5th Press Release Santorini Experience 2026

Santorini is set to become the most spectacular sporting stage in the Aegean

World champions dive from the volcano, runners conquer the rim of the Caldera and the sunset is set to music

Most people come to Santorini to admire the Caldera. In October, some come to conquer it. From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October, with side events starting as early as Thursday 15, Santorini Experience 2026 returns for its 12th edition, bringing Olympians, world champions and amateurs from every corner of the globe to the same starting line. Swims from the volcano, runs along the rim of the Caldera, talks by champions for the island’s students and free-entry parties in the glow of sunset make up a programme that goes far beyond a simple race. It is the most athletic way to experience Santorini, at a time when the summer crowds have gone and the sea still holds the warmth of August.

Four days, one island in race mode

The curtain rises on Thursday 15 October at Messaria Junior High School and on Friday 16 October at the Bellonio Cultural Centre in Fira, where ambassadors of the MOTODYNAMICS Group meet primary, junior high and senior high school students from the Municipality of Thira. Antigoni Ntrismpioti, Olympian race walker, and Elina Tzengko, Youth Olympic champion in the javelin, both of them European gold medallists, share with the children the story of their own journey to the top. Olympian basketball player Dimitris Papanikolaou, a two-time European champion, speaks about diversity and inclusion, while motorsport coach Thanasis Chountras talks about safe road behaviour.

In the afternoon, the action moves to Kamari. This year’s two new races start simultaneously from Sandblu Santorini. The Sandblu Ancient Thera 5km unfolds alongside the waves, in the shadow of the archaeological site of Ancient Thera, while the Sandblu 5km Kamari Coast Pet Run invites our four-legged friends on a carefree stroll along the shore, where company, not the clock, takes centre stage. In the evening, Marilyn Bar hosts the Opening Party powered by VIKOS COLA, with DJ Junior Rush setting the tone for what lies ahead.

The morning of Saturday 17 October belongs to the water. After athlete check-in at the Old Port of Fira, the swimmers board boats bound for the volcano. From there, they dive in for the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) crossing, a course designed by technical director Nikos Gemelos that brings them back to the point of embarkation. With the first dive, the sea leaves a faint taste of sulphur on the lips, a reminder that beneath the swimmers the volcano is still alive.

As soon as the sky turns orange, the grounds of the Metropolitan Cathedral are transformed into a dance floor for the Sunset Party. Vassilis Tsilichristos presents an exclusive DJ set featuring a live performance by Angela "S", while the cocktails are crafted by Bombay Sapphire. Admission is free and the setting is enchanting. The event is supported by AESTIAN Philoxenia & Hospitality, the Thira Municipal Community and Rizes Gastro Taverna.

The finale is written on Sunday 18 October along the trail that links Oia with Fira. From the Desalination Plant, home to the start, the finish and the race office, the 15 km powered by The North Face, the event’s most demanding challenge, passing Profitis Ilias and Imerovigli, and the 10 km powered by SIXT, member of MOTODYNAMICS Group, with views stretching out to the deep blue, set off together. The baton then passes to the 5 km “Aristides Alafouzos” powered by Miele, dedicated to the memory of the man whose name it bears and suitable for every fitness level, whether running or power walking.

Medals with a Caldera view

Rarely does one see so many titles gathered in one place. Lining up at the start of the swim will be Germany’s Leonie Beck, Olympian and world champion; Hungary’s Anna Olasz, an Olympian with a silver medal at the World Championships; Italy’s Mario Sanzullo, world silver medallist; and his compatriot Barbara Pozzobon, holder of a European title. The roster has been strengthened by Hungary’s David Betlehem, bronze medallist at Paris 2024; his compatriot Bettina Fábián, Europe’s top open water swimmer of 2025, France’s Caroline Laure Jouisse, with 16 distinctions at major competition, Japan’s Yasunari Hirai, an Olympian and winner of Santorini Experience in 2019 and 2025; and the Netherlands’ Marcel Schouten, European champion over 5 km. Adding a Greek signature to the line-up is Georgia Damasioti, European Championships silver medallist and an athlete supported by VIKOS Natural Mineral Water.

On the coaching side, the prestige is just as great, with Italy’s Fabrizio Antonelli, 2021 “Coach of the Year” and the man behind the rise of Gregorio Paltrinieri, alongside Nikos Gemelos. Also on the island will be Olympian Periklis Iakovakis, an iconic figure of Greek athletics, internationally renowned ultramarathon runner Konstantinos Dean Karnazes and ultramarathon runner Jo Manta.

Santorini runs together

True to a tradition dating back to 2015, the Municipality of Thira opens the starting line of every race to its residents free of charge. Their registrations take place exclusively at Alafouzos Sport in Fira, the event’s Official Sports Store, upon presentation of a certificate confirming their status as registered residents of the municipality.

From Thursday 15 October, the same store becomes the meeting point for runners and swimmers, who collect their race kit there. The pack includes the official 42K running T-shirt (RAW collection), made from 100% recycled polyester fabric, as well as a bag, also made from recycled materials: keepsakes that will stay with their owners long after the finish line. Distribution continues until Saturday for those running on Sunday. For the swim, members of the Hellenic Swimming Federation (KOE) must present their athlete health card, while all other participants require a cardiologist’s certificate issued after 16 August 2026.

An island with a story to tell

Santorini Experience is more than a race. For years, it has brought participants into contact with the history, culture and gastronomy of Santorini. The routes pass through landscapes shaped by thousands of years of history, from Ancient Thera to the volcanic shores of the Caldera, while the event works closely with organisations that keep the island’s identity alive.

A prime example this year is the “D. Nomikos” Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada. The old factory was converted in 2014 into a modern museum that traces the cultivation, processing and production of the Santorini cherry tomato, a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product since 2006 and one of the island’s most famous and traditional products. Visitors discover the methods of the old tomato processors and, with them, the history of the place, its people and their traditions. The exhibits include processing machinery dating from 1890, the factory’s handwritten ledgers, old tools and the very first labels, while audiovisual material conveys the accounts of people who worked there. A highlight of the visit is the souvenir can, which visitors seal themselves on an old canning machine.

As part of Santorini Experience 2026, the Museum offers participants a reduced admission ticket of €10 and a 10% discount at its shop and café. In this way, the sporting experience extends before and after the finish line, becoming a journey through the flavours and memory of Santorini.

A glass of… Santorini

“Volcanic Stories – A Santorini Wine Tasting”: Miele and Sandblu Santorini present the Santorini Experience 2026 wine-tasting evening at Blu Restaurant, featuring labels from four historic wineries of the island

The island is not “conquered” only through running and swimming, but also through the senses. That is why Santorini Experience 2026, organised by the Municipality of Thira and ActiveMedia Group, dedicates a special moment to the island’s gastronomic identity, with a wine tasting jointly presented by Miele and Sandblu Santorini.

Sandblu, Gold Sponsor of the event and the welcoming “home” of the Kamari races, opens the doors of Blu Restaurant in Imerovigli on the evening of Friday 16 October for “Volcanic Stories – A Santorini Wine Tasting”, an evening where hospitality becomes an experience. Alongside it, Miele, the German brand that has lived by the motto “Immer Besser” since 1899, brings its philosophy of the relentless pursuit of perfection from the kitchen to the table. Two names united by quality and attention to detail come together to showcase everything that makes the soil of Santorini unique.

The history of wine in Santorini is the history of the island itself. The vine took root here in soil made of ash, pumice and lava, with not a drop of water beyond the moisture of the night. The islanders learned to train it low into “kouloures”, a basket woven from vine shoots that shields the grapes from the wind and the sun, and this technique, unique in the world, has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Phylloxera, which devastated the vineyards of Europe, never set foot in the volcanic soil; as a result, Santorini today preserves some of the oldest ungrafted vines on the planet.

From this land come wines with a distinctive minerality, salinity and aromas that are hard to find anywhere else. Every sip tells the story of a place that learned to flourish through its volcanic nature.

Four wineries, four stories of the volcano

Four labels, four wineries, one journey through the time and taste of the island:

Inspire Cuvée Privée – Venetsanos Winery

The host’s wine, from Sandblu’s private vineyard, made in collaboration with one of the island’s historic wineries. A wild, mineral and saline Assyrtiko: Santorini in a glass.

Santorini – Estate Argyros

The island’s benchmark since 1903, now in its fourth generation, with ungrafted vines more than 70 years old. A clean, precise Assyrtiko that explains why Santorini ranks among the world’s great white-wine terroirs.

Nykteri – Mikra Thira

The wine of the night: traditionally, the grapes were trodden after sunset, away from the heat. A modern interpretation from the first and only winery on Thirasia, on the opposite side of the Caldera. Riper, bolder and fuller-bodied.

Vinsanto – Gavalas Winery

The island’s most historic wine, from a family now in its fifth generation of winemakers. Sun-dried grapes and years of ageing in old barrels: raisin, dried fruit, dark chocolate and the freshness of Assyrtiko.

The meeting of sport and gastronomy is no coincidence. Recovery after exertion, the balance of the Mediterranean diet and the joy of sharing a table are all part of the same philosophy of life. And so, after the adrenaline of the race, guests enjoy a moment of relaxation, conversation and pleasure that makes the journey to Santorini even more complete.

Perks not to be missed

State-of-the-art and premium, the fleet of SIXT, member of MOTODYNAMICS Group and Premium Mobility Partner of the event, turns every journey into part of the pleasure, from the road to the start line to the island’s most hidden corners. Its modern, impeccably maintained vehicles provide safety on Santorini’s narrow, steep roads, so that participants arrive at the start rested and stress-free, a message that also echoes the talk on safe road behaviour given to the island’s students. With the reliability that has established it internationally and its steadfast support for the event, SIXT offers participants a 15% discount on vehicle rentals from 5 to 20 October via the dedicated page https://www.sixt.gr/campaign/santorini-experience-promo_2026/, with no promo code required.

The journey begins in the clouds with SKY express, Official Airline Sponsor and ERA Airline of the Year. With an extensive international network, nine daily flights from Athens and its trademark attention to every detail, it brings every passenger within a breath of the Caldera.

Those who wish to watch Santorini rise out of the blue can board the ships of Blue Star Ferries, which has long connected the islands of the Aegean safely and comfortably. The company offers a 30% discount on passenger tickets (excluding cabins) and vehicle tickets for return trips from Piraeus, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese between 10 and 25 October, for every registered athlete and up to three companions. Bookings can be made at GELASAKIS SHIPPING & TRAVEL CENTER in Piraeus (tel. +30 210 4222440) and DAKOUTROS TRAVEL in Santorini (tel. +30 22860 22201).

OAKBERRY, Partner of the event, promises freshness, energy and pure enjoyment, perfectly matching the pace of an active generation focused on health and wellness. At the heart of every bowl is açaí, the purple fruit of the Amazon, rich in antioxidants, which together with fruit and granola provides quick energy before exertion and supports recovery after the finish. Upon presentation of proof of participation, a 20% discount applies to every product at its store on the island from 15 to 19 October.

EMÉNNA, a Greek skincare company based in Thessaloniki, is taking part in Santorini Experience 2026 as the event’s Official Skincare Partner.

Participants spend hours in the sun, the wind and the waters of the Aegean. As part of the partnership, EMÉNNA will be by their side during post-race recovery with products from its White Truffle-based range. These products are designed to hydrate and revitalise the skin.

The partnership stems from a simple idea. The experience of a sporting event does not end at the finish line, and caring for the body after the effort is part of it.

With an open heart, McDonald’s makes its own warm contribution, outfitting the event’s volunteers and offering free meals. It is a generous gesture that restores energy, spreads smiles and adds a touch of care to days full of intensity and emotion.

A steadfast ally of the event, Trace ’n Chase returns once again as Sports Memorabilia Partner, bringing to Santorini Experience the allure of collectible memorabilia that keeps the great moments of sport alive.

Register here for the running and swimming races via more.com

https://www.more.com/gr-el/tickets/sports/santorini-experience-2026/

Premium Mobility Partner of the event is SIXT, member of MOTODYNAMICS Group.

Gold Sponsors of the event are Sandblu Santorini, AESTIAN Philoxenia & Hospitality.

Official Airline Sponsor is SKY express.

Official Trail Running Shoe is The North Face.

Silver Sponsors of the event are Stoiximan, Miele.

Official Water is VIKOS Natural Mineral Water.

Bronze Sponsor of the event is Blue Star Ferries.

Official Technical T-shirt is 42K Running.

Official Travel Agency is Santo Line Tours.

Official Skincare Partner of the event is EMÉNNA.

Partners of the event are OAKBERRY, Bombay Sapphire, Caldera Yachting.

Volunteer Sponsor is McDonald’s.

Official Sports Store of the event is Alafouzos Sport.

Official Supporters are Othen Elemental Aesthetics, Vacation Into Premium, “D. Nomikos” Tomato Industrial Museum, Empiria Group, Lifeguard Patrol.

Jewelry Partner is Spanou Jewelry.

Sports Memorabilia Partner is Trace ’n Chase.

Helpers of the event are Thira Municipal Community, Marilyn Bar Santorini, Health Spot.

Educational Partner of the event is the University of Piraeus.

The following hotels support Santorini Experience: Athina Luxury Suites, Sandblu Santorini, NOŪS Santorini, Empiria Group (Vedema, A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini), Katikies Garden Santorini, Santo Collection Resorts & Villas, Apeiron Blue, Canaves Collection, 270 Oia’s View, Lydia’s House, Coco-Mat Hotel Santorini, Aqua Vista Hotels, Agave Santorini Design Boutique Hotel, Holiday Beach Resort, Meltemi Suites, Meltemi Village, Atlantis Beach, Eteoro Suites Santorini, The Majestic Hotel Santorini (Kord Hotels), Thimari Lodge, Rocabella Santorini, K & K Unique Holiday Homes, Loizos Stylish Residences, Santorini Heart Hotel & Spa, Sea Sound White Katikies, The Muses of Santorini Suites, Kalisti Hotel & Suites, Phaos Santorini Suites, Santo Mangata, Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites, Fanouris Condo, Mon Signor, Epavlis Hotel, Blue Spa Santorini, Golden Grey Goose, Orama Hotel & Spa, Venus Sunrise Suites & Villas, Sienna Eco Resort.

The event will take place under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

Santorini Experience is co-organized by the Municipality of Thira, the Department of Sports and Culture of the Municipality of Thira and ActiveMedia Group.

#SantoriniExperience

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