Bulgaria’s Balkan mountains offer challenging courses set in the stunning Central Balkan National Park known for its rugged terrain, diverse ecosystems, flora and fauna. ©Alexander Valchev
The third edition of the Masters Skyrunning World Championships will be hosted in Bulgaria, October 3-5, 2025, featuring, for the first time, all three skyrunning disciplines – SKY, SKYULTRA and VERTICAL. The host venue is Balkaniada in Karlovo, situated in the centre of the country at the foot of the Balkans.
Seventy-five medals and world titles are at stake. The championships are open, split into four age categories: over 40, over 45, over 50, and over 55.
Official Teams will gather points for the country ranking which this year had Portugal come out on top followed by Brazil and Japan with teams from twenty countries participating.
After the Skyrunning Masters Championships launch in 2023 with the SKYULTRA discipline, 2024 saw the addition of the SKY. The 2025 championships will celebrate all three skyrunning disciplines with the inclusion of the VERTICAL, for those who like it short and sweet.
The 2024 Masters Skyrunning Championships over 55 ULTRA podium with Manuela Gonzalez (ESP) silver, Ildiko Wermescher (HUN) gold and Rita Fernandes (BRA) bronze. ©Damiano Benedetto Photo
Bulgaria is by no means new to skyrunning as a host venue on the Skyrunner® World Series and it also holds a Skyrunner® National Series with no less than eight races. The following races however are new and specifically designed for the 2025 Skyrunning Masters Championships:
- Friday, October 3, 2025 – Balkaniada Vertical – VERTICAL – 2 km long with 1,131m vertical climb
- Saturday, October 4, 2025 – Balkaniada SkyUltra – SKYULTRA – 59 km long with 4,100m vertical climb
- Sunday, October 5, 2025 – Balkaniada Sky – SKY – 32 km long with 2,400m vertical climb
“Hosting such an event is a great honour for us. Balkaniada started as a fun run in 2021, but we can now proudly say that it has become one of the most significant skyrunning events in Bulgaria. Four incredibly successful editions are already behind us, with the number of participants growing each year,” commented Race Organiser, Dimitar Zhelyazkov.
“The challenging courses span one of the most beautiful, wild and vast areas of the Stara Planina mountain, the longest mountain in Bulgaria, dividing the country in North and South.
The three skyrunning races are made to measure for the Masters World Championships. ©Alexander Valchev
“Autumn is the time when we assemble the fruits of our efforts. We invite all skyrunning fans and enthusiasts to the charming town of Karlovo to experience its magical nature, technical trails and breathtaking views.”
The Balkaniada races explore the Central Balkan National Park, a stunning natural reserve known for its diverse ecosystems and biodiversity featuring rugged terrain, deep gorges, and alpine meadows, home to a variety of flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species. The town of Karlovo, the event hub, is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, today, a notable centre for trade and agriculture, in particular, the production of rose oil, a key component in the fragrance industry.
Almost a full year lies ahead to dream and train for this unique event where over-forties skyrunners compete in their own age group for medals and world titles…with the perfume of roses. An extended stay to explore the area is not to be missed for athletes from near and far.