Running is one of the most popular sports in the UK. Its continued popularity is being driven by strong growth in event participation, the proliferation of social run clubs, and flourishing interest
from younger generations. Corroborating this, a running report from SportsShoes.com indicates that as of early 2025, 27% of the UK population runs one to three times a week, a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
The National Running Show is the UK’s leading running exhibition. A mandatory fixture in the community calendar, the award-winning event has seen incremental growth since its inception in 2018. The inaugural show at the NEC, Birmingham attracted approximately 70 exhibitors and 12,000 visitors. As of 2025, those figures now exceed 250 brands and over 30,000 visitors across two-days.
In 2026, the home of runners The National Running Show will take place on the weekend of 31st January to 1st February in Halls 17 & 18 of the NEC, Birmingham from 9am to 5pm. Perfectly
scheduled for runners to test out equipment, tech and nutrition and plan for the year ahead. Plus hear from and speak to running legends and community leaders, for motivation, education and more.
The Box Office opens at 8am on Thursday 25th September. To celebrate the box office launch there
are limited tickets available at just £5 using the code ‘LAUNCH’. After this, tickets will be priced at £18 per day, or £25 for a weekend ticket. With consistent high demand each year for the Show,
prospective visitors are advised to secure tickets early to avoid disappointment.
The speaker line-up revealed so far includes a rousing mix of running heroes. From Olympians to pop-rock stars, race directors to run podcasters and running legends to community leaders. The stages and spaces will be graced by speakers from a range of disciplines and distances sharing their passion and experiences, whilst inspiring runners to achieve their own goals.
The enviable line-up for The National Running Show 2026 also includes track and field running
legend Carl Lewis, who enjoyed unparalleled success during his illustrious career in the 1980s and 90s. Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship titles across the 100m, 200m, and long jump events. At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, Carl became the third track-and- field athlete to win four gold medals in a single Games, achieving this in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay.
These stars will be joined by one of Britain’s most accomplished athletes, Laura Muir. The Scottish middle and long-distance runner is an Olympic silver medallist, having reached the podium at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
Phily Bowden, a British pro-runner also joins the 2026 line-up. Phily is widely known not just for her sporting achievements, but as a successful online content creator. Currently training to compete at the LA 2028 Olympics, Phily has already represented Great Britain across many events. Her outstanding performance at the Berlin Marathon in 2024 meant that she recorded one of the fastest marathons ever by a British woman, clocking 2:25:47. Currently on her way to hitting 200k YouTube
subscribers, Phily shares unique and raw insights on her channel, documenting the real life of a pro runner, from training to injuries and disappointment to euphoria.
Returning to the Show is the ever popular running legend Dean Karnazes. The ‘ultramarathon man’ is known for pushing boundaries of human endurance. Dean is a New York Times best-selling author who has competed in and been victorious in some of the toughest races in the world. He has raced and competed on all seven continents, and once ran 50 marathons, in all 50 of the US states, in 50 consecutive days. Among his many accolades was being named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Swapping arena stages for a running one, is pop-rock star Harry Judd. Best known as the
drummer for the British pop-rock band McFly, who are currently touring the UK and Ireland, Harry is an avid runner and passionate about the sport. He has multiple marathons on his running CV, which includes London Marathon numerous times and Amsterdam Marathon in 2024, where he set a PB of 3:10:38. Having represented important causes such as The Children’s Trust, Harry has openly
discussed the mental health benefits of running, sharing his own experience and how it has provided balance in his life, particularly during challenging times.
Returning hosts Susie Chan and Iwan Thomas MBE will be leading proceedings over the two days on The Inspiration Stage – sponsored by Great Run Company, SportsShoes.com and High 5. A further
plethora of athletes and celebrities ready to keep crowds captivated across various stages and spaces include Aimee Fuller, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Jenni Falconer, Anna Harding, Roger Black, Eugene Amo-Dadzie, Holly Stables and many more!
Beyond the stages and speakers, The National Running Show allows running enthusiasts to interact with leading brands . Visitors can absorb knowledge and advice from industry experts and review
latest tech, gear and nutrition. Interactive areas and sessions include a running skills theatre, pilates studio, gait analysis, massages and all-important meet and greet areas to get those fan photos. Also returning in 2026 is the Travelator – sponsored by Skechers, the engaging and competitive fun
feature consistently draws the crowds and this time there will be opportunities to win prizes. The Trail and Ultra stage, sponsored by Erdinger Alkoholfrei and 13 Valleys will feature eminent
speakers from the world of ultra and trail running, with workshops, panels and insightful chats.
Continuing the organisers consistent support, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity will again be The National Running Show’s official charity partner. Beyond the Show, members of the Raccoon Media Group team undertake a wide range of initiatives during the year, showing continued commitment to the charity. Notable challenges in 2025 have included CEO Mike Seaman and Managing Director Nathalie Davies climbing Kilimanjaro at the start of 2025, raising almost £10k in the process. Whilst in August, a team of Raccoons undertook a mammoth challenge with members Nathalie Davies, Hannah Hopwood, Chloe Hyland, Jo Tyler, Annie Bennett and Sophie Ferrier, plus honorary Raccoon Rebecca Kilvington completing a SheRaces ultramarathon trek through the Peak District, raising in excess of £5,000.
Commenting on The National Running Show Hannah Hopwood, Marketing Director Europe said: “This is our award-winning flagship event and each year we review how we can improve, whilst still ensuring that the community is at the heart of everything we do. Meaningful work and important conversations happen behind the scenes throughout the year to understand how the needs and trends in the running industry are changing and how we can use the opportunity of The National
Running Show to thrill, inform and motivate tens of thousands of visitors who come from all over the UK and beyond. We already have an exciting line-up of speakers and features planned for 2026, with more to be announced, so keep an eye on our digital channels for the latest information…”
