Event Program
10 OCTOBER 2026
The Ariane Cross is the annual flagship foot race for space companies. This year, the event will be held in the vibrant city of Milan, bringing together around 720 participants from the space industry for a unique combination of sport, networking and celebration.
The event begins on Friday, 9 October, with the team captains’ briefing, followed by the main running events on Saturday morning, 10 October. After the races, participants will enjoy a large picnic before having a free afternoon to relax, visit Milan or discover the city at their own pace. The day will culminate with the Ariane Cross Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony at the historic Palazzo del Ghiaccio.
PROGRAM DETAILS
4 distances are proposed
- 10 km individual race
- 5 km individual race
- 2.5 km individual race
- 6 km relay, split into 4 legs of 1.5 km each
As this is a cross-country race, there may be some minor difficulties with gradients.
The 2.5 km and relay courses are fast.
Only runners who have taken part in one of the individual races may take part in the relay.
FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER – CAPTAINS’ BRIEFING
18:30 – Captains’ Briefing
The teams’ captains are invited to a briefing meeting at:
Palazzo del Ghiaccio – Via Giovanni Battista Piranesi 14, 20137 Milano, Italy
The briefing meeting will cover:
- The detailed event programme, with a clear reminder of all cut-off times
- Transportation and meeting points
- Race routes, highlighting key terrain details and difficulty levels
- Venues, including race areas, guided visits and evening events
- Useful maps
- Essential contact numbers and the event WhatsApp group
At the end of the briefing, each participant will receive their race bib, event T-shirt and event bag.
Inside the event bag, participants will also find a wristband, provided in one of two colours:
-
Blue wristband – for participants following a standard diet -
Orange wristband – for participants who have reported allergies, food intolerances, or a vegetarian/vegan diet
Please put on your wristband before the race. You will also need it to collect your lunch box.
Please remember to keep your wristband and bring it with you to the evening event at Palazzo del Ghiaccio. The wristband will be used as an access control system and will be essential for identifying participants and ensuring access to the evening event.
For participants who have indicated an allergy, food intolerance or dietary restriction, please place your orange wristband visibly in front of you on the table during the gala dinner. This will allow our staff to
quickly identify guests with specific dietary requirements and ensure that they receive the appropriate meal.
IMPORTANT: Please allow time and material for last-minute distance changes.
At the end of the briefing, participants are invited to join us for a light aperitif at Palazzo del Ghiaccio.
SATURDAY, 10 OCTOBER – MORNING
Race location
Parco Nord Milano
Via Massimo Gorki, 100
20092 Cinisello Balsamo (Milan), Italy
Runners should arrive between 60 and 30 minutes before their chosen race.
Race schedule
09:00–10:30
10 km individual race
10:30–11:30
5 km individual race
11:30–12:00
2.5 km individual race
12:00–12:30
Relay race
12:30–14:00 – Picnic
After the races, comfort! A picnic will be proposed between 12:30 and 14:00.
Participants will receive their lunch box and enjoy the picnic on site.
SATURDAY, 10 OCTOBER – AFTERNOON
Saturday afternoon is free, giving you maximum flexibility to spend your time exactly as you wish.
Whether you want to rest at your hotel, visit Italy’s largest science and technology museum, or explore Milan using our recommended city-guide apps, the city is yours to discover!
MUSEO NAZIONALE DELLA SCIENZA E DELLA TECNOLOGIA LEONARDO DA VINCI
Visit the official museum website
Address: Via San Vittore 21, 20123 Milano, Italy
Opening hours: 09:30–18:30
Last entry: 16:30
Visits can be planned for both Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets: If you selected the museum visit during registration, your entrance ticket will be included in the goodie bag handed out by your team captain.
CITY TOUR
If you prefer to explore the city at your own pace, you can discover Milan using dedicated mobile apps. These tools offer detailed insights, suggested itineraries and fully customisable routes tailored to your schedule.
USEFUL APPS TO GET AROUND MILAN
ATM Milano Official App – Public Transport (Free)
The official app of Milan’s public transport network, useful for buying digital metro and bus tickets, checking schedules in real time and calculating routes.
BikeMi – Official Bike Sharing App (Free)
Easily unlock bikes at hundreds of stations throughout the city.
SATURDAY, 10 OCTOBER – EVENING
Ariane Cross Gala Dinner – Palazzo del Ghiaccio
We are pleased to welcome you to Palazzo del Ghiaccio for the Ariane Cross Gala Dinner.
Address:
Via Giovanni Battista Piranesi 14, 20137 Milano (MI), Italy
Originally built in 1923 as the largest covered ice rink in Europe, this historic venue has been masterfully restored into an elegant, multifunctional space. Combining Liberty-style architecture with modern design, it offers a grand and unforgettable setting for the Ariane Cross Gala Dinner.
How to reach Palazzo del Ghiaccio
Palazzo del Ghiaccio can easily be reached by train, metro, bus, tram or on foot, depending on your starting point in Milan.
Nearest public transport:
- Train: Milano Porta Vittoria (S1, S2, S5, S6, S12, S13) – approximately 2–5 minutes on foot
- Metro M4: Susa – approximately 10–12 minutes on foot
- Metro M1: Porta Venezia – approximately 10–12 minutes on foot
- Bus: 90, 91, 93 and 54
- Tram / Trolleybus: 12, 27, 90, 91 and 93
Getting there tip: Porta Vittoria is the closest train station and the most convenient option if you arrive by suburban rail. If you prefer the underground, both Metro M4 (Susa) and Metro M1 (Porta Venezia) are approximately a 10–12-minute walk away. Local buses and trams also provide flexible connections from across Milan.
PROGRAMME OF THE NIGHT
18:30 – Arrival at Palazzo del Ghiaccio
18:30–20:00 – Welcome Aperitif
Welcome to the Ariane Cross Gala! Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while meeting fellow participants in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere.
20:00–23:00 – Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony
A refined dinner featuring Milanese and international specialties, combined with the Ariane Cross Award Ceremony.
23:00–23:15 – Announcement of the Winning Team & Reveal of the Ariane Cross 2027 Host Location
Discover the winning team of the 2026 Ariane Cross and the destination that will host the next edition!
23:15–02:00 – Dance Party & DJ Set
Continue the evening with music, dancing and a DJ set.
RETURN TO HOTELS
No shuttle service is provided at the end of the evening. We recommend choosing a hotel near Palazzo del Ghiaccio.
Those staying elsewhere will need to arrange their return independently after the event.
GETTING A TAXI IN MILAN
There are several ways to book a taxi in Milan.
By phone
Call one of the main taxi companies:
- Radio Taxi Milano: +39 02 8585
- Taxi Blu: +39 02 4040
- Samarcanda Taxi: +39 02 6969
Via mobile apps
- Free Now – widely used, allows you to book in advance, track your driver and pay by card.
- ItTaxi – official app connecting passengers with licensed taxis in Milan.
- Uber – operates with Uber Black or Uber Comfort, with licensed cars and slightly higher fares.
SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER
Do as you please!
The Ariane Cross officially concludes after the Saturday evening celebrations. Sunday is free for participants to relax, explore Milan or depart according to their travel plans.