sport
Barcelona Plans 375 Running, Cycling Events Through 2026
The city lines up 375 running and cycling events this year with several headline races already set across the calendar.
How we reported this
Barcelona hosts 375 running and cycling events in 2026 that combine road marathons, urban trails and beach races. This volume of activity gives local runners and visitors a steady schedule of organised starts from early in the year through to December.
Full-Distance Marathons
The Zurich Marató Barcelona covers the full 42.1km distance on March 15 and draws over 20,000 participants. The event forms one of the longest single-day road races on the calendar and requires standard marathon preparation for those who register.
Half-Marathon Focus
The Hyundai Mitja Marató Barcelona is scheduled for February 15 and attracts approximately 30,000 runners over the 21km course. Its timing early in the year allows participants to use it as a build-up race or as a standalone target.
Popular Shorter Races
Cursa El Corte Inglés returns on May 10 for its 46th edition as Barcelona’s most popular free 10km race. The event’s lack of entry fee and central location make it accessible to a wide range of abilities each spring.
Traditional Year-End Races
The historic Cursa de la Mercè, first held in 1978 and recognised as Spain’s oldest popular race, takes place every September. The Cursa dels Nassos follows on December 31 with both 10K and 5K options, providing a final organised run before the year closes.
These dates sit within the larger programme of 375 events that also include urban trails and beach races. The spread across months means runners can select distances and surfaces that match their training cycles without overlapping commitments.
Local runners typically plan around the fixed calendar dates supplied by the organising bodies. Checking registration windows and course maps through the listed sources remains the practical next step for anyone aiming to take part in the remaining 2026 events.