Oia hosts Santorini Experience races from 16 to 18 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 02:39 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Santorini Experience takes place from 16 to 18 October 2026 across Santorini, including trail races that start and finish in Oia.
- The Sunday programme on 18 October 2026 includes 5 km, 10 km and 15 km trail races along the caldera route.
- The event's 2.4 km open-water swim runs from the volcanic islet to Fira's old port on 17 October 2026.
- The Ancient Thera Run 5K and the Kamari Coast Pet Run debut in the 2026 programme on 16 October 2026.
Oia and the Santorini Experience come together in Greece from 16 to 18 October 2026, when the island hosts a three-day programme of trail running and open-water swimming. The Sunday races start and finish at the village's desalination plant and follow routes along the caldera landscape.
Santorini Experience brings three race days to Oia
The programme opens on Friday, 16 October 2026, with the Ancient Thera Run 5K and the Kamari Coast Pet Run 5K in Kamari. Both are new additions to the 2026 edition, according to the event's published programme.
Saturday, 17 October 2026, is devoted to a 2.4 km open-water swim from the volcanic islet in the caldera to the old port of Fira. On Sunday, 18 October 2026, runners choose between 5 km, 10 km and 15 km trail routes beginning and ending at the desalination plant. The event is scheduled for 16 to 18 October 2026 and is co-organised by the Municipality of Thera and ActiveMedia Group.
Oia's caldera paths shape the Sunday races
The Sunday routes connect the northern village with the caldera-rim settlements of Imerovigli and Firostefani before returning to the start and finish area. The official tourism presentation describes them as 15 km, 10 km and 5 km trail courses with views towards the caldera.
That route design makes the place more than a backdrop: the village serves as both the starting point and the finishing point for the running programme. The swim on 17 October 2026 adds a different view of the same volcanic setting, linking the caldera water with Fira's old port. The official tourism programme also places the Ancient Thera Run 5K in Kamari, giving the new race a route beside one of Santorini's archaeological landscapes.
New Kamari races broaden the 2026 programme
The Ancient Thera Run 5K is scheduled for Friday, 16 October 2026, with start and finish in Kamari. It is joined by the Kamari Coast Pet Run 5K, a route for participants running or walking with dogs.
The wider event therefore moves between several parts of Santorini rather than remaining in one village. The swimming course starts at the volcano and ends at Fira's old port, while the three Sunday runs use the caldera path through Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani.
Visiting Oia: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Santorini Experience runs from 16 to 18 October 2026. The Oia trail races take place on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
- The Sunday courses start and finish at the desalination plant in Oia. The published programme does not announce a general closure of the village.
- The routes pass through Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani and use caldera paths, traditional cobbled sections, narrow lanes and changing volcanic terrain.
- The other event venues are the volcanic islet and Fira's old port for the 2.4 km swim, plus Kamari for the two new 5 km races on 16 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions about Oia
When does Santorini Experience take place at Oia?
The event runs from 16 to 18 October 2026, with the Oia trail races scheduled for 18 October 2026.
What happens at Oia during Santorini Experience?
Three trail races of 5 km, 10 km and 15 km start and finish at the desalination plant on 18 October 2026.
Where is Oia and how do you get there?
Oia is a village on the north-western end of Santorini in Greece. The event information identifies the desalination plant as the Sunday race venue.
