In short
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2027 is on Saturday 15 May, starting at Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen. The 35th edition is a 3.8 km sea swim, a 180.2 km loop of the island with about 2,500 m of climbing in the trade winds, then a three-loop marathon along the seafront, all inside 17 hours.
Lanzarote has been testing long-distance triathletes since 30 May 1992, which makes it Europe's oldest IRONMAN. Its name was made on the bike. One loop of a volcanic island takes you past the vines of La Geria and the black lava of Timanfaya National Park, up to the cliffs of Mirador del Río, with the wind having its say all day. Lucy Charles-Barclay, who won the 2025 edition, sums it up on the organiser's page: “If you want a real test, you have to do this IRONMAN.”
When is IRONMAN Lanzarote 2027, and who runs it now?
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2027 is on Saturday 15 May, and yes, it is going ahead. IRONMAN's event page for the race lists the date with entries open; general registration opened on 18 June 2026. It will be the 35th edition, and the first organised directly by The IRONMAN Group, the company that owns the IRONMAN brand.
That is the big change. Club La Santa, the sports resort in Tinajo, built the race over more than three decades and ran it up to the 2026 edition, raced on Saturday 23 May. The Cabildo de Lanzarote y La Graciosa, the island's government, presented the handover on 31 August 2026, as Ocio Lanzarote reported. The Ayuntamiento de Tías, the town council of Puerto del Carmen, stays on as host. Demand is not in doubt. The last edition drew close to 2,000 entry requests, according to José Manuel Sanabria, the Canary Islands deputy tourism minister.
What is the IRONMAN Lanzarote course like?
IRONMAN Lanzarote opens with a 3.8 km sea swim off Playa Grande, the sandy beach in Puerto del Carmen. The swim is two laps with an Australian exit: a short run along the sand before you dive back in for lap two. Athletes go off in a rolling start from 7:00, entering the water in staggered groups. A single transition area sits on the same beach, close to the finish line. The bike is one 180.2 km loop that leaves and returns to Puerto del Carmen. It crosses the vineyards of La Geria and the lava of Timanfaya National Park, then climbs in the north to Tabayesco and Mirador del Río, about 2,500 m of climbing in all. The run is a 42.2 km marathon in three loops along Avenida de Las Playas, beside the sea, under strong sunshine and a loud crowd. The whole race has a 17 hour cut-off, and the average finisher takes between 12 and 13 hours.
IRONMAN sums it up in three words on its course page: ocean, hilly, rolling. The swim is laid out as a rectangle with few turns and buoys that are easy to sight, and the water is clear. To study the route, open the IRONMAN Lanzarote course page, scroll to Downloads and tap the swim, bike or run GPX file to save it to your phone or bike computer.
How do you ride the Lanzarote wind?
Ride it with patience and the right kit. The wind shapes the bike leg more than any single climb. Ocio Lanzarote's 2026 race guide says the trade winds can gust above 40 km/h, and IRONMAN's course notes warn that the route frequently features tough winds. On exposed roads they push the bike around, and some of the climbs and descents are steep.
Set the bike up for control. The same race guide advises against wheels deeper than 50 mm. Fit a compact chainset, the smaller pair of front chainrings that gives easier climbing gears, and bring your own shoes and pedals. Carry two full bottles when you head inland, as refill points are few on some roads. Eat before each climb.
The course suits a strong, steady rider. You need to hold a line when a gust hits and keep something back for the marathon. The organiser describes a race forged by wind, heat and volcanic terrain, and none of the three lets up for long.
What weather should you expect in May?
Expect warm, dry days and a sea around 20°C. theKlub's climate data for Lanzarote comes from ten years of Open-Meteo records. It puts May at an average high of 22.6°C and a low of 17.4°C, with 1.2 days of rain. Race day has run a little hotter. IRONMAN recorded highs of 25°C in 2024, 26°C in 2025 and 24°C in 2026, with the water at 19°C, 21°C and 19°C. Ocio Lanzarote notes that May afternoons can reach 28°C, so pack sun protection and train in some heat before you fly.
The table shows the average daily high and low and the rainy days for every month on the island, so you can plan a training block as well as race week.
| Month | High | Low | Rain or snow days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.4 °C | 15.2 °C | 0.9 |
| February | 19.7 °C | 14.9 °C | 3.3 |
| March | 20.4 °C | 15.3 °C | 2.8 |
| April | 21.6 °C | 16.2 °C | 1.9 |
| May | 22.6 °C | 17.4 °C | 1.2 |
| June | 23.9 °C | 19.0 °C | 0.7 |
| July | 25.2 °C | 20.1 °C | 0.0 |
| August | 26.3 °C | 21.1 °C | 0.3 |
| September | 25.7 °C | 20.8 °C | 0.9 |
| October | 24.9 °C | 19.9 °C | 1.9 |
| November | 22.6 °C | 18.1 °C | 2.6 |
| December | 20.4 °C | 16.2 °C | 1.5 |
For training trips, February to May and October to November are the best months. Summer brings more heat, stronger winds and busier roads.
Train for the island: where and how to prepare
Train for the swim, the hills and the wind together. For the water, IRONMAN's course strategy for Lanzarote suggests continuous swims of 800, 900 and 1,000 m without rest in the last two or three months. Swim them at race pace, in open water and in your wetsuit if you can. Practise the Australian exit too. Running up the beach and diving back in sends your heart rate up, so learn to control it.
For the bike, nothing beats riding the island. SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, the island's tourism body, says many athletes arrive months early to train and learn the course. The classic base is Club La Santa, rated 9.0 out of 10 by 50 guests. It has three 50 m pools, a sheltered saltwater lagoon, a running track and physios on site.
Club La Santa's pre-IRONMAN camp runs in English between the Volcano Triathlon and the race. It adds a preview swim in Puerto del Carmen and bike sessions on big sections of the course. The camp is open to resort guests only, and the resort rents no triathlon bikes. Bring your own: it is the bike you will race, set up the way you need it.
Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are the other training hubs, with coastal paths and hard hills close by. Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort in Costa Teguise, rated 8.2 by 3,679 guests, suits a group who want those roads on the doorstep. Vitalclass Lanzarote Resort in Teguise, is rated 8.8 by its guests. Hotel Costa Calero Thalasso & Spa in Puerto Calero, rated 8.6, suits a rider who wants the spa on easy days. More stays sit on our page for triathlon in Lanzarote.
When should you arrive for race week?
Land by the Wednesday before the race, and stay until Sunday if you are chasing a World Championship slot. IRONMAN has not posted the 2027 timetable yet and says to use the 2026 one. It ran like this:
- Wednesday: the compulsory athlete briefing, online, at 2pm in English.
- Thursday 09:00 to 19:00 or Friday 09:00 to 13:00: athlete check-in on Avenida de las Playas, in person, with photo ID and your QR code.
- Friday, 3pm to 8pm: bike and bag check-in at transition.
- Saturday: transition opens at 5am, age groupers start rolling in from 7:10.
- Sunday: World Championship slot allocation at 12:30, awards at 2pm.
IRONMAN's race week page also confirms that accident insurance is included with registration. Roads close across the island on race day. Book a bed in or near Puerto del Carmen early if you want to walk to the start.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lanzarote the hardest IRONMAN?
No official ranking exists, but few races carry the reputation. Juan Monzón, Lanzarote's sports councillor, calls it among the toughest in the world, and IRONMAN notes that it is known as the European Kona, after the World Championship course in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. About 2,500 m of bike climbing in wind and heat is why, and the average finisher takes between 12 and 13 hours.
What date was IRONMAN Lanzarote 2026?
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2026 was on Saturday 23 May 2026, the 34th edition and the last organised by Club La Santa. It started at 7:00 from Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen and offered 100 qualifying slots for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The next edition is on Saturday 15 May 2027.
Can you wear a wetsuit at IRONMAN Lanzarote?
Yes, in a normal year. Ocio Lanzarote's 2026 race guide says wetsuits are allowed under the sport's international rules and puts the May sea at around 20°C. IRONMAN recorded 19°C on race day in 2024 and 2026 and 21°C in 2025. Its course notes advise putting the wetsuit on only when you head in to warm up.
Is accident insurance included in IRONMAN Lanzarote entry?
Yes. IRONMAN's race week page says accident insurance is included with registration, through Mutuacat, and links the full details. Read them before you travel, and check that your own travel insurance covers you for racing a triathlon abroad, since the two are not the same thing.
Can a first-timer race IRONMAN Lanzarote?
It can be done, but it is a hard place to start. theKlub's own guidance rates the island's signature events, IRONMAN Lanzarote among them, as better suited to athletes with long-distance racing behind them. Ocio Lanzarote reports that more than 60 per cent of athletes race the island for the first time. A training week on the course first is the smartest way in.
IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca is a shorter step towards it: read our guide to triathlon in Mallorca.
Lanzarote asks more of you than most full-distance races, and gives back a day you will talk about for years: the dark, quiet beach at dawn, the long climb to Mirador del Río, the seafront crowd on your third loop. Train for the wind, learn the course on the island and arrive with time to settle. For company in training, our triathlon holidays with theKlub are a good place to start. Today, download the bike GPX from IRONMAN's course page and put the climbs into your next long ride.
