Stoke-on-Trent’s iconic Potters ’Arf Marathon is set to return to the city this October, bringing thousands of runners together for one of Staffordshire’s biggest sporting events.

The annual event will take place on Sunday 4 October 2026, with runners, walkers and families invited to take on a range of challenges across the city.

First staged in 2005, the Potters ’Arf has become a much-loved fixture in Stoke-on-Trent’s events calendar. The challenging 13.1-mile half marathon is renowned for its famous ‘Heartbreak Hill’, while the route also gives participants the chance to experience the city with enthusiastic crowds lining the course before the finish in the city centre.

This year’s event will offer something for a range of abilities, with the main Half Marathon joined by a Half Marathon Walk, Half Marathon Relay, Walk Relay and Fun Run for ages five and over. The organisers say the event can accommodate up to 3,000 participants.

The provisional timetable will see the walking events get underway at 8.30am, followed by the Half Marathon and running relay at 9.30am, with the Fun Run starting at 9.45am.

The race is about more than simply completing the course, with participants also raising tens of thousands of pounds for charities and good causes each year. Local charities are encouraging supporters to take part and use the event as an opportunity to fundraise.

The Macari Foundation, which supports people experiencing homelessness across Stoke-on-Trent, is among the charities encouraging people to get involved in this year’s event.

Entries for the 2026 event are currently open, with runners able to sign up at potters-arf.co.uk.