CUPRA Barcelona Tower Running Challenge 2026 at Mirador Torre Glòries

January 18, 2026

The First WFGT Tower Running Challenge of 2026 in Barcelona

Torre Glòries was the place to be yesterday, on January 17, 2026, as 400 athletes from over 30 countries gathered at this iconic landmark in Barcelona, to participate in the first-ever nighttime edition of the CUPRA Barcelona Tower Running Challenge. The event marked a major milestone for the city as the European debut of the Tower Running Tour 2026, organized by the Tower Running World Association (TWA), and part of the World Federation of Great Towers Tower Running Challenge, the first race in the 2026 season!

Hosted at the spectacular Mirador Torre Glòries, this high-intensity race challenged runners to ascend 686 steps across 34 floors. Set against the backdrop of a glowing skyline, the race brought together elite athletes and passionate amateurs, sparking international attention.

The CUPRA Barcelona Tower Running Challenge 2026 was sponsored by; CUPRA (title sponsor of the race), Good Bio Foods, YoPro, Novotel Barcelona City, GoPro, Global Performance, and Four Corners by Hoxton Hotel.

Race Results

In the elite categories, top-ranked international athletes delivered strong performances:

Elite Women

Tea Faber (03:51)

Annemarie Wilhelm (04:09)

Kamila Chomanicova (03:55)

Elite Men

Ivan Vuletić (03:04)

Mateusz Marunowski (03:09)

Klaus Hausleitner (03:12)

The amateur division also saw impressive times:

Amateur Women

Anna Voronina (05:33)

Leticia Tamarit Alonso (05:44)

Anna Pérez Mir (05:54)

Amateur Men

Nil Puchol Soteras (03:27)

Jordi Andreu Carreras (04:03)

Javier Sánchez Bengoechea (04:05)

The full results of the race at Torre Glòries can be viewed here.

A Playground For Urban Sports

As part of its 20th anniversary, Torre Glòries was the perfect stage for this unique competition. Beyond the race itself, the event reinforced Barcelona’s status as a premier destination for urban sporting events. According to Aleix Pratdepàdua, director of the Mirador torre Glòries, “Barcelona is not only an iconic city because of its architecture, but also for its ability to host unique sporting events. Seeing runners from over 30 nationalities climb Torre Glòries fills us with pride”.

The race also highlighted the expanding popularity of towerrunning, a sport that has evolved from niche novelty to international phenomenon. Governed by the Towerrunning World Association, the sport traces its roots to a 1905 stair race up the Eiffel Tower. Today, it’s a professional circuit spanning more than 35 towers worldwide.

Torre Glòries: More Than a Viewpoint

Designed by Jean Nouvel, Torre Glòries is a leading example of contemporary architecture in Barcelona. Since 2022, its Mirador has welcomed more than 350,000 visitors, offering panoramic views, immersive exhibitions, and Cloud Cities Barcelona, a suspended walkable art piece by Tomás Saraceno.

The Torre Glòries joined the World Federation of Great Towers in 2024.

World Federation of Great Towers

WFGT was founded in 1989 as a not-for-profit organization and showcases the great towers of the world, which have become symbols of their cities.