elevation gain). The Adamello Series – the side events that open the Adamello Ultra Trail programme – include the Adamello Trail Junior and the Adamello Vertical Kilometer, offered in Competitive, Slow and Junior formats.
It is within the Adamello Series – scheduled for Sunday, September 13th in Vione (Brescia) – and particularly through the Vertical challenge that the first major announcements for 2026 emerge. Already certified by the International Skyrunning Federation, the Adamello Vertical Kilometer will now also be a valid race for the Italian Vertical Kilometer Championships. At the same time, the Adamello Vertical Junior will be included in the Italian Youth Cup supported by Mico.
These developments once again confirm the event’s constant drive for improvement, reinforcing the positioning of Adamello Ultra Trail as a benchmark within the Italian and international trail running calendar.
