From October 2nd to 4th, 2026, the Rock Master in Arco celebrates four decades of competition history. Among those competing are Adam Ondra, Stefano Ghisolfi, Jessica Pilz, and Laura Rogora. The guest list includes Lynn Hill, Yuji Hirayama, François Legrand, and Muriel Sarkany.
Since 1986, Arco, on the northern shore of Lake Garda, has been a fixture on the international sport climbing calendar – back then under the name "Sport Roccia." Forty years later, the town in Garda Trentino is synonymous with climbing worldwide like few other places. To mark the anniversary, the organizers have now announced the first seven athletes who will compete in the Climbing Stadium at the beginning of October.
Ondra leads the field
The field of participants is led by Adam Ondra. The Czech climber secured his eighth Rock Master title in 2025, surpassing Ramón Julián Puigblanque as the record holder. Ondra is now also an official ambassador for the event. Also confirmed are the two Italians Stefano Ghisolfi and Filip Schenk, as well as the German Yannick Flohé, who won in Arco in 2024 and 2025. Ghisolfi, the 2021 Lead World Cup winner, now lives in Arco and has close ties to the region's crags: he established and made the first ascents of two of Italy's most difficult routes, "Erbor" (9b) and "Excalibur" (9b+), both located in Garda Trentino. Schenk recently made headlines with his ascent of "Erebor" (9b) and reached the final of the Lead Duel at the last Rock Master.
Strong field of women
The women's field is also top-notch: Austrian Jessica Pilz, the 2024 Rock Master champion, will face Italian Laura Rogora and German up-and-coming athlete Anna Maria Apel. Rogora made history in 2025 when she became the first woman in the world to onsight a route graded 8c+. Apel, born in 2005, won two bronze medals at the last Rock Master.
A total of 16 athletes will compete – eight women and eight men. More names are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The legends return
To mark the anniversary, numerous prominent figures in the climbing world are returning to Arco as guests of honor. Among those expected are Lynn Hill – the women's record holder with five victories and the first person to free climb "The Nose" on El Capitan in a single day – two-time Lead World Cup winner and two-time Rock Master winner Yuji Hirayama, Muriel Sarkany (five-time overall Lead World Cup winner), François Legrand (five overall World Cup wins, four Rock Master titles), as well as Didier Raboutou and Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou.
The sport has changed, but the love for climbing has remained the same. Seeing my daughter Brooke climbing on the same wall where I myself experienced unforgettable moments is something very special.
Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou
Hirayama recalls the early days: Rock Master is the "birthplace of sport climbing as we know it today"—a place where the best climbers of the time gathered in the 1990s. For Erbesfield-Raboutou, the event is also a family affair: Her daughter Brooke climbs the same wall where she herself experienced her greatest moments. "Rock Master connects generations of climbers," says the American.
Vertical Legacy 1986–2026
To mark the anniversary, the exhibition "Vertical Legacy 1986–2026" transforms Arco's old town into an open-air gallery with 14 installations from September to October 4th. Historical photographs and memorabilia trace the development of the event from "Sport Roccia" to the present day. During the Rock Master, the exhibition continues in the Climbing Village with videos, posters, and additional exhibits.
More than a competition
Rock Master has long since become a festival for the entire climbing community. Besides the competitions, visitors can expect an expo area with manufacturers and brands, workshops, lectures, meet & greets with the athletes, and an anniversary aperitivo. There will also be yoga sessions against a rock backdrop and the usual opportunities to try out equipment. No climbing experience is necessary.
Rock Master as a festival: Expo area and meeting point in the Climbing Village, interactive challenges at the booths, yoga sessions under the cliffs of Arco, and packed stands at the foot of the wall. | Images: Garda Dolomiti / Crimp Films & Emiliano Villani
Want even more atmosphere?
You might be interested in:
- Rock Master 2025: Three days of vertical thrills in Arco
- Will Bosi is the second to climb the route Excalibur (9b+) in Arco
- Brooke Raboutou is the first woman to climb 9b+ | Excalibur
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Credits: Cover image: Emiliano Villani