Riyadh Marathon 2026 Sees Global Participation As First Mega Sports Festival Unfolds In January

The fifth annual Riyadh Marathon will anchor a new mega sports festival at the end of January, according to the Saudi Sports for All Federation. The event will again carry World Athletics Elite Road Race status, confirming its position on the international calendar while drawing local and global runners to the Saudi capital.

Participant numbers have risen sharply since the marathon’s launch. Last year’s edition attracted more than 40,000 male and female runners, compared with roughly 20,000 participants in 2024. This doubling in a single year underlines growing community interest in mass participation running events across Riyadh and the wider Kingdom.

This year’s Riyadh Marathon programme will feature four race distances designed for different abilities. Runners can choose a full marathon of 42 km, a 21 km half marathon, a 10 km race, or a 5 km run. The shortest distance is aimed at families and beginners, supporting participation from every age and fitness level.

The Riyadh Marathon Festival will unfold across an entire week at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. Events are scheduled from 25 to 31 January, with community activities leading into the main race day. The marathon races will close the programme on the final day, turning the campus into a central hub for distance running.

The festival reflects close cooperation between the Saudi Sports for All Federation and several government sports bodies. The Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Athletics Federation are key organisers, while the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the National Events Center help coordinate delivery. These aligned efforts support Saudi Vision 2030 objectives around sport and active lifestyles.

Additional backing comes from key urban and educational partners. Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University provides the main venue, with logistical support from Riyadh Metro and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, alongside several private-sector entities. Together, these institutions contribute to one of the Kingdom’s largest public sporting events, centred on daily physical activity and community inclusion.

The Riyadh Marathon Festival highlights how organised running events are becoming part of everyday life in Saudi Arabia. By combining elite competition with family-friendly races and week-long activities, the festival showcases the Kingdom’s growing sports infrastructure while offering residents and visitors a large-scale platform to engage with health-focused initiatives.

With inputs from SPA