XXIII Dragoman and IronDragon 2026: dates and start times

Plan your race pace

Villafranca del Bierzo and Dragonte will host the 23rd edition of Dragoman, scheduled from Friday, November 27, to Sunday, November 29, 2026. The weekend brings together three consecutive races, with starts for walkers and runners, as well as an endurance format that requires participants to take part on all three days.

The programme combines a night race on Friday, another event on Saturday and the Dragoman race on Sunday. The organisers also include Dragonwalk for those who want to cover the route on foot. Start times have been announced, but the available information does not specify distances, prices, the exact start location or full entry conditions; those details should be checked in the current rules before travel plans are made.

Three days of racing between Villafranca and Dragonte

The event runs from Friday, November 27, through Sunday, November 29, and connects two place names in El Bierzo: Villafranca del Bierzo and Dragonte. The programme is not a single standalone race, but a weekend featuring three main events, spread across consecutive days and offering formats for both runners and walkers.

This format changes how the event should be understood. Someone entering a single race will take part on one day; those who participate in all three can qualify for IronDragon, which the reference information reserves for runners who complete the entire programme. Villafranca del Bierzo is in the province of León, in Castile and León, although the precise start and finish address is not included in the available information.

The announced schedule and start times

Activities begin on Friday, November 27, with the Dragontrail night race. The walkers’ start is listed at 8:30 p.m. and the runners’ at 9 p.m. Dragontrail follows on Saturday, November 28, with walkers starting at 10 a.m. and runners at 11 a.m. The third day, Sunday, November 29, is the Dragoman race: walkers start at 10:30 a.m. and runners at 11 a.m.

The times clearly distinguish walkers’ starts from race starts, but they do not indicate how long each route takes or when participant checkpoints close. Nor is it specified whether the schedule could change for organisational or weather-related reasons. The published start time for Dragoman runners is 11 a.m. on Sunday; anyone travelling should check the latest official update before setting off.

What sets Dragontrail apart from Dragoman

Dragontrail is the name given to the Friday and Saturday events, while Dragoman identifies the Sunday race. The first has a night-time character because of its start time, which means tackling the route in darkness from the outset, unlike the two daytime stages. The information reviewed does not detail elevation gain, distance, surface or refreshment points, so it would be unwise to assign specific characteristics to the course.

The order of the stages does suggest a progression: a night start opens the weekend, a morning event takes place on Saturday, and the race bearing the Dragoman name closes the programme on Sunday. Without technical details, the dependable differences between the events are their date, name and schedule. Distance and course profile should be checked against the latest route map and rules, rather than inferred from the event name alone.

IronDragon: completing all three events

IronDragon is the format that links the full programme from Friday through Sunday. The reference information says it is exclusively for runners who take part in all three events, so it is not a separate fourth start but a cumulative challenge covering the Dragontrail night race, Dragontrail and Dragoman.

This format adds a dimension of continuity: success depends not only on performance on one day, but also on turning up for all three and managing effort between starts. However, the available information does not state the ranking rules, time limits, scoring system or whether the combined challenge requires a separate entry. The IronDragon rules should clarify these details, including the criteria for being classified as a finisher and any equipment or checkpoint requirements.

Dragonwalk and the walkers’ starts

Each of the three days includes separate start times for walkers. They can set off at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, ahead of the corresponding runners’ starts. The programme also mentions Dragonwalk rules, indicating that walking is part of the event and has its own conditions.

The available information does not say whether Dragonwalk takes place on every route, what distance it covers or whether it follows exactly the same course as the runners. It also does not establish whether participants can enter for one day only or whether walkers have a combined entry option. To avoid confusion, check the specific rules for this format for requirements, final start times and course regulations. Walkers and runners do not start at the same time, an important detail when planning arrival at the meeting point.

Routes and rules: what still needs confirmation

The reference information announces routes for the Dragontrail night race, Dragontrail and Dragoman, along with separate rules for those events, IronDragon and Dragonwalk. However, it does not provide links, maps, distances or elevation profiles that would allow the terrain to be described accurately. As a result, the elevation gain, surface and technical difficulty of each stage cannot be treated as confirmed.

Before entering or travelling, the most useful documents will be the map for each route and the rules for the chosen format. They should set out checkpoints, time limits, mandatory equipment, support arrangements and the withdrawal procedure. The night race calls for particular attention to the required equipment, but a headlamp or any other specific item should not be assumed to be mandatory until the official rules say so.

Entries, results and practical information

The reference page includes a prompt to register, but provides no entry fee, closing date or number of places available. It also gives no verifiable web address in the information collected. Therefore, it is not possible to confirm the cost of participation, whether entries are open or what services each race number includes.

Results from previous editions are also mentioned, with references to 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. Looking them up may help show the event’s continuity and past standings, although they do not replace the 2026 technical information. The reference includes a contact telephone number, but an isolated detail can become outdated; it is best to verify it through the official channel before using it. Fees, registration and contact details still need public confirmation in the information provided for this edition.

Understanding a multi-stage weekend

Taking part in one race and completing all three stages are different experiences. In the first case, planning can focus on the chosen start; for IronDragon, recovery between events matters as much as the effort on each day. The sequence begins at night, continues on Saturday morning and ends on Sunday with the Dragoman start at 11 a.m.

This schedule makes it sensible to arrive with time to spare, identify each start location in advance and check for changes between stages. It is also useful to check the weather forecast closer to the date, particularly because the first event begins at 8:30 p.m. in November. The route conditions cannot be predicted here, but darkness and a late start are part of the first event, while the other two take place in the morning.

The Bierzo setting for the event

Villafranca del Bierzo places the event in a distinctive area of León, but the available information identifies only Villafranca del Bierzo and Dragonte as geographic references for the race. It does not give the exact start point, recommended access, parking or transport connections. Naming a square, road or landmark as the centre of the race would add information that has not been confirmed.

For visitors travelling from elsewhere, the precise location is a practical matter, not a minor detail: with several starts and a night race in the programme, reaching the correct place at the right time affects the whole experience. The event information should specify the meeting point and any access instructions. The town is identified, but the start or finish address is not, a distinction worth keeping in mind when arranging accommodation and transport.

An edition that calls for checking current information

The confirmed details describe a three-day event, from November 27 to 29, 2026, with a night race, two morning starts and an IronDragon format for runners who complete all three events. Dragonwalk expands the programme to walkers, who have their own start times. The Dragoman race takes place on Sunday, with runners scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

The schedule provides a clear outline, but essential details remain to be checked: distances, elevation gain, routes, fees, entry conditions, exact location and any equipment requirements. Caution does not make the event less appealing; it prevents missing information from being presented as fact. The current edition’s rules and route maps will be the decisive reference for assessing the challenge and preparing for each stage with complete information.

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