Ahmedabad Marathon Joins World Athletics Calendar for 2026
Adani Ahmedabad Marathon Earns World Athletics Listing Ahead of 10th Edition
Ahmedabad’s annual marathon will enter its 10th edition with a new place on the international athletics calendar. The Adani Ahmedabad Marathon, scheduled for November 29, 2026, has been listed as a Road Running Label event on the World Athletics Global Calendar.
The listing gives the race a stronger link to the international road-running circuit. Performances recorded at the event can be considered for World Athletics Rankings, provided they meet the governing body’s rules on course measurement, race conduct and officially ratified results.
For elite runners, that distinction matters. World Athletics says road-running performances must come from competitions conducted under its rules and from certified road courses to be considered for world rankings. Its 2026 ranking system combines an athlete’s result with points awarded for finishing position.
The Ahmedabad race now appears on the same global calendar that includes recognised road races in cities such as Florence, Bangkok, Kolkata and Milan on November 29. The World Athletics calendar classifies the Ahmedabad event as a Road Running Label race.
The development comes after years of growth for the event. The marathon began in 2017 and has steadily built a large base of recreational and competitive runners in Gujarat. Its ninth edition, held on November 30, 2025, drew more than 24,000 participants, according to the organisers. The event includes a full marathon, half marathon and 10K races.
That scale has changed the character of race day in Ahmedabad. Roads around the Sabarmati Riverfront become the setting for a large public sporting event, with runners joined by families, volunteers and supporters. The growth from a few thousand runners in its early years to more than 24,000 participants in the latest edition also reflects the wider rise of organised distance running in Indian cities.
The marathon has carried another message through its #Run4OurSoldiers campaign. Since its early editions, the initiative has linked the race with the Indian Armed Forces, with participants using the event to recognise the courage, service and sacrifice of soldiers.
That association will continue during the 10th edition. For many participants, the event is a personal fitness challenge, while the Armed Forces connection gives the race a public cause around which the city can gather.
The World Athletics listing also places greater attention on the technical side of the race. Course measurement and certification are important because World Athletics requires road performances used for rankings to come from eligible courses. Race organisers also have to meet rules covering competition procedures and the reporting and ratification of results.
The timing of the announcement is significant for Ahmedabad. The city is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games after Commonwealth Sport confirmed Ahmedabad as the host of the centenary edition in November 2025. The 2030 Games are expected to feature between 15 and 17 sports, with athletics and para athletics already among the confirmed sports.
The Commonwealth Games decision has placed Ahmedabad in a new phase of preparation for major international sport. The marathon’s inclusion on the World Athletics calendar adds another recognised athletics event to the city’s sporting record.
For runners, the practical change will be felt most clearly by those competing at the front of the field. A performance at an eligible World Athletics road race can form part of an athlete’s ranking record. The 2026 rules require marathon runners to collect at least two performance scores for an event ranking, with at least one coming from the marathon main event.
For Ahmedabad, the November 29 race will therefore carry two stories. One concerns the thousands of people who turn up to run through the city. The other concerns the growing number of events that bring international sporting standards to Gujarat.
Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, said, “Being part of the World Athletics Global Calendar is a proud moment for everyone who has made this marathon what it is today, from the runners and volunteers to the Armed Forces personnel who run alongside us. This recognition validates the standards we have built, including course certification, runner safety, timing systems and elite athlete management. Ahmedabad celebrates this marathon as a festival, with people from every neighbourhood coming onto the streets together. As we head into our 10th edition, we remain committed to giving this city a race worthy of this recognition.”
The 10th edition will take place on November 29, 2026. By then, the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon will have completed a decade since its first race in 2017, with participation having grown from a few thousand runners to more than 24,000 at its most recent edition.
The World Athletics listing gives the anniversary a new competitive dimension. It also gives Ahmedabad another date on the international athletics calendar as the city moves towards the much larger task of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
For a city preparing for its next chapter in international sport, the road to 2030 now includes a marathon with a recognised place on the world athletics calendar.
