The Great Ethiopian Run has opened registration for its 2026 Children’s Races, with 5,000 places available for young runners aged 4–11 as the event continues to build the next generation of participants around Ethiopia’s flagship mass-participation road race.
The Children’s Races will take place on Saturday 21 November, one day before the main 10km race, with three age categories starting from children aged four. This year’s races will move to a new venue at Adey Ababa Stadium in Bole, Addis Ababa.
The launch at the official race hotel, Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, also brought attention to the broader social and community role of the race weekend.
UNICEF, a longstanding Great Ethiopian Run partner, unveiled the message “Protect water, protect every child’s future”, highlighting the connection between children, water security and climate change.
The event also launched the 22nd edition of its annual Run For A Cause fundraising campaign, which this year supports three Ethiopian charities: Alemfre Pink House Cancer Foundation, Fikir Ethiopia National Association on Intellectual Disabilities and Marefia Elder Care and Support.
A further 5,000 charity places are being made available to help boost fundraising, with an online platform allowing supporters to raise funds around the race.
The campaign has become a longstanding part of the Great Ethiopian Run’s contribution beyond the race itself, connecting mass participation with support for local organisations working with communities in need.
“This year we are working even harder to have impact beyond the finish line,” said Great Ethiopian Run Managing Director Dagmawit Amare.
The 2026 programme also includes the introduction of a new training app for the 10km, providing runners with training guidance including advice from Ethiopian distance-running legend Haile Gebrselassie.
The Great Ethiopian Run was established in 2001 and has staged more than 300 races in Ethiopia. Beyond its flagship Addis Ababa event, the organisation says it has been taking races to communities across Ethiopia, developing local event-management capacity and providing operational support and consultancy to races outside Ethiopia and further afield.
The 2026 Great Ethiopian Run 10km will take place on Sunday 22 November in Addis Ababa.
For more information on the Run For A Cause fundraising campaign:
https://www.givengain.com/event/2026-great-ethiopian-run-10km-presented-by-bank-of-america-5231
