Monte Albán hosts IMSS race finish on 15 November
Published on 10/18/2026 at 04:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Monte Albán and the IMSS Monte Albán race will meet in Oaxaca on 15 November 2026, when the 43rd edition finishes inside the archaeological zone. The event starts in the city at 6.30am and brings a road race to tomb 105 at the ancient Zapotec capital.
The IMSS Monte Albán race reaches tomb 105 on 15 November
The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social has announced the race for Sunday, 15 November 2026. The main 12-kilometre course begins outside Hospital General de Zona number 1 on Calzada Niños Héroes de Chapultepec and ends at tomb 105 in the archaeological zone. A second route of 22 kilometres is also planned.
The event is open across several competition categories, including open, masters, veterans and veterans plus. The organisers have also provided places for athletes using wheelchairs, people with disabilities and active IMSS employees. The date, start time and finish location were presented at an official event briefing. The regional report on the announcement describes the 15 November race details.
The finish gives the competition a direct connection with the archaeological site rather than using the ruins only as a name for the event. A separate report published on 7 October 2026 also confirms the 15 November date, the 6.30am start and the official presentation of the 43rd edition.
Monte Albán links a 2026 race to Zapotec heritage
INAH identifies the site as a major Mesoamerican city founded around 500 BC on a mountain in Oaxaca’s Central Valleys. It served as a Zapotec capital from the beginning of the Common Era until around AD 800, and its population reached about 35,000 at the height of its development.
The archaeological zone includes terraces, plazas, temples and tombs adapted to the mountain landscape. Tomb 105, the race finish, therefore places the sporting event beside one of the site’s named funerary monuments. The official INAH site information records the location, access road and heritage history.
Monte Albán was inscribed together with the Historic Centre of Oaxaca on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The protected archaeological area extends across parts of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca de Juárez, Santa María Atzompa and San Pedro Ixtlahuaca. The race route begins in Oaxaca and climbs towards the same mountain setting that shaped the ancient city.
Visiting Monte Albán: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The IMSS Monte Albán race takes place on 15 November 2026. The main route starts at Hospital General de Zona number 1 in Oaxaca and finishes at tomb 105 inside the archaeological zone.
- The announced start time is 6.30am. The event information confirms the race finish at the site but does not set out separate spectator arrangements or a special visitor entrance.
- Monte Albán lies 8 kilometres west of Oaxaca. INAH directs drivers to the paved Dr Ignacio Bernal road, which crosses the Atoyac River and climbs to the archaeological zone.
- The site stands on a mountain and includes terraces, plazas, temples and tombs. Visitors should expect an archaeological landscape with changes in level and exposed outdoor areas.
- Spanish is the official language of Mexico, and the national currency is the Mexican peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Monte Albán on social platforms
These links open searches for Monte Albán on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Monte Albán
When does the IMSS Monte Albán race take place?
The race is scheduled for 15 November 2026, with the main start at 6.30am and the finish at tomb 105.
Where is Monte Albán and how do you get there?
The archaeological zone is 8 kilometres west of Oaxaca and is reached by the paved Dr Ignacio Bernal road.
What is Monte Albán?
It is an ancient Zapotec capital founded around 500 BC on a mountain in Oaxaca’s Central Valleys and now part of a UNESCO World Heritage property.
