Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsTrail RunningUTMB Index Races
Ultra X Morocco
Ouarzazate, Morocco
November 14, 2026 to November 15, 2026Date confirmed
110 km50 km25 km
DesertNature & Off-Road+3
Running Theme (Nature, Mountains & Coast)
Desert Race Calendar & Dates 2026-2027
Desert and semi-arid races through dry valleys, canyons, rocky plateaus, and sweeping dune fields. Browse 128 events (36 confirmed dates) and 405 races from 3 km to 1,130 km.
Events12836 confirmed dates
Competitions405Races & courses
Distances3 - 1,130 kmCourse distance range
Max. Elevation Gain+6,435 m D+Course elevation profile
Selected Events
Featured Events & Highlights
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMountain Biking
MTB Beachrace Zandvoort
Zandvoort, Netherlands
November 15, 2026Date confirmed
42 km
Nature & Off-RoadMountain+2
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsObstacle Course RacingSpartan Race Series
Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
November 19, 2026 to November 22, 2026Date confirmed
21 km10 km5 km3 km
Nature & Off-RoadDesert+4
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsMountain BikingTrail Running
Marrakech-Agafay Trail
Marrakesh, Morocco
November 21, 2026 to November 22, 2026Date confirmed
83 km60 km42 km31 km+3
City RunNature & Off-Road+4
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsRoad CyclingRoad Running
The Tour of Tucson
Tucson, United States
November 21, 2026Date confirmed
163.7 km101.9 km52.6 km5 km
City RunNature & Off-Road+4
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTriathlonIronman Series
Ironman 70.3 Langkawi
Kuah, Malaysia
November 21, 2026Date confirmed
113 km
City RunNature & Off-Road+4
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsMountain Biking
The Munga
Bloemfontein NU, South Africa
November 25, 2026 to November 30, 2026Date confirmed
1130 km
Nature & Off-RoadMountain+4
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsRoad RunningBoston Marathon Qualifier
Eilat Desert Marathon
Eilat, Israel
November 27, 2026Date confirmed
42.2 km21.1 km10 km5 km
City RunSeaside & Coast+1
Dates & Schedule
Race Calendar
November 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 - Nov 15, 2026 | Ultra X Morocco | Ouarzazate, Drâa-Tafilalet, MA | Trail Running | 110 km50 km25 km |
| Nov 15, 2026 | MTB Beachrace Zandvoort | Zandvoort, North Holland, NL | Mountain Biking | 42 km |
| Nov 19, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026 | Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship | Abu Dhabi, Abou Dabi, AE | Obstacle Course Racing | 21 km10 km5 km3 km |
| Nov 21, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026 | Marrakech-Agafay Trail | Marrakesh, Marrakech-Safi, MA | Mountain BikingTrail Running | 83 km60 km42 km31 km |
| Nov 21, 2026 | The Tour of Tucson | Tucson, Arizona, US | Road CyclingRoad Running | 163.7 km101.9 km52.6 km5 km |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Ironman 70.3 Langkawi | Kuah, Kedah, MY | Triathlon | 113 km |
| Nov 25, 2026 - Nov 30, 2026 | The Munga | Bloemfontein NU, Freistaat, ZA | Mountain Biking | 1130 km |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Eilat Desert Marathon | Eilat, Südbezirk, IL | Road Running | 42.2 km21.1 km10 km5 km |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Bieg Herosa November |  Klucze, Lower Silesia Voivodeship, PL | Obstacle Course RacingTrail Running | 7 km |
| Nov 29, 2026 - Dec 6, 2026 | Kadiouk Trail Casamanca |  Ziguinchor, Ziguinchor Region, SN | Trail Running | 120 km60 km |
December 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 - Dec 13, 2026 | Pharaohs Pyramids Trail |  Cairo, Cairo, EG | Trail RunningWalking & Hiking | 69 km46 km |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Reggae Marathon |  Kingston, Kingston, JM | Road Running | 42.2 km21.1 km10 km5 km |
Events by Month
Overview & Route Character
Desert and semi-arid races through dry valleys, canyons, rocky plateaus, and sweeping dune fields. In the RunningCompass calendar, the Desert theme currently spans 128 public events and 405 individual competitions, including 36 confirmed editions for 2026-2027. Single-stage and multi-day desert ultras test self-sufficiency, heat management, and navigation. Primary disciplines include Trail Running, Mountain Biking, and Road Running with race distances from 3 km to 1,130 km.
Wide day-to-night temperature swings, dry heat, and sandy or stony footing define the preparation requirements. Across the catalog, the most demanding courses in this category feature up to +6,435 m of climbing. Leading host destinations include Ouarzazate, Zandvoort, Abu Dhabi, and Marrakesh. Notable events in this category include Ultra X Morocco, MTB Beachrace Zandvoort, and Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship. Every event page includes an interactive course map, elevation telemetry, GPX track downloads, and direct filters for date, distance, and destination.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What defines Desert events and how many races are listed in the calendar?
Desert and semi-arid races through dry valleys, canyons, rocky plateaus, and sweeping dune fields. RunningCompass currently lists 128 events with 405 individual competitions under the Desert theme. A total of 36 events have confirmed dates for the 2026-2027 season, alongside additional races with full course profiles for season planning.
What distances and disciplines are typical for Desert races?
Single-stage and multi-day desert ultras test self-sufficiency, heat management, and navigation. The 405 listed competitions span distances from 3 km to 1,130 km, led by Trail Running, Mountain Biking, and Road Running. You can narrow the calendar by 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, or ultra distance brackets using the search filters.
What terrain, elevation profile, and preparation should I expect for Desert?
Wide day-to-night temperature swings, dry heat, and sandy or stony footing define the preparation requirements. Races in this theme reach up to +6,435 m of climbing. Each event detail page provides interactive course maps, elevation gain and loss metrics, altitude ranges, and downloadable GPX files to help you plan pacing and gear.
Where do Desert events take place and how can I filter by region and date?
Leading host destinations include Ouarzazate, Zandvoort, Abu Dhabi, and Marrakesh. Notable events in this category include Ultra X Morocco, MTB Beachrace Zandvoort, and Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship. Using the monthly calendar groups on this page or the linked interactive map explorer, you can filter all 128 events by country, region, month, and distance.