The XVIII Cursa Popular Pla de Sant Mateu will take place this Sunday, September 27, bringing another morning of popular sport to the rural heart of Ibiza.

The event will feature 5 km and 10 km road races, a skating category and races for younger participants, with the start and finish located in the area around the church of Sant Mateu.

Organised by Club d’Atletisme Sa Raval with the collaboration of Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Hall and the Sant Mateu residents’ association, the race is open to participants with or without a federation licence.

The race takes place on September 27

The XVIII Cursa Popular Pla de Sant Mateu is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026.

The main 5 km and 10 km races will start at 09:30, with the skating category beginning five minutes earlier at 09:25.

The children's and promotional races are scheduled to begin at approximately 11:00.

Start and finish at the church of Sant Mateu

The event will begin and finish in the area directly in front of the Church of Sant Mateu.

The course is entirely on asphalt and consists of a 5 km circuit.

Participants in the 5 km race complete one lap, while the 10 km runners complete two laps.

A 5 km and 10 km option

The main competition offers two distances, allowing runners to choose between a single 5 km lap or the full 10 km course.

The format makes the event suitable for both participants looking for a longer challenge and those who simply want to enjoy a shorter community race through the Sant Mateu area.

There will also be refreshment facilities at the finish line, available to runners as they complete each lap.

Skating starts at 9:25

The skating category will be the first competitive event of the morning.

Its start is scheduled for 09:25, five minutes before the 5 km and 10 km races.

The category is listed as mixed and forms part of the wider programme of the Cursa Popular Pla de Sant Mateu.

Children's races at around 11:00

The sporting programme continues after the main races with the promotion and children's events.

The promotion event is free, giving younger participants the opportunity to take part without an entry fee.

The programme includes several children's distances according to age category, ranging from short sprint-style races to longer distances for older children.

Registration remains open

Entries for the 5 km and 10 km races remain open until Thursday, September 24 at 23:59.

The current entry fee is €20 for the 10 km race and €13 for the 5 km race.

The children's promotion races are free.

Bib collection takes place Saturday

Participants must collect their race bibs before race day.

Bib collection is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Can Coix athletics track.

The organisers explicitly state that bibs will not be handed out on the morning of the race.

A traditional Ibiza sporting event

The Sant Mateu race has now reached its 18th edition.

The event has become a recurring fixture in Ibiza's popular athletics calendar, bringing competitive runners and recreational participants together in the countryside around Sant Mateu.

Its combination of road running, skating and children's races gives the day a broader community focus than a standard road race.

A race for different levels

The organisers describe the event as open to everyone, with or without a federation licence.

That includes experienced runners looking to compete over 10 km, participants wanting a shorter 5 km route, skating enthusiasts and children taking part in the promotional races.

The 5 km circuit also means spectators can follow the event relatively easily from the start and finish area.

The village becomes the meeting point

With the race centred around the church of Sant Mateu, the event brings sporting activity directly into the village.

The start and finish area will provide the focus for runners, families and supporters throughout the morning.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for approximately 12:00 to 12:30 at the finish line.

What runners should know

Anyone planning to take part in the 5 km or 10 km races has until September 24 to complete their registration.

Runners should then collect their bib on Saturday morning at Can Coix and arrive prepared for the Sunday start.

The main races begin at 09:30, while the skating category starts at 09:25 and the children's programme follows at around 11:00.

Sunday morning in Sant Mateu

The XVIII Cursa Popular Pla de Sant Mateu offers a sporting morning in one of Ibiza's rural villages, combining road running, skating and children's races.

With 5 km and 10 km routes, a 5 km circuit and a programme continuing into the midday awards ceremony, the event is set to bring another edition of the popular Sant Mateu race to the island's sporting calendar.

Sunday, September 27 will mark the 18th edition of the event.