AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run, the Midlands’ biggest and most exciting mass-participation running event, returns this May.

Taking place across the first weekend of May, the Great Birmingham Run is a celebration of running for everyone, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities to be part of one unforgettable city-wide sporting weekend.

Fundraising remains a huge part of the Great Birmingham Run’s impact. Since 2017, runners have raised more than £10 million for charity, and participants in 2026 can once again run for causes close to their hearts, supporting life-changing work across the region and beyond.

More than 50 female army veterans from across the country are taking part in this year’s 10K to raise funds for the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association, while a former Birmingham Children’s Hospital baby who now runs half-marathons will be among a string of runners raising money for the hospital, and a police officer who fought his way back to fitness after being seriously injured by a drink driver has also signed up for the half marathon.

But it’s not just adults who are setting the pace when it comes to inspiration. A Birmingham schoolgirl whose parents were told she might not walk when she was born is just one of the incredible children who have signed up for the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Mini Run on Saturday 2 May.

The Great Birmingham Junior and Mini Runs are fun-filled family curtain-raisers that give young runners their own moment in the spotlight, before the iconic 10k and half marathon take centre stage on Sunday.

Entries are open now for both junior and mini events via the Great Run website. Minis (aged 3–8) can take on a 1.5km route, while juniors (aged 9–15) will face a 2.5km challenge at the world-famous Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, the centrepiece of this year’s European Athletics Championships.

Back in the heart of the city on Sunday 3 May, the 10k and half marathon routes will once again showcase Birmingham at its very best. Runners will pass through some of the city’s most-loved locations, including the Jewellery Quarter, St Paul’s Square, the Mailbox, Grand Central, St Martin’s Church, Southside and Digbeth. Half marathon runners will also enjoy the greener sights of south Birmingham, with Cannon Hill Park and Bournville featuring along the route.

The start line at Centenary Square will once again become a carnival of colour, noise and high-fives, framed by the Library of Birmingham, Symphony Hall and the Rep Theatre, as thousands of runners set off supported by packed crowds.

With the New Year underway and the 100-day milestone reached, now is the perfect time to turn good intentions into a clear, achievable goal. Whether you’re training for your first half marathon, stepping up to a 10k, or simply looking for motivation to stay consistent, the Great Birmingham Run offers a powerful reason to lace up and keep going.

To find out more or to sign up for the Great Birmingham Run 10k or half marathon, as well as the Junior and Mini events, visit greatrun.org