Organizers of the Port Harcourt International Marathon officially announced on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that over 10,000 professional and amateur runners from across West and East Africa are expected to participate in the upcoming 21-kilometer half-marathon scheduled for November 14, 2026.
Speaking during a comprehensive media briefing in the Rivers State capital, the Convener of Port Harcourt To The World (PHTTW), Hon. Goodluck Azunwena, disclosed that the 2026 edition marks a significant transition for the sporting event following a decade of operating predominantly as a domestic competition.
Tagged “The Green Race,” the elevated international edition aims to reposition Port Harcourt as a premier destination for global athletics, urban tourism, and environmental advocacy.
Azunwena explained that the initiative integrates competitive athletics with broad social development goals, specifically aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding good health and well-being (SDG 3), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG 13).
He noted that while previous iterations cumulatively engaged roughly 5,000 registered participants, heightened interest from international running clubs and regional athletic federations prompted organizers to expand entry capacity for the 2026 competition.
Read Also: benfica-sign-former-falconet-winger-floris-sabastin
To build momentum ahead of the November race day, the organizing committee has scheduled a series of pre-marathon community engagements across Rivers State.
These activities include localized fitness drives, citywide environmental cleanup campaigns, tree-planting exercises, an educational School Green Club initiative, and a dedicated Green Symposium focused on sustainable urban planning and environmental protection.
Local sports administrators and business leaders in Port Harcourt welcomed the announcement, highlighting the positive economic impact the influx of foreign athletes, sports officials, and visiting tourists will have on the hospitality, transportation, and retail sectors across Rivers State.
Azunwena assured the public that comprehensive security protocols, traffic control measures, and emergency medical response teams have been coordinated in partnership with state security agencies and health institutions to guarantee a hitch-free event.
The half-marathon represents a decade-long effort by local organizers to reshape international perceptions of Port Harcourt through sports diplomacy and strategic city branding. With registration procedures and official route maps set for release in the coming weeks, the event stands poised to deliver a major athletic showcase for the Niger Delta region.
