Grand Raid de La Réunion 2026 – Saint-Pierre, France

What to expect in 2026

Grand Raid de La Réunion is one of the major ultra-trail events held on Réunion Island, bringing together five different races under the Grand Raid organization. The 2026 programme includes La Diagonale des Fous, the Trail de Bourbon, La Mascareignes, the Métis Trail and the Zembrocal Trail relay. The official organization lists these races with distances ranging from 51 km to 180 km, with significant elevation gain across mountainous terrain.

The event is built around trail running through some of Réunion’s most demanding natural landscapes. Routes cross mountainous areas, cirques, forest trails and high-altitude terrain, with Saint-Pierre serving as the starting point for the flagship La Diagonale des Fous and Saint-Denis hosting the main finish at Stade de La Redoute. Other races begin in locations including Cilaos, Hell-Bourg, Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph.

The 2026 edition is designed for different levels of ultra-trail participation. The longest race covers 180 km with 10,200 metres of positive elevation, while the shortest individual race covers 51 km with 2,500 metres of elevation. The relay provides a team-based alternative, with four runners sharing the Zembrocal Trail course.

Participants must meet specific registration and qualification requirements for some races. The organization requires qualifying points for La Diagonale des Fous, the Trail de Bourbon and La Mascareignes, while no qualifying points are required for the Métis Trail or Zembrocal Trail.

Match/event dates

The official 2026 programme runs from October 15 through October 18, with the five races distributed across the period. The organization also scheduled compulsory bib collection before the races at Salahin Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre.

• La Diagonale des Fous: October 15, 2026, starting from Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre.
• Zembrocal Trail: October 15, 2026, starting from the town hall area of Saint-Joseph.
• Trail de Bourbon: October 16, 2026, starting from Cilaos.
• La Mascareignes: October 16, 2026, starting from Hell-Bourg.
• Métis Trail: October 17, 2026, starting from Saint-Paul.
• The overall programme continues through October 18 as runners complete the different ultra-trail courses and reach the principal finish areas.

Bib collection is scheduled at Salahin Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre, with physical attendance required, identification checks and verification of the mandatory equipment before a bib is issued.

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Stadium & sports venue

Grand Raid de La Réunion is not a conventional stadium-based sporting event. It uses a network of mountain trails, roads, aid stations, village areas and designated start and finish sites across Réunion Island.

The principal start venue for La Diagonale des Fous is Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre. The Trail de Bourbon starts in Cilaos, La Mascareignes starts in Hell-Bourg, the Métis Trail starts in Saint-Paul and the Zembrocal relay begins in Saint-Joseph.

Stade de La Redoute in Saint-Denis is the principal arrival venue. Finishers can receive their medal and finisher shirt there, access the finisher restaurant and attend the awards activities.

Because routes may cross sensitive or private areas, the organization states that parts of the courses can be modified for administrative, practical or trail-condition reasons. Some private sections are accessible only during the race itself.

Full fixture or event schedule

The Grand Raid programme consists of five separate competitions rather than one single race.

• La Diagonale des Fous: 180 km, 10,200 metres of positive elevation, starting in Saint-Pierre and finishing at Saint-Denis.
• Trail de Bourbon: 106 km, 6,200 metres of positive elevation, starting in Cilaos and continuing toward Saint-Denis.
• La Mascareignes: 74 km, 3,800 metres of positive elevation, beginning in Hell-Bourg and finishing at La Redoute.
• Métis Trail: 51 km, 2,500 metres of positive elevation, running from Saint-Paul toward Saint-Denis.
• Zembrocal Trail: 160 km and 8,460 metres of positive elevation, completed as a four-person relay.

The routes are supported by official aid stations and medical services. The organization provides refuelling, ambulance services and medical personnel including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, podiatrists, osteopaths and first-aid personnel.

Teams, athletes & participants

The Grand Raid attracts runners from Réunion, mainland France and other countries. The 2026 registration system includes dedicated allocations for local residents, mainland and overseas French territories, foreign competitors and partners, depending on the race.

The official 2026 participant limits include up to 3,000 runners for La Diagonale des Fous, 1,400 for the Trail de Bourbon, 1,600 for La Mascareignes, 700 for the Métis Trail and 215 four-person teams for the Zembrocal Trail.

The competition also recognizes elite competitors through specific performance-index categories. Eligible elite runners can receive benefits such as registration access and, depending on category, accommodation or travel support.

For La Diagonale des Fous, Trail de Bourbon and La Mascareignes, runners must demonstrate qualifying trail experience through the required points system. The Métis Trail and Zembrocal Trail do not require those qualifying points.

Tournament format & competition structure

The event uses a multi-race ultra-trail structure rather than a knockout or league format. Each race has its own route, starting location, distance, elevation profile, participant limit and time barrier.

La Diagonale des Fous is the longest individual challenge at 180 km and 10,200 metres of elevation. The Trail de Bourbon covers 106 km and 6,200 metres, while La Mascareignes covers 74 km and 3,800 metres. The Métis Trail provides a 51 km course, and Zembrocal allows four-person teams to divide a 160 km route into relay sections.

Each competitor must follow the marked course and comply with official checkpoints, aid stations, time barriers and safety instructions. The organization can impose penalties for violations of the rules.

Match/event times

The official starting times are different for each race because the event covers multiple routes and levels of difficulty.

• La Diagonale des Fous: 10:00 PM
• Zembrocal Trail: 5:00 PM
• Trail de Bourbon: 8:00 PM
• La Mascareignes: 1:00 AM
• Métis Trail: 6:00 AM

The maximum official time barriers also differ. La Diagonale des Fous has a 66-hour maximum, the Trail de Bourbon has a 42-hour maximum, La Mascareignes has a 21-hour maximum, the Métis Trail has a 14-hour maximum and the Zembrocal Trail has a 39-hour-45-minute maximum.

Ticket types

Grand Raid de La Réunion does not operate primarily through spectator tickets. The official registration system is based on race entries for competitors.

The 2026 entry fees, converted from euros using the European Central Bank reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1355 USD, are approximately:

• La Diagonale des Fous individual entry: $295
• Trail de Bourbon individual entry: $216
• La Mascareignes individual entry: $182
• Métis Trail individual entry: $148
• Zembrocal Trail four-person team entry: $443 per team

These figures are converted from the official registration amounts and rounded to the nearest dollar. Actual payment amounts can vary slightly because card providers and payment processors may use their own exchange rates.

Ticket release phases

The organization used different registration mechanisms depending on the race and participant category.

Foreign competitors have a dedicated registration route, while certain races use pre-registration and a subsequent draw for places. The Zembrocal Trail operates differently, with registration without a draw and a defined team capacity.

La Diagonale des Fous has several participant allocations, including places for Réunion residents, mainland France and overseas French territories, foreign competitors and partners. The Trail de Bourbon, La Mascareignes and Métis Trail also have specific registration limits and procedures.

Once the available capacity is reached, registrations can close. The organization also publishes participant lists and provides runner accounts for registration information.

VIP & hospitality options

The official 2026 registration information does not present a conventional public VIP ticket or hospitality package comparable with stadium sports events.

The organization does provide special arrangements for qualifying elite runners. Depending on their elite category, these arrangements can include free entry, accommodation and, for the highest category, travel support from Paris.

For ordinary participants and spectators, the official event infrastructure instead focuses on race support, aid stations, transport arrangements, finish facilities and services for runners and their accompanying supporters.

Stadium & event rules

Competitors must carry the equipment specified by the organization. Mandatory equipment includes a headlamp or torch with spare power, at least 1.5 litres of water, a whistle, a suitably charged mobile phone, food reserves, waterproof clothing, warm technical clothing, a reusable cup, identification and a survival blanket.

The race bib and organization-issued race bracelet must be worn, and the runner’s personal bag must carry the electronic timing chip supplied by the organization. The equipment is subject to inspection.

The use of poles is expressly prohibited by the current published race instructions. Personal assistance is also restricted to designated tolerance areas around official aid stations, with unauthorized assistance potentially resulting in penalties.

Runners who abandon a race must formally report the abandonment. This is important because an unreported withdrawal can trigger unnecessary search and rescue operations.

How to get there

International and mainland visitors generally arrive through Roland Garros Airport. The organization provides arrival information and has volunteers available to assist arriving competitors and accompanying persons with information about the event, weather and trail conditions.

Saint-Pierre is the main southern gateway for La Diagonale des Fous, while Cilaos, Hell-Bourg, Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph are important locations for the other races. Saint-Denis is the main destination for the principal finish at La Redoute.

Because the races pass through multiple communes and mountainous areas, spectators should plan transport around the particular start, finish or viewing point they intend to visit rather than treating the event as a single-site stadium competition.

Public transport & parking

The organization publishes dedicated transport and parking information for the Grand Raid. Public or dedicated shuttle services and relay parking facilities are used around important race locations, helping runners and spectators reach event areas while reducing traffic around restricted sections.

Transport arrangements can differ by location and race. For example, dedicated shuttles have been used to move relay runners and accompanying persons toward relay points on the Zembrocal course. Access to certain race-management areas may require authorization, accreditation or the appropriate vehicle pass.

Visitors should check the organization’s latest circulation, shuttle and parking instructions before travelling, because road restrictions and parking arrangements are subject to local traffic orders and event operations.

Accommodation areas

The event’s geography means there is no single accommodation district serving every race. Saint-Pierre is practical for visitors attending the southern start area, while Saint-Denis is convenient for those focusing on the principal finish and associated activities.

Cilaos and Hell-Bourg are particularly relevant to competitors connected with the races starting from those mountain locations, although accommodation capacity can be more limited than in larger urban areas. Saint-Paul is another useful base for visitors connected with the western section of the island.

The official Grand Raid website directs visitors toward Destination Sud Réunion for accommodation information in the southern part of the island, including Saint-Pierre, Cilaos and surrounding destinations.

Food & drink at the venue

Food and hydration are integral parts of the race infrastructure. Official aid stations provide refuelling, while medical and first-aid support is available along the courses.

Competitors are nevertheless required to carry enough food to travel between aid stations. The organization specifically lists a constant food reserve as mandatory equipment, meaning runners should not rely exclusively on supplied refreshments.

At La Redoute, finishers can use a dedicated restaurant included with the finisher arrangements, while a separate restaurant is available for accompanying persons on a paid basis.

Accessibility

Accessibility at Grand Raid is influenced by the nature of the event. Many sections take place on mountain trails, remote paths and areas without normal road access, so the competition itself is not designed as a conventional accessible stadium event.

The organization provides medical assistance, evacuation procedures and transport arrangements for competitors who abandon. In remote sections of Mafate, vehicle access is unavailable, and medical evacuation by helicopter may be used for injured competitors when authorized by medical staff.

Spectators should check the specific accessibility and transport conditions for the particular start, finish or viewing location they intend to use, especially in mountainous areas.

Best matches/events to attend

For spectators, La Diagonale des Fous offers the most extensive overall race experience because it starts in Saint-Pierre and finishes at La Redoute in Saint-Denis after crossing the island’s mountainous interior. The arrival atmosphere at La Redoute is an important public-facing part of the event, with finishers receiving medals and shirts and awards taking place at the stadium.

The Trail de Bourbon provides another major spectacle, beginning in Cilaos and crossing several of Réunion’s dramatic cirques before reaching the Saint-Denis area.

La Mascareignes gives spectators an opportunity to see runners start from Hell-Bourg before they enter the Salazie and Mafate landscapes. The Métis Trail offers a shorter-format race between Saint-Paul and Saint-Denis, while the Zembrocal Trail provides the additional interest of four-person relay teams.

Previous year’s highlights

The official 2025 results show Bertrand Chassagne recorded the fastest listed men’s result in La Diagonale des Fous, finishing in 23:31:54. Yohann Noël was second in 24:27:33 and Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz third in 25:13:35.

In the women’s results, Blandine L’Hirondel recorded the fastest listed women’s time in La Diagonale des Fous at 27:26:09, followed by M. Campano and C. Champagne.

The 2025 Trail de Bourbon results list J. Breton first among the men in 13:38:29, followed by A. Depeche and C. Portefaix. The women’s list shows C. Geoffray with the fastest listed women’s time at 15:23:52.

For La Mascareignes, O. Ayaden recorded the fastest listed men’s result in 8:42:46, while M. Devos recorded the fastest listed women’s result in 10:49:06.

The 2025 Métis Trail results list B. François Fils first among the men in 6:06:51 and A. John first among the women in 7:06:39.

Official tickets

Grand Raid de La Réunion uses official race registration rather than conventional spectator ticketing. Competitors should use the official Grand Raid registration system and their runner account for entry information, participant lists and registration procedures.

Official Grand Raid de La Réunion registrations (https://www.grandraid-reunion.com/fr/inscriptions/)

The official website should also be checked for the latest race regulations, route information, equipment requirements, transport arrangements and any operational updates before attending or participating.