Festival des Templiers

The Festival des Templiers (HOKA Les Templiers) is the founding event of French trail running: created in Millau in 1995 by Odile Baudrier and Gilles Bertrand, it gathers some 13,000 runners from 44 countries every autumn on the limestone plateaus and gorges of the Tarn, Jonte and Dourbie, with 40,000 spectators and France's largest trail expo. The 2027 festival will be the 33rd edition.

Its dates are not official yet. For five years the festival has run Thursday to Sunday on the first weekend of the French autumn school holidays, which points to 21–24 October 2027. We will confirm the dates here as soon as festivaldestempliers.com publishes them.

Four days of racing

Eighteen races from 1.5 km to 100 km, nearly all starting and finishing at the Saint-Estève estate in Millau (2026 start times). Friday: Endurance Trail 100.5 km (04:00), Rock'Voizine 50.5 km from Saint-André-de-Vézines (06:00), Intégrale des Causses 60.1 km from Peyreleau (06:30), Marathon du Larzac 33.5 km from La Salvage (06:40). Saturday: Boffi Fifty 46.5 km (06:40), Dourbie Formi 23 km (07:10), Monna Lisa Trail 31.5 km (09:25), Marathon des Causses 33.6 km (12:10), kids' and youth races, Templière 7.7 km (13:45), Troubadours 13.2 km (14:30), VO2 Trail 17.8 km (16:00). Sunday: the Grand Trail des Templiers, 80 km, in three waves from 05:10.

Grand Trail des Templiers, 80 km

The historic race: 80 km and 3,497 m of climbing, 2,500 runners starting in the dark on Sunday. Up to the Causse Noir, down to Peyreleau above the Tarn, along the Jonte to Saint-André-de-Vézines, the Larzac ledges, the Dourbie valley and the Clapade and Roubelier cliffs, then back over the Causse Noir to the finish. 2026 cut-offs: Peyreleau (km 22.8) 09:30, Saint-André (36.3) 12:05, La Salvage (55.4) 16:35, Mas de Bru (64) 18:25, Massebiau (69.8) 19:30. In 2026 Francesco Puppi won in 6:32:20, one second off Jonathan Albon's 2021 record, and Martyna Młynarczyk set a new women's record in 7:41:18. Equal prize money, €10,000 to each winner.

Endurance Trail, 100.5 km

100.5 km and 4,075 m D+, starting Friday at 04:00. Causse Noir, Tarn gorges via Le Rozier and Le Truel, the Balcon du Vertige, the Jonte valley, the Larzac ledges and the Dourbie. Last 2026 cut-off at Le Cade (km 93.9) at 01:30. Finishing under 19 h earns a ticket to the Western States lottery. 2026 winners: Yannick Noël (9:16:07) and Marine Quintard (10:46:40).

Registration 2027: what to expect

No lottery and no qualification: first come, first served, and everything goes fast. In 2026 the general opening on Monday 19 January at 09:00 drew 23,000 connections, ten races sold out within ten minutes and 11,000 bibs went in a day. The organiser now works in four phases: groups of 20+ bibs before 24 December, a partner presale, a local presale for Millau residents, then the general opening with a pre-queue. Expect the same pattern for 2027: groups before Christmas, general opening on a mid-January Monday at 09:00. Prices are published at the opening (roughly €20–110 depending on the race in 2026). You need a French FFA licence or a PPS health-prevention number; minimum age 20 above 21 km, 18 on the short races. Bib transfers were allowed from 20 March to 15 September in 2026; no refunds without cancellation cover; no on-site registration except the Kinder Trail.

Mandatory kit and logistics

Bib and chip, 0.75 l of water on the long races (0.6 l on the short ones), a headlamp at the start of every race with a night section, a reusable cup and plate (no cups or plates at aid stations). Poles are allowed except on the first kilometres out of Millau. Bib pickup at the Salon du Trail, avenue de Millau Plage, Thursday and Friday 12:00–19:00, Saturday 09:00–19:00, in person only. Shuttles to the outlying starts are detailed in the organiser's mobility guide. Book accommodation as soon as you have a bib: Millau sells out months ahead.