Extreme Sports
UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026 preview: How to watch trail running's flagship event for free on DAZN
Watch the UTMB World Series for free on DAZN
The UTMB World Series reaches its biggest stage this week as the world's leading trail runners descend on Chamonix for the flagship UTMB Mont-Blanc.
Considered one of the most prestigious events in trail running, UTMB Mont-Blanc brings together elite athletes and thousands of runners for a week of racing around the spectacular Mont-Blanc massif.
The headline UTMB race begins on Friday, August 28, sending competitors on a remarkable journey through France, Italy and Switzerland before returning to Chamonix.
With around 174km to cover, approximately 9,900 metres of elevation gain and a maximum race time of 46 hours and 45 minutes, it represents one of the toughest challenges in endurance sport.
Here is everything you need to know about the flagship event of the UTMB World Series and how to watch the action on DAZN.
Click here to watch live and for free on DAZN.
What is UTMB Mont-Blanc?
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images
UTMB Mont-Blanc is the showpiece event of the UTMB World Series and hosts the season-ending World Series Finals.
The week features eight races across a range of distances, with the UTMB itself serving as the flagship 100M final and the race most closely associated with the event.
Created in 2003, the UTMB takes runners around Mont Blanc, crossing through France, Italy and Switzerland before eventually returning to the famous finish in Chamonix.
Competitors face a relentless combination of major climbs, descents and mountain trails, with the course accumulating almost 10,000 metres of elevation gain.
The event brings together some of the world's best professional trail runners alongside amateur athletes who have earned the opportunity to compete through the wider UTMB World Series.
That combination of an elite international field, the extraordinary Alpine setting and the sheer scale of the challenge has helped establish UTMB Mont-Blanc as the flagship event in global trail running.
Who are the favourites for UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026?
2022 Getty Images
The men's race has been opened up by the withdrawals of several major names, including Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley and defending champion Tom Evans.
That leaves 2025 runner-up Ben Dhiman among the leading contenders for victory in Chamonix.
Former champion Vincent Bouillard is another major threat. The Frenchman won UTMB in 2024 and returns to Chamonix after breaking the Western States 100 course record earlier this summer.
Germany's Hannes Namberger is also among the names to watch after winning the Lavaredo Ultra Trail for a fourth time in 2026, while Britain's Jonathan Albon and Josh Wade are part of a deep international field.
In the women's race, three-time winner Courtney Dauwalter is one of the headline names following the late withdrawal of defending champion Ruth Croft.
Dauwalter has previously won UTMB in 2019, 2021 and 2023 and will now attempt to add a fourth victory in Chamonix.
France's Blandine L'Hirondel is another leading contender after previously winning both the OCC and CCC races at UTMB Mont-Blanc, while American Rachel Entrekin arrives for her UTMB debut as another athlete to watch.
How to watch UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026 on DAZN
Fans can watch UTMB Mont-Blanc as part of DAZN's coverage of the UTMB World Series in eligible territories.
Click here to watch live and for free.
The flagship UTMB race begins in Chamonix at 5:45pm CEST (4:45pm BST) on Friday, August 28.
UTMB World Series races are available live and on demand on DAZN in territories worldwide, excluding Canada, France, Monaco, the French Overseas Territories and the United States.
Coverage includes live race action, highlights, athlete interviews and analysis from some of the biggest events on the trail-running calendar, including races that form part of the pathway to the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix.
You can watch on the DAZN app, available on smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers.
If you do not already have a DAZN account, getting started is simple:
- Download the free DAZN app from your device's app store, or visit DAZN.com on your computer.
- Select Sign Up or Log In.
- Create an account using your email address, or sign in with Apple, Google or Facebook.
- Once registered, you will have access to DAZN's free content and live events available in your region.
- Search "UTMB World Series" and start watching.
