The Durham City Run Festival returns from 16 to 18 July 2026 as the popular North East event celebrates its 10th anniversary with another midsummer weekend of racing through the historic streets of Durham.

Organised by Events of the North in partnership with Durham County Council, the festival once again centres around the popular 5K and 10K evening races on Thursday night. Both events start near the Radisson Blu Hotel before taking runners through Durham city centre, along the River Wear and past some of the city’s best known landmarks before finishing beneath the spectacular backdrop of Durham Cathedral and Castle.

The event has become one of the North East’s standout summer races thanks to its unique city centre setting and lively atmosphere around the route. Narrow cobbled streets, riverside sections and packed spectator areas combine to create a very different feel from a standard road race, with the cathedral dominating the skyline throughout much of the course.

Alongside the main races, the festival weekend also includes Paula’s Families on Track on Saturday, bringing teams and families together for a relay style event at Durham Racecourse. Fancy dress, shorter lap options and family activities continue to make it one of the more accessible parts of the weekend programme.

One of the major attractions for runners remains the finish area at Palace Green beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site cathedral and castle. The city centre atmosphere and iconic backdrop help give the Durham City Run Festival a distinctive identity within the UK running calendar and continue to attract runners of all abilities each summer.

Early bird entries are currently available ahead of the 2026 return, with organisers expecting strong demand as the event marks a decade since the first Durham City Run took place in 2016.

You can enter via njuko here.

Image courtesy Events of the North.