Riyadh Marathon 2026: Dates, Distances & Fees

Runners across the capital are gearing up for the Riyadh Marathon Festival 2026, a community athletics event that will take place from 28 to 31 January 2026 at Mayadeen in Diriyah, drawing youth and amateur participants alongside experienced athletes.

The festival offers four race distances to suit every fitness level: a 5 km fun run, a 10 km race, a 21.1 km half marathon, and the full 42.2 km marathon. Most races start from around 6:00 AM. Registration is handled through the official marathon website at riyadhmarathon.org, with community fees generally ranging from about SAR 62 to SAR 149 depending on the distance.

Based on recent editions, entry prices are roughly SAR 59–62 for the short community run, SAR 79–85 for the 10 km, SAR 109–119 for the half marathon, and around SAR 149 for the full marathon (with some 2026 listings showing a top tier up to SAR 180). Duo and partner registrations, popular among younger and amateur runners entering as pairs, carry discounted rates of around SAR 59, SAR 79 and SAR 109 for the shorter distances.

Free family access

Non-runners are not left out. The festival grounds are open with free entry, no tickets required, on the specified festival days (Thursday and Friday), featuring family-friendly activities and entertainment.

A separate community marathon edition serving youth and amateurs will be held on 31 January 2026 at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in north Riyadh, with the same four categories. Age brackets apply: the 5 km is open to all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult), the 10 km is for those aged 17 and over, the 21 km for 18 and over, and the 42 km for 20 and over.

The events reflect a wider push to encourage fitness and healthy lifestyles, giving residents and families across the Kingdom accessible ways to take part in organised running.

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