Milan, March 12, 2026. Olympic Milan is ready to welcome marathon runners from all over the world. Exactly one month from now, on April 12, 2026, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon returns to a city still filled with the spirit of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, where the echo of Italy’s record medal count at Milano Cortina 2026 still resonates.
This will be an edition—the 24th—worthy of such expectations. Presented today in the Sala Alessi of Palazzo Marino, in Piazza della Scala in Milan, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2026 is already historic: registrations have reached 14,000, with a target of 15,000 (compared to 10,250 last year), 65 percent of whom are international participants (versus 56% in the last edition).
Additionally, 16,000 relay runners are expected for 4,000 teams in the UniCredit Relay Marathon, the relay race that divides the 42.195-km official course into four segments, raising funds through the Rete del Dono platform—partner of the project—with a target of 2 million euros (1.8 million in 2025). A major new feature of the Charity Program is that, starting this year, marathon runners—not only relay runners—can contribute to the fundraising efforts by registering through a charity.
Presenting the upcoming edition of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon, organized by RCS Sports & Events, were: Martina Riva, Councillor for Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policies of the City of Milan; Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events; Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports & Events; Tommy Seres, Senior Brand Manager at Wizz Air; Stefano Gallo, Head of Territorial Development at UniCredit; Lucia Magliano, Head of Sponsorship Activation at ENEL; Rosa Giglio, Head of Marketing at BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe; and Antonio Irace, Artistic Coordinator of Radio Kiss Kiss, the new Radio Partner of the marathon.
Moderating the presentation was Cristina Fantoni from La7, who, during the segment dedicated to the Charity Program, involved several ambassadors close to marathoners and relay runners: Rachele Sangiuliano together with Norma Cerletti, known as Norma’sTeaching, for Playmore!; Justine Mattera and Edoardo Stoppa for LILT Milano Monza Brianza; Juliana Moreira for Magica Cleme, introduced by Valeria Vitali, President and Co-Founder of Rete del Dono.
WIZZ AIR MILANO MARATHON 2026 (SUNDAY, APRIL 12 – 8:15 AM)
For the fourth consecutive year, the title sponsor of Milan’s marathon is the airline Wizz Air, the perfect partner for an international-level event such as the Milano Marathon.
The biggest innovation of the 42.195-km race is that the course will no longer be a loop, but a point-to-pointroute: the start will be in Corso Sempione, while the finish line will be in Piazza del Duomo, featuring a renewed layout that touches new areas of the city to make the experience even more engaging.
The first 13 kilometers are brand new, designed to offer participants an even more iconic tour of the city, while also providing a faster route with a start that allows athletes to perform at their best right from the beginning—an essential moment for setting the race pace. Starting from Corso Sempione, another symbolic location of Milan with the Arco della Pace as a backdrop, also allows for better accommodation of all participants and the addition of new services.
As mentioned, all records in terms of registrations and international participation have been broken: registrations have already reached 14,000, with a target of 15,000 one month before the event. 65% are international runners, with the top five represented nations being: France 2,735, United Kingdom 1,496, Germany 488, Belgium 420, Ireland 346
Female participation rises to 23%, and the most represented age groups are evenly distributed among: 20–29 years (27%), 30–39 years (28%), 40–49 years (23%).
Cheering points along the course are increasingly numerous—51 in total—and highly appreciated by residents, running enthusiasts, and athletes. Positioned almost every kilometer, they offer entertainment, DJs, music, and feature many charities as active participants.
ASICS is the Technical Partner of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2026. The collaboration, launched in 2022, includes ASICS FrontRunners and Ambassadors participating in the race and the brand being present at various lead-up events.
Radio Kiss Kiss is the new Radio Partner of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon.
The presentation of the marathon’s Top Runners will take place on Friday afternoon after 3:00 PM at the Village, on the main stage of the Milano Running Festival.
UNICREDIT RELAY MARATHON (SUNDAY, APRIL 12 – 9:15 AM)
For the third consecutive year, the pan-European banking group UniCredit is the Title Sponsor of the relay race, now in its 14th edition, which divides the official 42.195-km course into four segments. A total of 16,000 relay runners are expected, forming 4,000 teams.
Solidarity runs as fast as the athletes: €1,820,000 is the record-breaking fundraising total achieved in the 2025 edition through the Rete del Dono platform, partner of the initiative—an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. These are extraordinary figures for one of the most established social initiatives in the area (launched in 2012), which has now reached a total of €8.8 million raised over the years.
The goal for 2026 is to reach €2 million. Starting this year, the Charity Program is also open to marathon runners—not only relay runners—who can contribute to the fundraising effort by registering through an official program charity.
There will be 140 official charities participating in the fundraising project, 37 more than in 2025. With the aim of making the program increasingly inclusive—encouraging both marathon runners and relay runners to support charity projects, increasing total fundraising, and stimulating personal fundraising—the number of participating organizations was expanded from 103 in 2025 to 140 in 2026.
PlayMore! is the Charity of the Year, with its RunChallenge project: committed to promoting sport in all its forms, with a strong focus on inclusion, economic and physical accessibility, and the enhancement of both physical and mental well-being, as well as social cohesion.
Among the charities is also “Humana People to People Italia”, focused on sustainability thanks to its ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the event while enhancing its social value. This year, in addition to the clothing collection during the event, and in collaboration with Rete del Dono, other organizations have been involved to allow them to collect clothing at their locations in the weeks leading up to the event.
MILANO RUNNING FESTIVAL (THURSDAY TO SATURDAY)
The Milano Running Festival will take place in a new location, Superstudio Maxi, in Via Moncucco 15. The program is currently being finalized.
ENEL FAMILY RUN (SATURDAY, APRIL 11 – FROM 9:00 AM)
The Family Run remains in CityLife, with the finish line—just like last year—located at the Maspes-Vigorelli Velodrome. Enel is the new Title Sponsor of the event, which engages families, children, and adults in a day dedicated to sport and togetherness.
This partnership highlights the energy group’s strong commitment to Italian sport. The energy of movement, teamwork, and sustainability are values that Enel is particularly connected to.
ARCAPLANET DOG RUN (SATURDAY, APRIL 11 – 3:00 PM)
Also in CityLife, the Dog Run returns: the non-competitive walk/run with four-legged friends is part of the Milano Running Festival program and will take place on Saturday afternoon.
PARTNERS
Comune di Milano, Regione Lombardia, CONI, FIDAL.
Wizz Air (Title Sponsor), UniCredit (Title Sponsor Relay & Top Sponsor Milano Marathon), Enel (Title Sponsor Family Run & Top Sponsor Milano Marathon), Arcaplanet (Title Sponsor Dog Run), ASICS (Technical Partner), Best Western (Premium Partner), Superstudio (Hosting Partner – Milano Running Festival), Pro Action (Sport Nutrition Partner), Festina (Official Timekeeper), Fiat (Official Mobility Partner), Decathlon (Official Retail Partner), Curasept (Official Partner), Acqua Vera (Official Mineral Water), Felicetti (Official Supplier), Dole (Official Supplier), Oakberry (Official Supplier), Honda (Official Moto), Rinascente (Official Supplier), Radio Kiss Kiss (Official Radio), Pietrasanta Pharma (Live Partner), Frùttolo (Official Partner – Family Run), Calypso (Official Timekeeper – Family Run).
Charity of the Year 2026: PlayMore! with the RunChallenge project.
STATEMENTS
Martina Riva, Councillor for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies of the City of Milan:
“The Milano Marathon is the international sporting event that has been held in our city for the greatest number of consecutive years. Over time, it has allowed us to build expertise and develop a new way of thinking about and organizing major sporting events, while also managing the logistical complexities involved. It is an extraordinary event, capable of filling the city with color and embodying values that are at the heart of the Administration’s mission: attention to sustainability, involvement of families and young people, and support for solidarity and charity.
It is important for us that Milan continues to operate at its best even during major events like the marathon, in line with the quality and efficiency that characterize our city. My favorite snapshot of the Milano Marathon is the Vigorelli with the Family Run: an image that represents grassroots sport and our commitment to making sport an increasingly essential part of the growth and development of girls and boys.”
Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events:
“I am particularly proud of the work done over the past years. The number of runners worldwide is growing significantly, but we have made a major contribution to the growth of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon. This year again, we have created a very fast and entirely new course, which touches some of the most beautiful spots in the city—from the Arco della Pace to Piazza del Duomo.
Fifteen thousand participants in the marathon: four years ago, it seemed like a dream. Our next goal is to exceed twenty thousand. Milan has proven with the Games that it is an extremely well-organized city, and twenty thousand runners would be an exceptional milestone for our marathon. It will be an incredible celebration for the city: we have prepared a fantastic program of events, which in addition to the marathon includes the UniCredit Relay Marathon, the Enel Family Run, the Arcaplanet Dog Run, and an even richer Milano Running Festival.”
Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports & Events:
“Year after year, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon confirms itself as an increasingly international event. For this edition, as of today, we have 115 nations represented at the start—a figure that adds to the record number of international participants.
It is a growing event, which has led us to identify a new starting location: for the first time, the marathon will begin from Corso Sempione, with the Arco della Pace as a backdrop. As always, the participation of charities in the UniCredit Relay Marathon is outstanding, and we hope to set a new fundraising record.”
Tommy Seres, Senior Brand Manager at Wizz Air:
“Running is one of the most universal ways to experience a metropolis: it brings together people from different countries, backgrounds, and stories, all united by the same streets and the same energy. Milan perfectly embodies this spirit.
In recent years, Northern Italy has increasingly established itself as a reference point for international sport—a trajectory further strengthened by the success of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which confirmed the region’s role as a major European stage for sporting events.
For Wizz Air, supporting the Wizz Air Milano Marathon means celebrating this vibrant sporting culture while helping make it accessible to people from across Europe. Every flight we operate brings runners, supporters, and travelers closer to experiences like this: moments where sport, travel, and discovery come together in a truly unique way.”
Stefano Gallo, Head of Territorial Development at UniCredit:
“UniCredit proudly renews its support for the Relay Marathon, an event that brings together sport and solidarity. Our role as Title Sponsor stems from our commitment to creating value for the community, supporting the non-profit sector, and promoting initiatives that make sport a driver of inclusion. Through the contribution of the Ethical Card Fund and the dedication of our employees, we strengthen the social impact of this special day.”
Rosa Giglio, Head of Marketing, BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe:
“Being a Premium Partner of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon is a great source of pride for us. Sport represents values deeply aligned with our approach to hospitality: commitment, determination, and attention to detail.
With our sport-friendly hotels, we want to offer runners from all over the world flexible hospitality and dedicated services, supporting them in the best possible way throughout their race experience and their stay in Milan.”
Antonio Irace, Artistic Coordinator at Radio Kiss Kiss:
“Being the Official Radio of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon is a tremendous honor for us. This year, moreover, this partnership is even more meaningful, as Radio Kiss Kiss celebrates its 50th anniversary: half a century of radio, music, and entertainment, but above all, half a century close to people.
We couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate this milestone than by doing so within an event like the Milano Marathon, which—just like the radio—places people’s energy, togetherness, and community spirit at its core.
Today, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon is much more than a sporting competition: it is a grand Running Festival capable of uniting sport, entertainment, charity, and the local community. And it is precisely this inclusive and participatory spirit that resonates deeply with our identity.”
