UTMB World Series schedule 2023: the 35 races

The UTMB World Series has announced a schedule of 35 races for the 2023 edition.

After its first edition in 2022, the UTMB World Series has increased the number of races up from 25 to 35 with first-time events in Africa and South America along with expansion in Europe, Asia and North America.

By competing at UTMB World Series events, competitors will earn a certain number of ‘Running Stones’ which are then used to enter the lottery for the UTMB World Series Finals at the UTMB Mont-Blanc.

New races

There are 10 new races on the 2023 calendar compared to the year previous: Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zealand), Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB (China), Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB, Paraty Brazil by UTMB (Brazil), Valhöll Argentina by UTMB (Argentina), the KAT100 by UTMB (Austria), Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB (South Africa), TransJeju by UTMB (South Korea), Desert RATS™ Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA) and Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA).

It means the world series now takes place on five continents.

UTMB World Series Finals

The UTMB World Series Finals will take place at UTMB Mont-Blanc between August 28 – September 3 in 2023, with races over a number of distances including the big three: 50K OCC, 100K CCC and the legendary 100-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

To qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals, runners must finish in the top three (both male and female) of their respective category at any UTMB World Series Event over the 50K, 100K or 100M distance.

Runners can also qualify by finishing in the top ten of the respective category at a UTMB World Series Major. The 2023 European major will be Val d’Aran by UTMB, the American major will be The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB and Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB will be the Asia-Pacific major.

Qualification can also be achieved via a lottery, with entry to the lottery requiring at least one running stone – achieved by completing a UTMB World Series Event or UTMB World Series Major. At a Major, double the usual running stones are on offer to race finishers.

UTMB World Series 2023 confirmed events:

• Tarawera™ Ultramarathon by UTMB^® (New Zealand), 11-12 February  
• Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 17-19 February
• Istria 100 by UTMB^® (Croatia), 13-16 April
• Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB^® (China), 15-16 April
• Desert RATS™ Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (USA), 15-16 April
• AMERICAN MAJOR: Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB^® (USA), 28-29 April 
• Transvulcania by UTMB^® (Spain), 4-6 May
• Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^® (Australia), 11-14 May 
• Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB^® (Wales), 12-14 May
• Valhöll Argentina by UTMB^® (Argentina), 12-14 May
• Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB^® (France), 18-21 May
• Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB^® (South Africa), 26-28 May
• Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB^® (France), 3-4 June 
• mozart 100™ by UTMB^® (Austria), 17-18 June
• Lavaredo Ultra-Trail^® by UTMB® (Italy), 22-25 June 
• Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB^® (Andorra), 24-25 June
• Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 24-25 June 
• EUROPEAN MAJOR: Val d’Aran by UTMB^® (Spain), 6-9 July 
• Restonica Trail by UTMB^® (France), 6-8 July 
• Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB^® (Switzerland), 7-9 July 
• Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB^® (Switzerland), 12-16 July 
• Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB^® (USA), 21-22 July
• KAT100 by UTMB^® (Austria), 3-5 August
• UTMB^® World Series Finals; UTMB^® Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 28 August – 3 September
• Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB^® (Slovenia), 8-10 September 
• Wildstrubel by UTMB^® (Switzerland), 15-17 September
• Paraty Brazil by UTMB^® (Brazil), 22-24 September
• Grindstone Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (USA) 22-24 September
• Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB^® (France), 28 September -1 October
• TransJeju by UTMB^® (South Korea), 7-8 October
• Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB^® (Mexico), 3-4 November 
• Kullamannen by UTMB^®, (Sweden) 3-4 November
• TransLantau™ by UTMB^® (Hong Kong), November 
• ASIA-PACIFIC MAJOR: Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB^® (Thailand), 8-10 December
• Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB^® (Australia), December