Volta a la Foia: date, distance and registration for 2026

Plan your race pace

Castalla will host the 40th edition of the Volta a la Foia on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. The event includes a race and a popular walking event, passing through Castalla, Ibi and Onil. The start is scheduled for 8 a.m., and registration is listed as open until Nov. 11, unless places sell out earlier.

The distance needs clarification: the event description gives a route of 27.5 kilometers, while the registration platform lists it as a 30-kilometer race. The difference may reflect a rounded label or separate route information; the definitive figure should therefore be checked in the regulations for this edition. The race costs 20 euros and the walk costs 17.

A November event linking three towns

The event runs through the Foia de Castalla, an inland comarca in Alicante whose name also describes the landscape shared by Castalla, Ibi and Onil. Its inter-town format is one of the features that gives the day its appeal: it is not limited to an urban circuit, but connects several communities in one sporting event. Castalla is listed as the host town and starting point in the available information.

November in the comarca usually brings different conditions from summer: shorter days and generally more moderate temperatures for running. That does not remove the need to check the weather forecast or prepare for changing conditions along the route. The published information does not give the course profile, elevation gain or surface details, so it would be unwise to assume that the entire course is paved or mountainous.

The event also includes a popular walk. The 2026 edition is promoted as the 40th Volta a la Foia and the 23rd popular walk, two formats held on the same day but with different paces and demands. A popular event is not necessarily a short one: participants should check the regulations and the physical requirements before choosing a category.

Date, start time and venue

The event is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. The start is set for 8 a.m., according to the registration details. The listed address is Carrer del Teniente General D. Vicente Ripoll Valls, in Castalla, Alicante. The available information does not say whether that is also the finish location, so it should not be assumed that the start and finish are at precisely the same point.

An early start has practical implications: participants will need to arrive with enough time to collect their bib, complete any procedures required by the organizers and reach the start area. Access, parking, bib pickup and possible traffic restrictions should be confirmed in the regulations and event updates. The available information does not provide a full schedule for the walk or other services.

Castalla is the reference town, although the route is associated with all three Foia municipalities. For visitors, distinguishing the host venue from the route is useful when planning travel: the start is in Castalla, but the published course also connects Ibi and Onil. The date and starting town are confirmed; other logistical details may be updated before race day.

Published distance and why another figure appears

The general description of the Volta a la Foia gives a route of 27.5 kilometers between Castalla, Ibi and Onil. However, the registration portal classifies the race as a 30-kilometer event. Both references are associated with the 2026 edition, and the available information alone cannot establish whether one is an approximation or whether they refer to different measurements.

The discrepancy matters when estimating finish time, pace and hydration needs. A few kilometers can noticeably change planning, especially for someone preparing for a first long-distance event. The most precise figure in the descriptive information is 27.5 kilometers, but the specific 2026 regulations should take precedence if they give another official distance or explain how the course is measured.

There is also no elevation profile, cumulative climb or detailed description of the terrain. The fact that the event passes through several towns does not reveal whether roads, tracks or trails make up most of the course. Until sufficient technical information is published, it is best not to assign a difficulty level or automatically describe it as a road or mountain race.

Registration, deadline and entry fees

Registration is listed as open from Aug. 3, 2026, at 10 a.m., with the advertised deadline on Nov. 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. That is four days before race day, although registration could close sooner if the available places are filled. The information reviewed does not state the field limit or whether in-person registration or an extension will be available.

The published fee for the race is 20 euros, while the walk costs 17 euros. The platform says the amounts include taxes and ties them to the registration period ending on the advertised deadline. No other price tiers, surcharges, refund terms or transfer conditions are specified, so those points should be checked in the registration form and regulations before completing an entry.

M​​ychip is listed as the registration channel. When entering, it is worth checking the selected category, personal details and payment confirmation; the registration page provides options to check entries and report problems. The race and walk have separate prices and categories, so selecting the correct option helps avoid confusion later.

The race and popular walk

The event distinguishes between the competitive race and a popular walk. The race is intended for running and is listed at 20 euros; the walk, advertised as its 23rd edition, costs 17 euros. The available documents do not say whether they share the full course, aid stations, time limits or services, so those conditions should not be assumed to be identical.

The walk may allow people with different levels of preparation to take part, but a distance close to 27.5 kilometers still demands care. Walking for several hours requires suitable footwear, knowledge of the route conditions and attention to the organizers’ instructions. Popular does not mean easy: the distance and terrain, once confirmed, determine the actual demands of each format.

The choice between racing and walking depends on both the participant’s goals and previous experience. Anyone planning to compete should check how results are recorded and which rules apply; walkers need to verify the schedule, permitted pace and cutoff times. The event information lists separate regulations for runners and walkers, indicating that each format has its own conditions.

A tradition spanning four decades

The 2026 event marks the race’s 40th edition. The available history lists the 39th Volta a la Foia in 2025, held in Ibi on Nov. 16, and the 38th edition in 2024, held in Onil on Oct. 27. The sequence shows that the event is established on the local calendar, even though the date and host town have varied.

The 2026 edition again identifies Castalla as its central town and takes place on Nov. 15, close to the date of the 2025 event. The changing host town in previous editions underlines the race’s connection with the Foia as a whole, rather than with a single starting line. Its identity is built around a route shared by three towns.

The event website also lists results from earlier years. Those records can offer a sense of participation and previous finish times, but they do not predict the precise course or conditions in 2026. Each edition may bring adjustments to the route, logistics or rules; the history provides context, while the current regulations define the event now.

Organizers and local partners

The event information names Trail Running Onil, CA Cacastalla and CM Trailxereta as organizers. The town councils of Castalla, Ibi and Onil are also listed as sponsors. This brings together sporting groups and local administrations from the municipalities along the event route, although the available documents do not specify each organization’s responsibilities.

For an event crossing several towns, coordination can affect safety, course marking, traffic and participant support. Those details depend on the organization’s plan for each year and should not be inferred without published information. The involvement of all three town councils does confirm the event’s regional character and its connection to the area.

The event page has sections for regulations, the course, recommendations, history, results and contact information. For practical decisions, the most useful material will be the information updated for 2026: map, profile, checkpoints and rules for each category. Checking documents for the current edition helps prevent information from previous years being mistaken for the latest details.

Preparation and safety for a long route

Without an official profile or complete terrain details, it is not possible to set out a specific training plan for this race. It is clear, however, that a distance of 27.5 kilometers — or the 30-kilometer figure used by the registration platform — requires an endurance base and gradual progression. A sudden increase in weekly mileage or trying new equipment on race day raises the risk of discomfort and setbacks.

Preparation should reflect the chosen format and each participant’s experience. Training for a long race often combines easy runs with gradually longer sessions; for the walk, it makes sense to get used to extended periods on foot and test footwear. The official distance and terrain affect the demands, making publication of the course details essential for fine-tuning any preparation.

November weather can change through the morning, and conditions at an early start may differ from those later in the day. Checking the forecast, wearing appropriate clothing and following safety instructions are basic precautions. The organizers should specify recommended or required equipment and how support will be provided; those details are not in the information reviewed and should not be assumed.

What remains to be confirmed before the start

The main available details are clear: date, starting town, start time, fees and registration deadline. More detailed public information is missing on the course profile, elevation, surface, aid stations and finish location. It is also worth clarifying why the figures of 27.5 and 30 kilometers both appear, so participants can plan around one official distance.

The race regulations and walking regulations are the key documents for resolving those questions. As well as the route, they may specify categories, cutoff times, withdrawal rules, bib pickup and conditions for changes or refunds. The terms of a previous edition do not replace the instructions for 2026, even if parts of the course remain familiar.

Registration is scheduled to remain open until Nov. 11, but it could close sooner if the field limit is reached. It is useful to distinguish between the advertised deadline and actual availability. The event is listed as open in the information reviewed; any change in status, schedule or price should be confirmed through the official registration channel.

The Foia brings its runners together again

The next edition combines continuity and change: it marks four decades of history, maintains its links with Castalla, Ibi and Onil, and includes a popular walk with its own history. The start is scheduled in Castalla on Nov. 15, 2026, at 8 a.m., and registration lists fees of 20 euros for the race and 17 for the walk. The calendar places the event at the heart of the comarca.

The distance needs a final check because the description gives 27.5 kilometers while the registration portal uses a 30-kilometer category. That discrepancy, along with the lack of a profile and technical details, makes it especially important to consult the updated regulations before choosing a format or estimating the effort. The event history explains its significance, but the 2026 instructions should guide anyone taking the start.

More than a one-off event, the Volta a la Foia is a sporting occasion linking towns and local organizations in a single morning. The route makes the comarca part of the experience, but it also calls for precise information on distance and logistics. Once the full official details are available, participants will have a clear picture of what awaits them from the start to the final stretch.