About the race
Sierre-Zinal is a mountain running race in the Swiss canton of Valais, held each August. It is known as the "race of the five 4000ers" because five peaks above 4,000 metres can be seen from the route.
History
The first edition was run in 1974. The five peaks that give the race its nickname are the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Matterhorn and Dent Blanche. In 2002 snow forced a shortened 12 km course, and the 2020 edition was also run on a shorter course because of the pandemic. Kilian Jornet holds the most wins, with ten, and his 2:25:34 from 2024 is the course record. The race is now part of the Golden Trail World Series and the World Mountain Running Association calendar.
The course
The race runs from Sierre up and across the mountainside to Zinal, a distance of 31 km, with views of the high peaks listed above. The organiser's website has a dedicated course page for the detailed route.
Distances
The main event covers 31 km. There are also junior and children's races on the programme.
The 2027 edition
The organiser's home page gives the next race as Saturday 7 August 2027. The 2026 race took place on Saturday 8 August 2026.
Entry basics
Registration is handled online, and the organiser lists selection races and invitations for elite athletes. Details of limits, qualifying and time cut-offs are in the rules and practical-information pages.
Where to watch
The race is broadcast live around the world, and the organiser shows it on big screens in Sierre, Chandolin, Tignousa and Zinal. A spectator section on its website covers access and the programme, so the village sites are the best places to see runners.
Weather
August in the Valais Alps is mountain summer. Valley days are typically warm, while higher trails are cooler and windier, and afternoon storms and cloud can build, so conditions on the route can differ from those at the start.
SourcesSierre-Zinal · Wikipedia: Sierre-Zinal