London Marathon Events (LME) has announced that the 2026 GetPRO Bath Half Marathon, on Sunday 15 March, will host the official British Athletics trial for the 2026 World Athletics Championships Half Marathon.

The 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, over three days in September, with the half marathon concluding the racing on Sunday, 20 September.

Elite athletes who have run faster than 65 minutes (male) and 74 minutes (female) since Monday, 1 January 2024, can apply to be included in the elite field for the trial. Athletes who have run faster than 70 minutes (male) and 83 minutes (female) do not qualify for the elite start but are eligible for a half-price entry to the 2026 GetPRO Bath Half at £28.25.

The Bath Half Marathon was founded in 1982 and is one of the UK’s most prestigious half marathons, with more than 11,000 people completing the 43rd race on 16 March 2025, won by Jake Smith in 62:20 and Abbie Donnelly in 69:54. The 2026 event takes place over the weekend of 14-15 March, with the GetPRO Bath Miles on Saturday 14 March and the GetPRO Bath Half on Sunday 15 March.
 
The GetPRO Bath Half is the largest fundraising event in south-west England, having raised more than £30 million for charity. The flat and fast, traffic-free course starts and finishes in Victoria Park, in front of the Royal Crescent, right in the heart of the UK's only UNESCO World Heritage city. In January 2025, it was announced that GetPRO, the high-energy nutrition brand, would be the title partner until 2027.

Spencer Barden, Head of Elite Athletes at LME, said: “We are delighted the 2026 GetPRO Bath Half Marathon will be the official British Athletics trial race for the next World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon in Copenhagen. The Bath Half has a rich history of hosting the UK’s best distance runners, and I’m sure the prospect of earning international honours will attract the latest generation of talent to the city next March.”

Standard entries for the 2026 GetPRO Bath Half Marathon are available now at £56.50, and charity entries can be picked up for £15, with a minimum fundraising pledge, by visiting the official race entry portal here.

Results and previous reports are at the runABC race listing here.

Images from the 2024 event courtesy of the Bath Half Marathon website