SLIEMA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Running Europe Tour 2026 was officially unveiled in Malta on Tuesday, marking the launch of a new international road running circuit that will span five countries, five major events and nearly eight months of competition across Europe.
Designed to merge elite sport with tourism and cultural promotion, the inaugural edition of the tour is expected to attract around 30,000 athletes. The circuit will run from 22 February to 18 October 2026, taking participants through Malta, Greece, Italy, Poland and Sicily in what organisers describe as a “borderless European sporting journey.”
The tour will open on Sunday, 22 February, with the 41st LifeStar Malta Marathon, a flagship event featuring the marathon, half marathon and 5-kilometre races. Long regarded as a key winter destination for international runners, Malta will once again serve as the starting point for a global road running season.
The second leg moves to Greece on 5 April with the Kallithea Run in Athens. The event will include 10 km, 5 km and 2.5 km races, with both the start and finish located in Davaki Square, at the heart of the Kallithea district, offering a fast, urban course set against the backdrop of the Greek capital.
Italy will host the third stage on Saturday, 16 May, with Corriamo verso Montecassino. Scheduled to start at 5:00 pm, the FIDAL-certified 10 km race combines 1.5 km of flat running with an 8.5 km uphill climb, culminating in front of the historic Abbey of Montecassino, one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks.
The tour’s fourth stop will be in Poland, where the Running Europe Tour arrives in Warsaw on Saturday, 3 October. The Biegnij Warszawo 10 km race, starting at noon in the city centre, is one of the country’s most established and well-attended running events, drawing thousands of participants each year.
The circuit will conclude in Sicily on Sunday, 18 October, with the 13th Palermo International Half Marathon. The final event will feature a half marathon, 10 km and 5 km races, finishing along the Mondello beachfront, providing a scenic Mediterranean setting for the tour’s grand finale.
Beyond competition, the Running Europe Tour introduces a recognition system aimed at rewarding consistency and participation. Athletes who complete at least three of the five events will be honoured during the Palermo race. Participants finishing three races will receive the Gold award, four races the Platinum award, and those completing all five events will earn the Diamond Running Europe Tour award.
“The Running Europe Tour aims to become a benchmark format on the European scene,” the organisers said. “It connects major events, territories and running communities, using sport as a universal language and a powerful tool for dialogue among peoples.”
With its mix of elite-level racing, mass participation and cultural destinations, the Running Europe Tour 2026 positions itself as a new chapter in Europe’s road running landscape, uniting athletes across borders through a shared passion for the sport.
LifeStar Malta Marathon eyes records and global spotlight in 2026
With more than 4,000 runners already registered and projections exceeding 6,000 participants by race day, the Malta Marathon is on course to break its all-time participation record. Organisers anticipate over 3,500 international runners, particularly from the United Kingdom, Poland and Ireland, underlining the event’s growing stature as one of Europe’s leading road races and a significant driver of sports tourism.
The marathon will start from Mdina at 6:45am with a five-hour time limit, followed by the Half Marathon and the “Endo” Walkathon at 8:15am. The 5K Charity Run & Walk will begin in Sliema at 7:10am, while the programme will conclude with the Kids 1.5K Race at 8:20am in the finish area.
Beyond record participation, organisers highlighted their ambition to elevate the competitive level of the event. Elite international athletes are being targeted with the explicit goal of challenging and potentially breaking existing course records.
“The growth of the Malta Marathon is not only about numbers,” said race director Joe Micallef. “Our goal is to raise the competitive level year after year. For the 41st edition we are targeting elite athletes who can genuinely challenge the course records, taking advantage of a route and climate that are ideal for fast racing.”
LifeStar president Paolo Catalfamo, representing the event’s main sponsor, said the marathon has become a strong platform linking sport, health and tourism. “Investing in quality and elite performance is key to further enhancing the race’s prestige and its impact on Malta,” he said.
Event manager Nando Sorbello, who leads elite athlete recruitment, reinforced the technical vision behind the 2026 edition. “Our focus is on bringing athletes of absolute international value to the start line,” he said. “The objective is clear: to raise the overall competitive standard of the Malta Marathon.”
The marathon continues to enjoy strong institutional backing from the Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Malta and the Italian Chamber of Commerce, which view the event as a cultural and economic bridge between the two countries.
Vincenzo Catalano, president of the Comites of Malta, described the race as an annual milestone strengthening historic ties between Italy and Malta, while also announcing the return of the NOMA 2026 Prize alongside the marathon.
Media exposure will reach new heights in 2026. Malta’s national broadcaster will provide more than four hours of live coverage for the third consecutive year, following the race from the early-morning start in Mdina to the finish in Sliema. For the first time, the event will also be broadcast live in Italy, with TeleRadio del Mediterraneo deploying its own production team to cover the race.
With record numbers, elite ambitions and unprecedented international exposure, the 41st LifeStar Malta Marathon is shaping up as a defining chapter in the event’s history.
– photo LifeStar Malta Marathon press office –
(ITALPRESS).
