No to Two Mitja Races in 2026

Lack of Consensus

Formentera, May 29, 2025

The Consell Insular of Formentera has decided not to move forward with the idea of holding two editions of the Mitja Marató next year. The proposal, which was publicly presented on May 14, has ultimately been dismissed due to a lack of consensus among the various sectors involved.

The decision was made following a meeting of the Comissió Insular d’Ordenació i Promoció Turística (COPT), held on Wednesday, April 28 at the Consell headquarters. The meeting was attended by representatives of the island’s main political groups, as well as social, sports, and economic stakeholders.

Everyone agreed on the importance of ensuring decision-making through consensus, especially on matters that impact both social life and the island’s tourism development.

Although the dual event aimed to increase runner participation and boost the local economy during that time of year, the lack of agreement among social and business sectors led the Consell to prioritize cohesion by rejecting the proposal.

A Proposal Without Much Support

The measure presented by the president of the Consell Insular and supported by members of his governing team failed to gain equal support across the island’s social sectors. In particular, the majority of local athletes clearly opposed the idea.

As a result, a meeting of the Comissió Insular d’Ordenació i Promoció Turística de Formentera (COPT) was called, with representatives from PSOE, Gent per Formentera, Grup Esportiu Espalmador, the Hotel Federation, the Pimef business association, the UGT union, and the Chamber of Commerce in attendance. Each group expressed its stance on the proposal and agreed on the need for stronger agreements when making decisions of such importance.

Consensus on Formentera’s Tourism Model

The island’s governing institutions continue to support a sustainable tourism model, and the Consell has emphasized that any steps toward modifying the events calendar on the island must have broad support from both the public and the local productive sectors.

For this reason, the proposal to schedule two Mitja Marató races on two consecutive weekends in 2026 is ultimately being ruled out. At the same time, Consell representatives have made it clear that they will continue working to improve and expand Formentera’s sporting and tourism opportunities—always guided by dialogue, consensus, and respect for the island’s balance.