The Almería Half Marathon, in its 2026 edition, is shaping up to be a major sporting event, marking a milestone in its 27th anniversary. The race has successfully sold out all available slots, reaching 5,000 bibs distributed across various categories: 3,000 for the 21-kilometer race, 1,500 for the 10-kilometer Healthy Race, and 500 for the Children's Race.
This increase in participation, from 4,200 to 5,000 runners, highlights the growing interest in the event. Organizers estimate that the economic impact on the capital of Almería will exceed 2 million euros, largely driven by the influx of athletes from outside the province. 11% of registered participants come from other regions of Spain, 23% from the other Andalusian provinces, and 35% from the capital itself, while the remaining 29% are from the province of Almería. Furthermore, the presence of athletes from 16 different nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Canada, and the United States, gives the competition an international character.
“"The participation data is excellent for this year, increasing from 20% to 36% of people coming from other provinces, who will be accompanied by their families and friends, and will spend money in the city."
The official presentation of the event took place in the Plaza de las Velas, attended by prominent figures such as the mayor of Almería, María del Mar Vázquez; the delegate of the Andalusian Government, Aránzazu Martín; and the deputy for Sports, María Luisa Cruz. Also present were Javier Bervel, from Grupo Nexal 2020, La Legión captain Jorge López Tejada, and María González, president of the Almería Parkinson's Association (APAL), the beneficiary organization of this year's charity edition.
The route, which runs alongside the Mediterranean Sea, is known for being flat and fast, with an accumulated elevation gain of only 42 meters, making it attractive for runners looking to improve their personal bests. The event, once again dubbed the 'Blue Event', will feature a 'Fan Zone by Cajamar' and seven animation points along the circuit. The established schedules are: the children's race on Saturday at 5:30 PM, and on Sunday, the Half Marathon at 8:30 AM, followed by the Healthy Race at 9:00 AM. All starts and finishes will be located in front of the Palacio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. Additionally, a Runners Community with a free training program has been launched since the beginning of the year.
