HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB returns for a second consecutive year as the UTMB World Series Major in Oceania

From 14 to 17 May, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB®, the first of the four UTMB® World Series Majors, returns for its 18th edition in the spectacular World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains. The event will welcome more than 8,000 runners and promises a weekend combining high-level competition with opportunities to explore the region’s cultural heritage and landscapes. As a Major in the series, it will be broadcast live, including on live.utmb.world.

Set in the heart of the Blue Mountains, the event has established itself as a key fixture, deeply rooted in the region. This is reflected in participation figures, with 90% of runners coming from Australia and 65% from the area the Blue Mountains — highlighting the strong local engagement behind the event.

The event offers an exceptional opportunity to experience a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Six race formats are available — 161km (100M), 101km (100K), 51km (50K), 22km (20K), 11km, and 1km (reserved for children) — each offering a different perspective on the region’s striking landscapes. From sandstone cliffs and dense forests to iconic sections such as the legendary Furber Steps, the courses combine physical challenge with a deeply sensory experience.

The event is also marked by a strong cultural commitment to Indigenous communities and to recognising the lands it crosses. Aboriginal culture is honoured through a Welcome to Country ceremony, traditional smoking rituals of cleansing and welcome, and the presence of yidaki players along the course.

In the lead-up to the event, dedicated content helps runners understand the history and significance of the landscapes they pass through — reinforcing the connection between sporting performance, sense of place and living heritage.

A leading example of gender balance in ultra-trail

Oceania is one of the most advanced regions on the circuit for female participation in trail running. With particularly strong momentum over shorter distances and high overall representation, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB confirms this trend, with women accounting for 43% of the field — one of the highest proportions across the UTMB World Series.

On short formats, participation is even higher, reaching 55% in the 22km and 61% in the 11km, reflecting a clear broadening of access to the sport.

This is underpinned by practical initiatives that support an inclusive environment, including dedicated facilities (changing rooms and toilets), the provision of feminine hygiene kits at aid stations, and dedicated panel talks on the main stage.

This progress is part of a wider regional shift, already evident in New Zealand at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB, which recorded historic gender parity across all its races earlier this year. Together, these events reflect a lasting shift in trail running across Oceania, where gender balance is no longer a target, but an established reality within the culture of the sport.

Benefiting from its status as a Major UTMB World Series, two races (the 50K and 100K) of the HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia will be broadcast live on video on DAZN (excl.Canada and USA) and Flosports (USA), with commentary provided by renowned experts. In addition, live.utmb.world, the global tracking platform for UTMB World Series events, will offer an even more immersive viewing experience, featuring enhanced interaction during the live broadcast, a live chat, statistics, runner tracking, and real-time results.

The event will also be covered across the UTMB World Series and event social media channels (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts), with additional highlights and behind-the-scenes content.

“We are delighted to open the UTMB Live season with an event so deeply rooted in its region, fully reflecting our vision for the circuit: a strong local experience, driven by its community and made accessible to audiences worldwide through an enhanced, more immersive live broadcast this year,” said Antoine Aubour, Communications, Marketing and Media Director, UTMB Group