Ultra-Trail Australia

About the Event

The HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (UTA) is the premier trail-running festival in Australia and the second-largest ultra-trail event globally. Scheduled for May 14–17, 2026, the event takes place in Katoomba, within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Recently elevated to UTMB World Series Major status, the 2026 edition introduces a new 100-mile distance, making it a critical qualifying event for the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix.

Race Categories and Schedule

UTA offers a range of distances to accommodate different skill levels, from entry-level trail runs to elite endurance challenges. The festival atmosphere spans four days, beginning with shorter events and concluding with the ultra-marathon distances.

Race	Distance	Key Features
UTA100 Mille	160 km	New 100-mile Major status course.
UTA100	100 km	Flagship ultra with massive stair climbs.
UTA50	50 km	Highly competitive elite field.
UTA22 & UTA11	22 km / 11 km	Short-course mountain trails.

Geography and Cultural Significance

The event is held on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra ancestors. Organizers emphasize an immersive Indigenous experience, featuring a "Welcome to Country" ceremony at the start and the sounds of the yidaki (didgeridoo) at Ironpot Ridge. The terrain is world-renowned for its difficulty, characterized by steep sandstone stairs, vast cliff tops, and temperate rainforest valleys. In mid-May, Katoomba typically experiences crisp autumn weather with morning lows of 5°C and daytime highs of 13°C. Conditions can change rapidly, often resulting in misty valleys and damp technical trails.

Participation and Diversity Statistics

As a UTMB World Series Major, UTA attracts an international field. While the core of the 6,000+ participants remains Australian and New Zealander, the event has seen a significant shift toward a more global and diverse demographic over its 18-year history.

Demographic Group	Estimated Participation	Note
White / Caucasian	~72%	Includes large domestic Australian and European base.
Asian / Pacific Islander	~19%	Rapidly growing segment from SE Asia and Japan.
Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander	~3.5%	Reflecting the event's "Ngunna Yerrabi Yanggu" outreach.
Other / Mixed Heritage	~5.5%	Includes North/South American and African entrants.

wb_sunny 8.8° / 17.3°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.9 /

water_drop 77.9%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 11.2° / 19.0°

wb_sunny 8.8° / 17.3°

air 11.9 km/h

water_drop 77.9%

About Sydney

Learn more about the host city, Sydney.

Sydney is the Harbour City, and is the oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and livable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design, it is set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. The gateway to Australia, it lies on the deepest natural harbour in the world and stretches for 140 kilometres.