Spectate & participate: Tirol’s Top Sporting Events in Summer 2024

Last updated on 09.04.2024

Tirol’s event calendar is jam-packed with exciting events to spectate and participate, not only in winter, but also in the summer months. Top athletes and amateur enthusiasts can put their skills and stamina levels to the test in a wide range of disciplines and competitions. Here, a selection of the top events in the Tirolean summer of 2024:

Jakob Schubert at the IFSC Climbing World Cup Innsbruck © Tobias Haller

Events to participate

Run, cycle or climb over the finish line: the heart of the Alps offers amateur athletes many opportunities to demonstrate their prowess and deliver top performances in an impressive mountain setting, with a plethora of popular sporting events. Here, a selection of the most exciting amateur sporting events in summer 2024:

HillClimb in Brixen im Thale · 22nd June 2024
Thrilling excitement is guaranteed at the HillClimb in the Kitzbühel Alps on 22nd June 2024. The sequel to the former KitzAlpBike Festival has a new format this year and is open to all. Various categories will facilitate exciting competitions for both pros and amateurs. In the new backpack category, participants even have the opportunity to choose their own bike type – everything from mountain bikes and gravel bikes to e-bikes is allowed. Visitors are well catered for with an extensive supporting programme, including a bike simulator and various technical training sessions

Ischgl Ironbike · 2nd to 3rd August 2024
Ischgl Ironbike is one of the toughest mountain bike marathons in Europe. The legendary event will take place for the 29th time on 2nd and 3rd August 2024, luring countless athletes and fans to Ischgl once again. The toughest category of the race covers 71 kilometres and 3,200 vertical metres over historic, partially asphalted and at times gravelled, ancient smugglers’ trails through the fascinating mountain landscape from Ischgl via Galtür to Samnaun and back again. The Bike Marathon forms the event’s highlight, as well as a large expo area and a child-friendly version of the bike competition suitable for kids and juniors. The short track is another new feature – a discipline that promises to be particularly exciting for spectators.

Mountain bike enthusiasts are spoilt for choice in Tirol: numerous events with great accompanying programmes will once again fill the event calendar in summer 2024. A selection of the best MTB events can be found at: www.tyrol.com/mountain-bike-events

Kufsteinerland Cycle Marathon · 25th August 2024
Undulating hills and challenging climbs, through scenic valleys and past several bathing lakes – all this awaits participants of the Kufsteinerland Cycle Marathon, which will be held for the eighth time on 25th August 2024. There are three disciplines to choose from: the Cycle Marathon route (120 kilometres, 1,800 metres in elevation difference) challenges even the pros, while the slightly shorter Lakes Circuit (95 kilometres, 1,160 metres in elevation difference) offers ambitious amateur athletes plenty of variety. The Panorama Tour through the Inn Valley (48 kilometres, 400 metres in elevation difference) offers a more leisurely ride. All races start and finish at the upper town square in Kufstein.

The Tirolean summer is crammed with racing bike events. A complete list, ranging from the Dreiländergiro (Three Countries Tour) and Kitzbühel Cycle Marathon, to Tirol’s most legendary road bike classic, the Ötztal Cycle Marathon, can be found at: www.tyrol.com/roadbike-races.

1st Paznaun Ischgl Ultra Trail · 12th to 13th July 2024
A new event in the trail running calendar can be found in Ischgl this year: the 1st PIUT will see amateur runners and pros compete on four differently challenging panoramic routes across Paznaun – from See to Kappl and Galtür to Ischgl, with every location offering a variety of challenges. Trail run pros compete in the PIUT 85 on over 5,200 metres in elevation difference and a distance of 85 kilometres, including four stages of the Paznaun High Trail. Shorter distances of between 20 and 50 kilometres are also possible, and mini athletes can get their first taste of racing at the PIUT KIDS RUN.

KAT100 by UTMB · 1st to 3rd August 2024
Trail runners will be lacing up their running shoes for the KAT100 by UTMB in PillerseeTal from 1st to 3rd August 2024, before running five distances across the Kitzbühel Alps. This event also features Austria’s longest ultra trail, the “100 Miles” distance – covering 173.2 kilometres and 9,929 vertical metres over scenic mountain trails and rocky passes. Several other distances – the Endurance Trail, Marathon Trail, Speed Trail and Easy Trail – are also available, all starting from the event venue at Fieberbrunn. Running enthusiasts can also put their stamina to the test on the Kids Trail. This event has been part of the UTMB World Series since 2023.

Tirol is home to a wealth of trail running events – and new ones are continually being added to the calendar. A comprehensive list can be found at www.tyrol.com/top-trailrunning-events.

Zillertal Steinbock March · 17th August 2024
The “classic amongst alpine marches” is already over 50 years old and will take place again in August 2024 over a 30-kilometre route through the Zillertal Alps – with contenders covering an ascent of 1,871 metres and a descent of 1,610 metres. It starts at 5 hrs at the Nature Park House in Ginzling, after which the route leads towards the Floitental valley with its great views and on to the highest point, the Mörchnerscharte at almost 2,900 metres, before continuing via the Berliner Hut and Zemmgrund to the finish at Alpengasthof Breitlahner.

All hiking events – from the Karwendel March to the 24-hour hike in Alpbachtal – can be found at www.tyrol.com/top-hiking-events.

Arlberger Wadlbeißer · 31st August 2024
13.5 kilometres, 700 metres in altitude and 24 obstacles: The Arlberger Wadlbeißer at the end of August is not your everyday kind of obstacle course. It demands everything from its participants – as they run, slide and scramble to successfully reach the finish line. In addition to the long-distance version, there is also a shorter route of seven kilometres and 15 obstacles. Both variants lead through the impressive surrounding mountains of St. Anton am Arlberg.

Red Bull Dolomitenmann · 7th September 2024
The Red Bull Dolomitenmann, one of the world’s toughest relay competitions, will take place in East Tirol on 7th September 2024 against the spectacular backdrop of the Dolomites. Around 100 teams from all over the world will compete in the disciplines of mountain running, paragliding, white-water kayaking and mountain biking. Teams of four athletes battle it out against steep slopes, unpredictable winds, raging floods and extreme terrain for the title of “Red Bull Dolomitenmann”. Both spectators and athletes at this extreme sporting event can once again look forward to a generous portion of fun and action.

1st PIUT 2024: Ultratrail running premiere in Paznaun © TVB Paznaun-Ischgl

Top sporting events to cheer on and support

Spectators can experience the world’s best athletes from a wide range of sports at first-hand and cheer them on at numerous top sporting events in Tirol. From climbing and cycling to tennis: the following events will once again entice the best athletes to Tirol in summer 2024:

Tour of the Alps · 15th to 19th April 2024
The seventh instalment of the Tour of the Alps will again lead across challenging routes and impressive landscapes through the European region of Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino. As part of the UCI Pro Series, the race will once again inspire over 150 participating professional cyclists and numerous fans. Both the finish of the second stage in Stans and the start and finish of the third stage in Schwaz are located in the Silberregion Karwendel this year. The five stages cover a total of 709.3 kilometres and 13,250 metres in elevation gain.

Crankworx Innsbruck · 12th to 16th June 2024
Innsbruck is hosting the world’s biggest gravity mountain bike festival, Crankworx, for the eighth time in June 2024. Fans can once again look forward to a spectacular show at Bikepark Innsbruck at Muttereralm and cheer on their favourites in slopestyle, speed and style, dual slalom, whip-off and on the pump track. The world’s best bikers in each discipline will once again be competing against each other at the only European stop on the World Tour this year. Women will also be competing in slopestyle for the first time in Tirol.

Crankworx at the Bikepark Innsbruck in Mutters © Trahan, Breitenberger

IFSC Climbing World Cup Innsbruck · 24th to 30th June 2024
Over 400 athletes from 40 nations will return to Innsbruck at the end of June 2024 to put their skills to the test at the IFSC Climbing World Cup. The international competitions in all four disciplines of lead, bouldering, speed and paraclimbing promise a first-class climbing event for spectators. Audiences are guaranteed a great atmosphere and impressive performances, as Tirol’s provincial capital offers the final opportunity this year to determine the athletes’ standings in the bouldering and lead disciplines before the Olympic Games in Paris.

Generali Open Kitzbühel · 20th to 27th July 2024
Austria’s biggest clay court tournament turns 80! With just one week to go before the Summer Olympics in Paris, thousands of tennis fans are again expected at this year’s Generali Open in Kitzbühel. The world’s best tennis players will be battling it out for the coveted Kitzbühel trophy and lucrative prize money as part of the ATP World Tour. Spectators can look forward to some thrilling matches!