Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546020
11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 31 JULY 2026 CULTURE 2027 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship runs another lap around Gozo AFTER a World Championship that carried runners around an entire Mediterranean island and united the global trail run com- munity in 2026, Gozo welcomes the world back on May 8, 2027. The 2027 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship will crown age-division world cham- pions in the Trail Marathon and Trail Half Marathon as the cul- minating event of the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Open races will also give run- ners who have not qualified the opportunity to share the same trails and become part of the weekend, the culture and the time spent together on Malta's island of adventure. Run it Back "Last year showed us exactly what Gozo can bring to a World Championship," said Landry Be- noit, XTERRA Trail Run Tech- nical Director. "To those who saw the images, followed the experience and heard the sto- ries now have their opportunity to experience Gozo for them- selves." The return follows the success of the 17th XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in 2026, when athletes from 30 coun- tries competed along the island's clifftop edges, limestone paths, wild valleys and coastal villag- es. World titles were award- ed across the Trail Marathon and Trail Half Marathon, with champions ranging from 19 to 79 years old. The 2027 edition will be the 18th championship since the event began in Hawaii in 2008 and the second consecu- tive year hosted on Gozo. Making History Gozo is the second-largest is- land in the Maltese archipelago, reached by a short ferry crossing from Malta. Its scale allows the Trail Marathon to travel around the island, moving between high sea cliffs, sheltered valleys, quiet villages, limestone tracks, hid- den bays and open views across the Mediterranean. The route carries runners through a place shaped by thou- sands of years of history. The Ġgantija temples date to approx- imately 3600 BC, while hilltop churches, fortified citadels, old farm roads, harbours and coastal settlements remain part of the landscape through which the championship travels. For the Love of Running XTERRA Gozo has been built by a local team with a direct connection to endurance sport and the island's trail community. Race Director Nathan Farrugia described the approach behind the event. "Gozo is a race organ- ised by athletes for athletes, and we deeply value the participants' experience." Farrugia also explained why the island fits the championship. "Gozo is the perfect place for us, as the weather, landscape and people create an ideal setting for the sport we love." Opening and award ceremo- nies, food, music, exhibits and lounge areas bring the event into the centre of Għajnsielem, while community gatherings give run- ners time to meet before the competition and reconnect after it. A Gozo Welcoming Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, de- scribed the Maltese Islands as "the perfect stage for the XTER- RA Trail Run World Champion- ship, where sport meets coastal landscapes, clear sea and a cli- mate suited to outdoor compe- tition. "Events of this stature reflect our commitment to promoting the island as a destination ca- pable of attracting and hosting high level world championship competitions," said Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camill- eri, adding that the event further strengthens Gozo's international profile. Qualification for the 2027 World Championship is already underway through the XTERRA Trail Run World Series designed as a global pathway through dif- ferent landscapes and trail-run- ning communities. Runners can begin close to home or travel farther, earn their place through a qualifying event and arrive in Gozo alongside athletes who have taken their own route from across the planet. Register for your next XTER- RA Trail Run World Series qual- ifier, or register for an open race at the 2027 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Gozo. About XTERRA Born on the Hawaiian shores of Maui in 1996, XTERRA has grown into a global outdoor lifestyle brand rooted in explo- ration, community, and care for the natural world. With deep roots in off-road racing, XTER- RA now inspires connection through events, storytelling, and apparel built to move through nature. From local gatherings to world-class events, XTERRA is a way of life shaped by the land beneath our feet and the stories we share along the way. 'Last year showed us exactly what Gozo can bring to a World Championship' The route carries runners through a place shaped by thousands of years of history