Barcelona is set to host over 50 athletic races throughout 2026, offering a full calendar of events for runners of all ages and abilities. The year will start with the Moritz Sant Antoni Race and conclude, as is traditional, with the Cursa dels Nassos on 31 December, according to betevé.
May and November are typically the busiest months for races, but events are organised year-round. The calendar includes major competitions such as the Barcelona Half Marathon and the Barcelona Marathon, alongside smaller, community-focused runs and charity events.
Many races offer unique routes and support various causes. For instance, the Solidària The Bosco Run raises funds for the Comunitats en Xarxa project, which provides academic support, snacks, and leisure activities for children in the Sarrià – Sant Gervasi district.
Key Races and Highlights
The Moritz Sant Antoni Race, held early in the year, introduced a new circuit within Park Güell for its 2026 edition, making it a unique challenge. Participants can choose between one or two laps of a demanding course. In 2026, Sergi Baquero and Camila de Jesús won the short race, while Cristina Solé and Víctor Francis took the long race.
The Cursa dels Nassos, or 'Race of Noses', traditionally closes the year on 31 December. This event features two distances, 5 km and 10 km. The 5 km race in 2026 will be valid for the Catalan Championship, with winners crowned champions. The 2025 edition saw Pol Espinosa and Marta Galimany win the main event, and over 6,300 runners participated in the Milla Miops, supported by the Official College of Opticians Optometrists of Catalonia.
Marathons and University Challenges
The Barcelona Half Marathon in 2026 was historic, with Ethiopia's Hagos Gebrhiwet winning the men's race. Loice Chemnung set a new course record in the women's category, finishing in 1:04:01.
Leading up to the full marathon, the Breakfast Run allows participants to experience the final kilometres of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Marathon route, finishing at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The Kids Race, held 24 hours before the main marathon, offers different categories and routes for children aged four to 15.
The Barcelona Marathon itself passes through 25 of the city's 73 neighbourhoods, including Sants, Les Corts, Vila Olímpica del Poblenou, Navas, and Sagrada Família. The 2026 women's race saw Fotyen Tesfay Haiylu achieve the second-best time in history, while Abel Chelangat was the fastest in the men's category.
Charity and Community Runs
Several races combine sport with social causes. The Cursa Científica Hospital de Sant Pau, with a limited entry of 250 runners, takes place within the Modernist Sant Pau site. Alejandro Rodríguez and Nuria Cascante were the 2026 winners.
The Cursa El Corte Inglés is known for being Barcelona's most popular mass participation event, attracting over 40,000 runners in 2025. Its proceeds in 2025 supported the Xana Foundation, which provides assistance to children and young people affected by serious illnesses and their families. Artur Bossy and Douae Ouboukir won the 2025 race.
The Cursa Solidària Navas is a family-friendly race starting at Plaça de Ferran Reyes, 2. It includes a 2.5 km option for adults and various categories for children and young people, along with family activities. All proceeds support the educational projects of the NGO Bosco Global in Togo.
New and Themed Races
New for 2026, the Nou Barris competition will feature both 5 km and 10 km routes. In 2025, Bilal Ziadi and Ainhara Peñafiel won the long distance, while David Lombrana and Helena Díez won the 5 km race.
The Cursa Vall d’Hebron, first held in 2024 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, is open to runners and walkers. The 5 km circuit, with a children's option, starts and finishes on Avinguda de Martí Codolar. All funds raised in 2026 will go towards oncological research at Vall d’Hebron (VHIO).
The 'En marxa contra el càncer – Deichmann Km x Tothom' race, organised by the Association Against Cancer in Barcelona, takes place at Port de Barcelona. It includes 5 km and 2 km walk options, as well as children's races. Agustín Sánchez and Estel Mosquera won in 2024.
The Cursa Antiracista, first run in 2025, is supported by around 50 social entities and migrant groups, including the Top Manta collective. Held in the Sants-Montjuïc district, where street vendors have their textile workshop, the 5 km route starts near the Magic Fountain, ascends Avinguda de l'Estadi to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and Palau Sant Jordi, and descends via Carrer dels Jocs Olímpics del 92. Martí Gutiérrez and Ramatoulie Kruball were the 2025 winners.
Barcelona's extensive race calendar for 2026 highlights the city's commitment to sport and community engagement. Organisers will continue to update dates, times, routes, and registration information throughout the year, ensuring a dynamic programme for participants.
