TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
DECATHLON PERSENK ULTRA
19-23.08.2026
Feel the spirit of the Rhodopes
Festival Program
| Час | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
15:00 – 16:00 | Gathering: organizers, volunteers, and friends | Start Zone | Bulgarian |
18:00 – 20:00 | International runners welcome drink | Hotel Perelik | English |
21:00 – 22:30 | Movie: Trails in Motion 2026 | Hotel Perelik | English |
| Час | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
09:00 – 10:00 | Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
10:30 – 11:00 | Corporate Relay | Pamporovo Dam | Bulgarian |
11:00 – 14:00 | Guided hike | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
12:00 – 12:30 | Photo Exhibition: 13 Years of Persenk Ultra | Hotel Perelik | English |
12:30 – 17:00 | Trail Running Conference | Hotel Perelik | English |
17:00 – 17:30 | Technical Briefind - Runners | Hotel Perelik | English |
17:30 – 18:00 | Technical Briefind - Runners | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
18:00 – 20:00 | Welcome Cocktail for Athletes | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
20:00 – 20:30 | Technical Briefind - Volunteers | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
21:00 – 22:30 | Movie: Trail Running Film Festival 2026 | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
09:00 – 16:00 | Race: Pamporovo Sky Race 25KM | Start Zone | English |
09:30 – 10:00 | Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
10:00 – 10:30 | Kids Run - 6 - 13 years | Pamporovo Dam | Bulgarian |
11:00 – 14:00 | Guided hike | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
12:00 – 12:30 | Expo Zone Opening | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
17:30 – 18:30 | Press Conference - Elite Runners | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
19:00 – 20:00 | Opening Ceremony | Start Zone | English |
24:00 | Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 100KM | Start Zone | English |
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
07:00 | Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 80KM | Start Zone | English |
08:00 – 20:00 | Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 50KM | Start Zone | English |
09:00 | Race: Sport Box Trail Run 20KM | Start Zone | English |
09:30 – 10:30 | Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
11:00 – 14:00 | Guided Hike | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
09:30 – 10:30 | Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
11:00 – 14:00 | Guided Hike | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
12:00 – 13:30 | Closing ceremony and award ceremony | Start Zone | English |
14:00 – 15:00 | Volunteers farewell cocktail | Hotel Perelik | Bulgarian |
Race packs for all events will be distributed on the following dates and locations:
15.08 – 18.08 – Plovdiv, Decathlon Plovdiv – Registration and race pack distribution for all events
19.08 – 22.08 – Pamporovo Resort, Hotel Perelik – Registration and race pack distribution for all events
TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
DECATHLON Персенк Ултра 2026
Wednesday - 19.08.2026
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
|
15:00 – 16:00 |
Gathering: organizers, volunteers, and friends |
Start Zone |
Bulgarian |
|
18:00 – 20:00 |
International runners welcome drink |
Hotel Perelik |
English |
|
21:00 – 22:30 |
Movie: Trails in Motion 2026 |
Hotel Perelik |
English |
Thursday - 20.08.2026
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
|
09:00 – 10:00 |
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
10:30 – 11:00 |
Corporate Relay |
Pamporovo Dam |
Bulgarian |
|
11:00 – 14:00 |
Guided hike |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
12:00 – 12:30 |
Photo Exhibition: 13 Years of Persenk Ultra |
Hotel Perelik |
English |
|
12:30 – 17:00 |
Trail Running Conference |
Hotel Perelik |
English |
|
17:00 – 17:30 |
Technical Conference – Athletes |
Hotel Perelik |
English |
|
17:30 – 18:00 |
Technical Conference – Athletes |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
18:00 – 20:00 |
Welcome Cocktail for Athletes |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
20:00 – 20:30 |
Technical Conference – Volunteers |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
21:00 – 22:30 |
Movie: Trail Running Film Festival 2026 |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
Friday - 21.08.2026
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
|
09:00 – 16:00 |
Race: Pamporovo Sky Race 25KM |
Start Zone |
English |
|
09:30 – 10:00 |
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
10:00 – 10:30 |
Kids Run - 6 - 13 years |
Pamporovo Dam |
Bulgarian |
|
11:00 – 14:00 |
Guided hike |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
12:00 – 12:30 |
Expo Zone Opening |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
17:30 – 18:30 |
Media conference - Elite runners |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
19:00 – 20:00 |
Opening Ceremony |
Start Zone |
English |
|
24:00 |
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 100KM |
Start Zone |
English |
Saturday - 22.08.2026
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
|
07:00 |
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 80KM |
Start Zone |
English |
|
08:00 – 20:00 |
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 50KM |
Start Zone |
English |
|
09:00 |
Race: Sport Box Trail Run 20KM |
Start Zone |
English |
|
09:30 – 10:30 |
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
11:00 – 14:00 |
Guided Hike |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
Sunday - 23.08.2026
| Date/Hour | Event | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
|
09:30 – 10:30 |
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
11:00 – 14:00 |
Guided Hike |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
|
12:00 – 13:30 |
Closing ceremony and award ceremony |
Start Zone |
English |
|
14:00 – 15:00 |
Volunteers farewell cocktail |
Hotel Perelik |
Bulgarian |
Starter packs
Race packs for all events will be distributed on the following dates and locations:
15.08 – 18.08 – Plovdiv, Decathlon Plovdiv – Registration and race pack distribution for all events
19.08 – 22.08 – Pamporovo Resort, Hotel Perelik – Registration and race pack distribution for all events
What awaits you...
Passion for Sport
DECATHLON is the place that brings together our teams of sports enthusiasts around a single shared goal—to make the enjoyment and benefits of sport accessible to as many people as possible. Innovation and our passion for sport are at the heart of everything we do—from research to sales, through concept and design, manufacturing, and logistics. The teams behind our sports brands put all their energy into creating beautiful, high-tech, and easy-to-use products at the lowest possible prices.
Pamporovo - Mechi Chal
Pamporovo is one of the most beautiful and sunniest places in the Rhodope Mountains—a resort with over 300 sunny days a year, fresh alpine air, and a unique blend of mountain calm and energy. Nestled in the heart of ancient forests, Pamporovo offers ideal conditions for sport, active tourism, and recovery throughout the year. Some of the most iconic segments of Persenk Ultra run along the trails around the resort—panoramic ridgelines, soft coniferous paths, lakes, rock formations, and legendary spots that make the Rhodopes so unforgettable.
Hotel Perelik *****
Hotel Perelik 5★ is the official partner and main host of Persenk Ultra. Every major event—technical meeting, briefings, registration, race-pack distribution, and ceremonies—will take place there. The hotel provides participants and their companions with: ✔ Premium accommodation in newly renovated rooms and apartments ✔ Indoor and outdoor comfort with spacious common areas and a cozy atmosphere ✔ 24/7 reception and athlete-friendly amenities ✔ A large SPA center for recovery after a demanding day in the mountains—pools, saunas, and relaxation zones ✔ A perfect central location in the resort, with direct access to routes and services The partnership with Hotel Perelik guarantees a high standard of organization, convenience for all participants, and adds an extra level of prestige to the Persenk Ultra experience.
We are part of ITRA
ITRA (International Trail Running Association) is the international organization created to support and develop trail running worldwide. Since 2013, ITRA has united competitors, organizers and national federations around a common definition, values and standards for this rapidly growing sport.
UTMB Index Races
The UTMB Index is the official ranking of the international UTMB organization, measuring each runner’s performance in certified races around the world. The Thracian Ultra races are part of this international network and award points toward your UTMB Index. The main advantage of having an active index is that when applying for other prestigious UTMB events, you gain access to early registration—before all other participants. This way, every time you take part in Thracian Ultra, you not only gain new experiences and challenges, but also move one step closer to the starting line of the world’s biggest races.
Bulgarian Skyrunning Federation
Bulgarian Skyrunning Federation (BSF) is the official organization that develops and regulates skyrunning in Bulgaria, in partnership with the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF).
The federation works to:
✔ Organizing and certifying competitions according to international standards;
✔ Supporting Bulgarian athletes in their participation in world series events;
✔ Promoting high-mountain running and the sustainable practice of the sport;
✔ Improving the quality and safety of all events in the country.
Our joining BSF is a natural step toward higher standards, stronger competition, and better integration of Bulgarian races into the international scene.
