The event by Fondazione Cortina records 94% return intentions and a Net Promoter Score of +68. The second edition is official for 24 July 2027: pre-registrations open from late September, with a one-week priority window and 30% off on Fondazione Cortina channels.

Memory turned into a race, Olympic heritage becoming a living, open and shared experience. The first edition of Cortina 56-26 – The Legacy Trail closes with an extraordinary balance, confirming the strength of a concept able to blend sporting history, community value and great trail running in the incomparable setting of the Dolomites.

The figures gathered through the official survey conducted among participants outline the profile of a triumphant debut: an overall satisfaction rating of 8.9 out of 10, a record Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +68 (with a full 73.8% of enthusiastic “promoters”) and an impressive 94% of athletes ready to confirm their presence in future editions too.

Conceived and promoted by Fondazione Cortina, the event succeeded in uniting two eras in a single route, creating an ideal bridge between the 1956 Winter Games and the Milan Cortina 2026 Games just concluded, guiding runners through the symbols of Ampezzo’s Olympic history, starting from the legendary Trampolino Italia in Zuel.

A SPORTING EXPERIENCE WITH TOP MARKS

The feedback analysed highlights the excellence of the organisational machine deployed by Fondazione Cortina and the participating sports clubs.

Among the individual aspects most appreciated by athletes:

• Bib collection and race pack: 4.91 / 5
• Safe management of crossings: 4.88 / 5
• Organisation and punctuality of the start: 4.85 / 5
• Assistance, helpfulness and warmth of staff and volunteers: 4.84 / 5

The competition saw 273 total entrants – with the 26K acting as the main gateway (73% of entrants) and 28 teams taking part in the relay formats – attracting runners from 9 European countries (including Norway, Germany, Poland, Romania, France, Austria and Slovenia). Nationally, the North-East confirmed itself as the beating heart of the movement, with the provinces of Belluno and Treviso alone accounting for 54% of Italian participants.

EVENT, COMMUNITY AND CONCEPT: THE TRIAD OF SUCCESS

Cortina 56-26 proved to be not only a competitive challenge, but a genuine community project. Local residents and organisations formed the living infrastructure of the event: 124 registered volunteers, together with the area’s sports clubs, manned the route and made it possible to carry out over 198 km of scouting and marking before the start.

Completing the inclusive scope of the concept were the Corty Summer Games in collaboration with LaRossa Cortina, the celebration dedicated to the youngest, which turned the finish village into a space for play and movement: over 100 children and families took part in the activities organised with 6 primary partners (Gruppo Beyfin, Cortinabanca, Forno d’Asolo, Loacker, Cortina in Wellness, Trudi), passing on the values of sport and the Olympic legacy to the new generations.

The image return and media coverage generated were also remarkable:

• 858.500 total social contacts across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn;
• 13.000 unique users on the event’s official portal;
• 39 press pieces in local and national trade outlets, with 82% broadly positive sentiment;
• 1.7 million TV viewers reached thanks to dedicated features on national networks.

THE 2027 DATE IS OFFICIAL: ON 24 JULY WE RUN HISTORY AGAIN

Building on the enthusiasm raised by the first edition, Fondazione Cortina has made official the date of the second chapter: Cortina 56-26 will return on Saturday 24 July 2027.

To reward the community and respond to the strong demand for participation, official pre-registrations opened in late September 2026. Registering early entitles participants to two exclusive advantages:

• A one-week priority window to secure your bib in advance before general opening;
• A 30% discount on the entry fee.

Pre-registrations are available at https://mailchi.mp/cortina56-26.com/pre-registration-2027. Updates will follow on Fondazione Cortina’s official social channels and on the event website: www.cortina56-26.com.

“The first edition of Cortina 56-26 showed that the Olympic legacy is not an abstract concept, but a living and concrete heritage, capable of mobilising athletes, volunteers and residents in the name of a passion for sport and for our territory. The 8.9/10 satisfaction rating and the 94% of people ready to return tell us we have set the right course. In 2027 we want to consolidate this extraordinary format, making Cortina 56-26 a fixed and unmissable appointment on the international trail scene,” says Michele di Gallo, General Director of Fondazione Cortina.