The 47th edition of the Matagalls-Montserrat hike will break with tradition this September: health restrictions triggered by an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) have forced organizers to move the finish line to Matadepera. For the first time since the event began in 1972, participants will not reach the iconic Montserrat monastery. That marks a impressive change for one of Catalonia’s best-known endurance events.
The Club Excursionista de Gràcia, which oversees the annual march, confirmed that the finish will be at the Club Deportiu Terrassa Hockey facilities in Matadepera, around the 58th kilometer of the usual 84-kilometer route. The decision follows a Generalitat de Catalunya order prohibiting access to sections of the traditional path over biosecurity concerns. The European Commission’s Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2371 also classifies Matadepera and Terrassa, along with other municipalities in the area, within ASF-restricted zones. The regulation establishes geographic disease-control classifications; the route change follows the Generalitat’s access restrictions. Organizers said they reviewed multiple alternatives, but none would allow a safe or logistically feasible arrival at Montserrat under the current restrictions.
The club said all alternative routes considered would either have significantly extended the distance or created logistical challenges that could not be resolved within the available timeframe. It said the new solution prioritizes safety and compliance with health measures. The event is scheduled for September 19 and 20, with the maximum time allowed to complete the shortened course reduced to 16 hours.
The outbreak response has involved continuing restrictions on access to the natural environment, along with searches for carcasses and measures to control wild-boar numbers. Authorities have also installed fencing and controlled access. The Generalitat mobilized 1,007 personnel during the week covered by its October update. These actions form part of a wider containment operation, relevant to an endurance hike crossing wooded and peri-urban areas under disease-control restrictions.
The first case in the current Catalan outbreak was detected on November 28, 2025. By the October 22, 2026 update, authorities had analyzed 14,496 samples: 419 tested positive and 14,077 negative. The positive findings were associated with wild-boar remains estimated to be one to five months old. Authorities also reported 13,684 total captures since the response began, while maintaining restrictions on access to natural areas.
By October 23, Catalonia had recorded 77 notified outbreaks involving 419 ASF-positive wild boar across 13 municipalities. Those municipalities included Terrassa, Rubí, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sabadell and Barcelona. The reported total comprised three basic and 74 secondary outbreaks. Recent detections involved carcass remains found within the delimited restricted area, and authorities captured 308 wild boar there during the latest week covered. The update also reported 11,990 captured or culled animals without clinical symptoms. No cases had been detected in domestic pig holdings in the available October reporting.
Participants are urged to check for updates and download the latest official documentation before the event. The organization is revising the route and event logistics, including timing and arrangements for checkpoints and refreshment stations. The club has said the change is intended to be temporary and will affect only the 2026 edition. It plans to restore the traditional Montserrat finish as soon as health authorities permit.
More than 3,000 people have already registered for this year’s event, a sign of the Matagalls-Montserrat challenge’s enduring popularity despite the unprecedented changes. Organizers acknowledged the symbolic importance of reaching Montserrat and said they decided to alter the finish only after exhausting all other options.
This disruption to a longstanding Catalan tradition comes amid heightened scrutiny of regional authorities following other recent incidents affecting public events and data collection. For example, the region’s handling of the PISA education assessment was recently called into question after a sampling error, as detailed in a recent report on Catalonia’s education data challenges.
The African swine fever outbreak has prompted strict movement controls in affected areas as Spain and other European countries seek to contain the disease and protect livestock industries. The Matagalls-Montserrat hike is primarily a sporting and cultural event, but its forced rerouting shows how animal-health measures can affect community life and regional traditions. Organizers and participants are awaiting further guidance from health authorities on future editions.
