TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 AT 4:30 P.M. – PARADE OF NATIONS
The meeting point is Place Tuffelli. The people of Corte will witness a grand parade bringing together the 30 nations represented at this World Championship. A marching band made up of student from the Cité scolaire de Corte will lead the procession along Cours Paoli, whilst children from the school will escort each delegation, proudly displaying their country’s colours. With 400 athletes and 30 flags in the streets of Corte, the spectacle promises to be every bit as impressive as the event itself. After passing through Place Paoli, the procession will head towards the Università di Corsica. Upon their arrival, one final striking sight will await the competitors: a guard of honour formed by the cadets of the Cité scolaire before they enter the Landry amphitheatre.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 AT 6:30 P.M. – OPENING CEREMONY
A change of setting, but no let-up in the emotion. To welcome the delegations, Corsica will first tell its story through music, with polyphonic songs performed by pupils from the Cité scolaire. Antoine Orsini, chair of the Organising Committee, and Pascal Bahuaud, race director, will then welcome the teams ahead of two segments that encapsulate the spirit of this year’s event: the reading of the ‘Back to Nature’ Charter, followed by a visual journey through the landscapes the competitors are about to traverse. This will be followed by one of the evening’s highlights. Diana Saliceti, patron of the ARWC 2026, will perform ‘U Moi Paese’. Born in the mountains, this song will resonate as an invitation to enter Corsica, to discover its beauty and strength before venturing across it for hundreds of kilometres. Alongside Guillaume Peretti, patron of this year’s event, she will officially declare the 2026 Adventure Racing World Championship open.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 AT 9:00 A.M. – PROLOG
Rendez-vous to the Citadel for a 2 km prologue that will give competitors a first glimpse of the Corsican field. Orienteering, a climb to the heights of Corte, music, nature and heritage: this opening event will have a special flavour all of its own. Each team will share the race with two children, who will run and climb alongside the athletes to the summit of the Citadel. A prologue dedicated to passing on knowledge and sharing experiences, to kick off the adventure with the young people of Corte.