What does the dispute mean for visitors in the south?

Nothing changes for guests in the south of the island for now, as there are no closure times and no exact date for the May 2027 race. The 35th edition takes place in May, according to the broadcaster RTVC, which gives no day.

The dispute concerns the north, where the LZ-10 runs from Teguise through Los Valles and Haría to Arrieta. According to the council, villages there stay cut off for six hours.

The 2026 race shows how long a race day can last on this road. According to the closure plan from the Cabildo and the emergency consortium, the LZ-10 was shut from 09:00 to 17:30 on 23 May, so the council's six hours do not match.

Where the six hours come from is unclear. They may refer to other time windows or to the plans for 2027.

Anyone planning a trip to the north in May 2027 should ask their accommodation early. The official advice for 2026 was to allow much more travel time, expect diversions on the LZ-2 and walk where possible.

Which roads in the north were closed in 2026?

In the centre of Haría, the Cabildo closed seven streets from 10:00 to 15:30 in 2026. They were El Palmeral, La Cilla, La Cruz, María Herrera, Portillo de Bonilla, Santa Bárbara and San Francisco.

The Máguez–Yé link (LZ-201), the LZ-202 and the LZ-203 stayed shut from 10:30 to 16:00. The LZ-1 between Arrieta and Guatiza was closed from 10:00 to 17:00.

The hamlet of Yé was cut off during this time, and the race organisers were to arrange any necessary transport. A diversion to Haría ran via Calle San Juan and the LZ-208 near Trujillo.

What applied in Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife in 2026?

The Avenida de Las Playas in Puerto del Carmen/Tías was closed from 11:00 on Saturday to 01:00 on Sunday in 2026. According to RTVC, Puerto del Carmen remains the centre of the race in 2027.

The LZ-30 between Masdache and La Villa was shut from 08:30 to 18:30. In Playa Honda, closures applied on Camino de Guacimeta from 12:45 to 21:15 and on the main avenue from 13:00 to 21:00.

In Arrecife, the Avenida Secundino Delgado closed from 13:30 to 20:30. The emergency consortium publishes the full list each year at according to the organiser, and the organiser's traffic maps are at the official website.

What does Haría demand and what did the Cabildo reject?

Haría put two changes to the Cabildo (island government), and both were rejected. One was to limit closures to the LZ-10 so that other roads stay open.

The second proposal concerns the start: swimming and the race start would move to Arrieta. That would let the council take a bigger part in the race.

According to Gazette Life, Mayor Alfredo Villalba said shops and restaurants are “also part of the island's economy”. He called it unreasonable to make them bear the consequences year after year without a route change or compensation.

Shops and venues in the north fear losses. There are no compensation measures or new routes so far, and no statement from the Cabildo on the criticism.

Why is this not the first time Haría has objected?

On 5 April 2017, the then mayor Marci Acuña announced he would not accept a repeat of the previous year. Back then Yé and Guinate were fully closed and residents were cut off for about four hours.

According to Acuña, traders in Haría took only around 10% of their usual Saturday takings. He demanded that sporting events be limited and fit with residents' daily lives.

On 25 May 2018, the council said it was fed up with being the main victim of the race. Restaurants had to close on their best day and farmers could not work their fields, and the council demanded a review of the route.

Who organises the race in 2027, and what is still open?

Club La Santa organised Ironman Lanzarote from 1992 and stops doing so from 2027. Who is responsible for the May 2027 race is unclear, as a report of 5 November says the Cabildo takes over.

RTVC reported on 1 September that the IRONMAN Group will organise the race from 2027 together with the Cabildo de Lanzarote, SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, the Gobierno de Canarias (Canary Islands government) and the Tías council. The two accounts could not be reconciled.

The race date, the final route and the closure times are also open. The council did not say whether it plans further steps, such as a council resolution or legal action.

The race consists of a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180.2-kilometre bike ride and a 42.2-kilometre run. The bike course passes through Timanfaya, La Geria, Famara, Haría and the Mirador del Río, with more than 2,500 metres of climbing.