2029 European Athletics Championships in Utrecht, with Utrecht Science Park as the sporting hub

The European Running Championships are unique because they are a European championship for everyone. Recreational runners compete in the same race as the top runners competing for medals! In addition to the magical marathon, the event also includes a half marathon and a 10-kilometre race.

Following the huge success of the first edition last April in Brussels-Leuven, with more than 28,500 participants and 180,000 spectators over two days, the next edition is planned for Belgrade, Serbia, on 17 and 18 April 2027. After that, the Netherlands will be the host country.

In 2029, the event will be organised by Golazo Events – the organisation behind the Utrecht Marathon – in collaboration with the Athletics Union and the Municipality of Utrecht.

Wilbert Lek, Managing Director of Golazo Events: ‘We are extremely proud to be organising the European Running Championships in 2029. For one time only, the Utrecht Marathon will be transformed into the European Running Championships! This fits in perfectly with our ambition to get as many people as possible moving and to combine international top-level sport with social impact. We want to show Europe how fantastic the province of Utrecht is as a running environment, with Utrecht Science Park as its sporting centre!”

Pieke de Zwart, General Director of the Athletics Union: ‘After the very successful European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn earlier this year, we are keen to bring more top international events to the Netherlands. We are therefore delighted to be organising the European Running Championships in Utrecht in 2029. This unique international running event brings together both top athletes and recreational runners and demonstrates our mission to get people moving and keep them moving in a responsible way, thereby becoming the most athletic country in the world.’

European Athletics President, Dobromir Karamarinov: ‘Utrecht and the Netherlands have been selected to host the third edition of the European Running Championships in 2029 for one simple reason: in the Netherlands, everything revolves around running! Whether it’s a marathon, half marathon or 10 km, we see people falling in love with running and we expect the city of Utrecht to become the European capital of running. Utrecht Marathon will surpass itself with the ambition to welcome 40,000 runners from all over Europe to this unique championship edition in 2029.’

Eva Oosters, alderwoman for sport for the Municipality of Utrecht: ‘Utrecht has been a real running city for years, with great events such as the Singelloop and the Utrecht Marathon. I am proud that we are bringing the European Running Championships to our city in 2029. This championship is special because both top athletes and recreational runners participate together. That fits in well with what we consider important in Utrecht: that everyone can participate in sport. We want to inspire the people of Utrecht to exercise and meet each other through sport. Utrecht has the knowledge, energy and urban dynamism to make this championship an unforgettable and unifying European sporting event.

Christian Milz, CEO of European Athletics: ‘The successful launch of the European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven this year has shown that it has a winning format for mass participants and top athletes. Our national federations and running organisations across Europe see the potential of this new European athletics event. With Belgrade hosting in 2027 and now Utrecht in 2029, we have two prestigious locations to look forward to and see a long-term future for this event as a celebration of athletics and running for the whole of Europe – a real opportunity to run with champions.”