Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed that the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival will be the third stop on his ambitious global running project, Eliud’s Running World. The Kenyan icon plans to run marathons across all seven continents over the next two years, aiming to inspire communities and promote unity through running.
The 2026 Melbourne Marathon Festival will take place across two days, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October, bringing one of the sport’s greatest athletes to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier races.
The announcement adds a major international spotlight to the Melbourne event, which attracts tens of thousands of runners annually. Known for its vibrant race atmosphere and iconic finish line inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the festival has steadily built a reputation as one of the most celebrated distance-running events in Oceania. Organisers believe Kipchoge’s participation will elevate the race to new global heights while strengthening Australia’s position on the international marathon calendar.
For Eliud Kipchoge, Melbourne represents more than just another marathon destination. The two-time Olympic champion previously experienced the enthusiasm of Australian fans when he visited the country during the TCS Sydney Marathon in 2025, and he said the passion of the local running community left a lasting impression.
Returning to Australia now offers him the chance to reconnect with runners in Oceania and further spread his message that sport can unite people around the world.
“Running brings people together across all borders,” Kipchoge said while announcing the Melbourne stop of his tour. “I am excited to return to Australia and experience the energy of the Melbourne Marathon Festival. The Australian running community is booming and the passion I experienced here before will stay with me for a lifetime. I saw that Australia is a real outdoor country with a big love for sports. That is why I can’t wait to come back, experience a new part of this great country and run together with the people of Melbourne and all of Oceania.”
As one of the most decorated marathon runners in history, Eliud Kipchoge brings unparalleled star power to the Melbourne Marathon Festival. The Kenyan distance-running icon has won multiple major marathons, claimed Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2020, and famously became the first person to run a marathon distance in under two hours during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019. His involvement is expected to attract global attention from athletes, fans and media alike.
Race organisers say the announcement marks a historic milestone for the event. Marcus Gale, Event Director of the Melbourne Marathon Festival, described Kipchoge’s participation as a landmark moment for Australian distance running. According to Gale, welcoming the world’s most celebrated marathoner to Melbourne highlights the event’s growing international reputation and the strength of Australia’s running culture.
The Melbourne Marathon Festival has grown significantly in recent years, drawing elite athletes and recreational runners from across the globe. The course winds through the heart of Melbourne, showcasing the city’s landmarks before culminating in the dramatic stadium finish at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The event includes multiple race categories, allowing runners of all levels to take part in what has become a major celebration of endurance sport.
Kipchoge’s visit also forms part of a larger vision known as Eliud’s Running World. Through the project, he intends to run a marathon on every continent while spending time with local communities at each destination. The initiative will include cultural exchanges, public runs with fans and community activities designed to encourage healthier lifestyles and greater participation in sport.
Funds raised throughout the project will support the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which focuses on environmental conservation and expanding access to education in underserved communities. By combining elite sport with social impact, Kipchoge hopes to demonstrate how running can bring people together while also contributing to meaningful global change.
With the 2026 Melbourne Marathon Festival now confirmed as the Oceania stop of his world tour, anticipation is already building among runners across Australia and beyond. For the thousands expected to line the streets of Melbourne in October, the chance to run alongside Eliud Kipchoge promises to make the event one of the most memorable chapters in the race’s history.