UTMB in Chamonix: 2027 dates, races, registration and where to stay that week
At the end of August, UTMB fills Chamonix for a week of racing and celebration. The races and their profiles, what is known about the 2027 dates, registration through pre-registration and a lottery, where to stand for starts and finishes, finding a bed when everything is full, and what the festivities change for an ordinary visitor.
The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is a week of trail races around the massif, in France, Italy and Switzerland, with starts, finishes and events concentrated in Chamonix. Its flagship race, the UTMB, covers about 170 km and 10,000 m of ascent, roughly the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc that hikers complete in about ten days.
For 2027, a local tourism source announces race week from 23 to 29 August 2027, with no detailed official schedule by race at the end of October 2026. Here are the races, registration, where to watch, and how to find a bed and get around that week.
Which races make up UTMB week?
| Race | Known profile | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| UTMB | About 170 km and 10,000 m of ascent, cross-border | elite and experienced ultra runners |
| CCC | About 100 km, from Courmayeur to Chamonix | seasoned ultra runners |
| TDS | a long, technical Alpine course | runners looking for technical terrain |
| OCC | shorter, usually from Orsières to Chamonix | runners less committed to ultra distances |
| PTL | a very long, self-sufficient team format | experienced teams |
| MCC | a shorter race linked to the local area | residents and local runners |
| ETC | a short mountain race | a first taste of Alpine trail running |
| YCC | a race for young people | juniors |
The exact list and 2027 distances should be checked in the edition's official rules. At the end of October 2026, the rules page mainly showed the global UTMB World Series calendar, not a consolidated sheet for the Chamonix races: do not confuse the dates of the circuit's other events with those of Mont Blanc.
What are the dates of UTMB 2027?
A local tourism source announces the week from 23 to 29 August 2027, which fits the event's usual place, the last week of August. Block these dates if you want to see the finishes, and wait for the official race-by-race schedule before booking a non-refundable train or flight.
The dates of each race and the order of starts are not yet confirmed. If you book a stay on these dates, choose a cancellable booking and check the official programme as soon as it is published.
How do you register for UTMB?
It is not an open sale. You have to create an account and pre-register on the official platform, prove your experience through qualifying races and a performance index, enter the lottery when applicants exceed capacity, then pay after selection and provide the documents required by the rules, sometimes including a specific medical certificate.
The system has moved to the UTMB Index and the qualifying races of the UTMB World Series: the phrase "ITRA points" should be used with caution. No single threshold valid for all 2027 races is published. According to the local source, the lottery generally opens in the autumn of the year before the race.
Never buy a bib from a private individual outside the official transfer procedure: it may be refused at collection.
Where can you watch the start and the finish?
The UTMB start is the most spectacular moment: a packed town centre, music, the favourites introduced. It is also saturated. Arrive early, before access is gradually closed, and watch from a side street rather than against the line, then head to the screens and event areas.
The finish in Chamonix is the best place to understand the event: several races end there, and you see the elites, the amateurs, the support crews and the volunteers. The favourites' finishes are brief, the festivities spread over days: a badly positioned spectator mostly watches people waiting.
Checkpoints in the villages and on the cols are more beautiful, but closed roads, limited parking and altered shuttles make them hard to reach. Without booked transport or a planned walk, central Chamonix remains the safest choice.
Run or hike on the UTMB trails? Guided trail running outings, guided hikes on the Tour du Mont Blanc route, introductions to the mountains: our partner's Chamonix page gathers the activities, with reviews and cancellation terms.
See trail running and hiking outings in Chamonix →Partner link: booking through it supports the site at no extra cost to you.How do you find a bed during UTMB week?
Runners, support crews, volunteers, media and spectators compete for the same beds. Expect very limited availability in the centre, higher prices than an ordinary summer week, minimum stays and stricter cancellation terms. No occupancy rate or 2027 price range is published.
| Area | For | Against |
|---|---|---|
| Central Chamonix | atmosphere, starts and finishes on foot | the most expensive, the first to fill up |
| Les Houches | a compromise, train and road | journeys to watch on race days |
| Argentière | less pressure than the centre | depends on train and bus timetables |
| Servoz, Passy, Sallanches | sometimes gentler prices | long journeys, night starts hard to follow |
Book as soon as possible, ideally 9 to 12 months ahead, with flexible cancellation: booking early and then comparing is better than waiting for a drop that will not come. The areas are described in where to stay in Chamonix, and rentals in renting a chalet or apartment.
Les Houches and Argentière, the fallbacks for race week: when central Chamonix is full, these two villages are still on the Mont-Blanc Express line. Book early, with flexible cancellation.
See places to stay in Les Houches →See places to stay in Argentière →Partner links: booking through them supports the site at no extra cost to you.How do you get around during UTMB?
The races cross French, Italian and Swiss municipalities, and road closures depend on the course and the timings. The restrictions plan comes out a few weeks before the race: count neither on guaranteed car access to the centre, nor on normal traffic between villages, nor on shuttle timetables fixed months in advance.
The train and public transport are often preferable, with limited capacity at peak times. A car parked on the outskirts does not guarantee quick access if a road is closed. The network is explained in getting around Chamonix, and parking in parking in Chamonix.
What can you do in Chamonix during race week?
The Aiguille du Midi on a clear day remains the most spectacular outing; book your slot in advance, this week more than ever. See our Aiguille du Midi ticket guide. Montenvers and the Mer de Glace take half a day, and should also be booked.
To escape the crowds, head up to mid-mountain trails: Les Houches, Servoz, Le Brévent or the Grand Balcon Nord, checking which lifts and trails are closed for the race. The routes are in our Chamonix hikes, and the walking version of the course in our Tour du Mont Blanc guide.
The town centre at race peaks can spoil the stay for anyone not there for the trail running: crowds, barriers and queues. Early mornings are the most bearable.
Can you run or walk the course outside the race?
Yes: the UTMB course largely follows the Tour du Mont Blanc, a waymarked hiking route walked in 7 to 11 days. Running a section in summer, outside race week, is done on trails open to all, with the usual mountain safety rules.
For a guided outing or a recce, mountain leaders in the valley offer trail running days. The huts on the route, how to book them and their prices are in our Tour du Mont Blanc guide.
Can you follow UTMB without speaking French?
Yes, for the most part: bookings, cable cars, hotels and restaurants work in English, and the race's official apps are more useful than the signs on site. Municipal orders, course changes, local shuttles and safety instructions remain harder to follow: download the information before you arrive.
The downsides official communication plays down
- Saturation of the best viewing spots, accommodation and transport.
- The real price: cleaning, tourist tax, minimum stays and parking come on top.
- The weather: a cable car that is running does not guarantee the view.
- Closures of trails, roads or lifts, for the race or for safety.
- A limited spectacle: between two passages, the wait is long.
For a visitor who is not coming for the race, other summer weeks are more comfortable: see when to go to Chamonix. Other outings are in the What to do section.
Sources
Sources: official HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc website (races, rules, registration platform, accommodation), UTMB World Series calendar, a local tourism source for the 2027 dates, Chamonix Tourist Office.
Not published or not consolidated: the official 2027 schedule by race, the UTMB Index or ITRA thresholds for each race, 2027 entry fees, accommodation prices and occupancy that week, the 2027 road closure plan. Research carried out on 27 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is UTMB 2027?
How long is the UTMB?
How do you register for UTMB?
Where can you watch the UTMB finish?
When should you book accommodation for UTMB?
Thibault Ravanel
Thibault led groups along the south balcony trails for eight summers, from Le Brévent to La Flégère. He builds his routes stopwatch in hand and cuts whatever does not fit into a real day. He would rather write that an outing is not worth the ticket than pad out a list.
