Tarawera Ultra-Trail 2026 Highlights Released

The 2026 Tarawera Ultra-Trail was the largest in the event's 17-year history, with over 5,600 runners participating. The event drew a significant international crowd, with 55% of competitors traveling from 80 different countries to Rotorua, New Zealand. The most represented nationalities outside of New Zealand were Australia, Great Britain, the United States, France, and China. A historic milestone for the event and the UTMB World Series, the 2026 edition achieved a 50/50 gender split among registered participants. Female participation was particularly strong in the shorter distances, with women making up 68% of the new T14 race and 61% of the T21. The premier T102 and TMiler events also saw female participation rates nearly double the average for the UTMB World Series circuit. The race course traverses sacred lands of the Te Arawa people, a connection the event honors in partnership with the local tangata whenua (people of the land). The name "Tarawera" itself is significant, with "tara" meaning a sharp point and "wera" signifying a release of heat, reflecting the region's geothermal landscape. Finishers of the 100-mile (TMiler) race receive a pounamu toki (greenstone adze) handcrafted by local carvers from Mountain Jade. In the premier 102km race, New Zealanders Ruth Croft and Daniel Jones both secured their fourth victories. Despite wet and muddy conditions that prevented course records, Croft finished in 8:41:11, and Jones in 7:31:27. The top two male and female finishers in the 102k also earned a coveted "Golden Ticket" entry into the prestigious Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in the United States. The TMiler, a 163km journey, was won by Simon Cochrane of New Zealand in 16:25:52 for the men, and Devon Yanko from the USA in 19:58:04 for the women. Founded in 2009 by Rotorua local Paul Charteris, the event began as an 85km race inspired by the community spirit of the Western States 100. It has since grown into a major international trail running festival with five different race distances. The event is now part of the UTMB World Series, a global circuit of elite trail running races. The well-stocked aid stations at Tarawera are a highlight for many runners, with some featuring themes, music, and volunteers in costume. In an effort to reduce waste, the event is cupless, requiring all participants to carry their own cups or hydration packs. Runners in the longer distances can also utilize a drop bag service to have personal supplies available at designated points on the course.