Take to the Sky
The Monte Rosa SkyMarathon is not only Europe’s highest race, but also the birthplace of skyrunning where it all began in 1992 in Alagna Valsesia, Italy.
After the last edition in 1996, the race was relaunched in 2018 with a new format, retracing the original course to the summit of Monte Rosa at 4,554m every year. This unique event in true skyrunning style traverses moraine, snow fields and glaciers for 35 kilometres with a gruelling 7,000m ascent and descent.
In 2025, an uphill-only version, the Monte Rosa SkySummit, was introduced. In both races, athletes race in teams of two, roped together for safety.
For those who want to run solo, the new Monte Rosa SkyRace will launch in 2026, a revival of the last race exactly 30 years ago, 25 km long with 5,000m vertical up and down to the Gnifetti Hut at 3,647m.
Four races make up the 2026 Monte Rosa events, including the AMA VK2, a double Vertical Kilometer®.
All are above 3,000m altitude – true to the original legacy and home of Europe’s highest race.
The events have been awarded the ISO certification for sustainable management of skyrunning sports events on Monte Rosa.
There’s nothing else like it. Join us for the race of the century!
History
The Monte Rosa SkyMarathon – the most emblematic race in the history of skyrunning that summitted Monte Rosa in the Italian Alps in 1993, remains an icon.
This is where the sport has its roots and it was here that after the first ascent record of 3h57” by Italian Marino Giacometti in 1989, that the first skyrunning races in the early ‘90’s were launched – today, a global reality across five continents with more than 450,000 participants from 90 countries.
In 2018, the race was relaunched with the same spirit as the first pioneers, but racing in teams of two, roped together for safety above the snow line. In 2025, the Monte Rosa SkySummit, an ascent-only version was introduced.
Adding to the above and the AMA VK2, the new Monte Rosa SkyRace® will join the events in 2026 – four competitions looking to the future but with their roots, firmly in the past.
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