The many faces of running. Today delivered a spectacular show in CityLife with theEnel Family Run and the Arcaplanet Dog Run, followed by a grand finale at Superstudio Maxi for the Milano Running Festival 2026—the marathon village of Milan—which came alive with color, runners, and events.
More than 10,000 participants took part in the family-focused race that kicked off at 9:00 a.m. The approximately 4-kilometer route ran from Via Arona to the Velodromo Maspes Vigorelli, ending in the Family Village, where participants could stroll among the stands of the event’s many partners and discover other sports featured in the program. The initiative was organized in collaboration with local sports clubs and OPES, with whom this highly successful format has been developed over the years.
Saturday afternoon’s pre-marathon event was equally spectacular: a 2-kilometer run/walk designed to celebrate the joy of spending time with your pet while enjoying sport in a fun and engaging way.
“The Dog Run is a key moment for us to connect with our community,” said Monica Gagliardi, Chief Customer Officer of Arcaplanet, Title Sponsor of the Dog Run. “We are committed to actively promoting a culture of well-being that puts the happiness of pet families at its core, through sport and quality time together. Our mission is to support pet parents at every stage of life with their four-legged companions, offering solutions that integrate physical activity, daily care, and the best possible nutrition—because their happiness is our mission.”
More than 50,000 people attended the Milano Running Festival, hosted this year at Superstudio Maxi, over the three days of events from Thursday to Saturday.
All eyes are now on the Wizz Air Milano Marathon and the UniCredit Relay Marathon, organized by RCS Sports & Events – RCS Active Team, which will get underway tomorrow, Sunday, April 12.
“These three days dedicated to sport have made our event even bigger, and the involvement of more than 50,000 visitors demonstrates the strength of this Marathon and of Milan on the global stage,” said Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports & Events. “An event that is increasingly anticipated by runners and enthusiasts alike, with participants from as many as 115 nations set to start tomorrow from Corso Sempione. This is a growing event that continues to drive us to find new solutions, enhancing the format and creating greater opportunities for all the partners who join us on this journey.”
WIZZ AIR MILANO MARATHON 2026 – 8:15 a.m.
Milan is ready to welcome more than 15,000 marathon runners for the 24th edition of its Marathon, setting a new participation record for the individual 42 km race.
65% of participants come from abroad, with the top five represented nations being France (2,735 entrants), the United Kingdom (1,496), Germany (488), Belgium (420), and Ireland (346). Female participation has also increased, now reaching 23%, while the most represented age groups are evenly distributed across 20–29 (27%), 30–39 (28%), and 40–49 (23%).
The race will start at 8:15 a.m. from Corso Sempione and finish in Piazza del Duomo. The course is no longer a loop but a point-to-point route, featuring a refreshed layout that will cross different areas compared to recent editions, making it even more engaging. The first 13 kilometres are entirely new, offering participants the chance to admire some of Milan’s most iconic landmarks while benefiting from a faster and more flowing course.
ASICS is the Technical Partner of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2026, in a collaboration that began in 2022. The company will field its ASICS FrontRunners and Ambassadors in the race and will also be present across the various events leading up to the marathon.
At the front of the race, the official timing vehicles will be the new Fiat Grande Panda, serving as Official Mobility Partner.
Adding to the prestige of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon, there will be numerous cheering points along the course: 51 in total. Highly appreciated by the public and running enthusiasts, these will be located almost every kilometre along the route, offering entertainment, DJs, music, charity activations, and strong support for passing runners. Among them: LILT Monza Brianza at KM 5.4 – Amici di Marco at KM 9.2 – Bocconi University at KM 10.2 – Rete del Dono at KM 15 – Radio KISS KISS (media partner) at KM 16.3 – ASICS at KM 37.8 – Runners Desio at KM 38.2 – RunChallenge at KM 39.5 (Charity of the Year).
At each refreshment point—essential for runners’ hydration and energy replenishment—two volunteers from the “Angeli del Bello / Milano” association will be present to keep the area tidy, working alongside representatives of the involved sports clubs and helping ensure proper waste separation and recycling.
“Milan is ready to run together, transforming its streets into a collective story of energy, determination, and passion, and we at Wizz Air are proud to be Title Sponsor and an active part of the Wizz Air Milan Marathon. For us, this marathon is a tangible expression of what we do every day: connecting people, cities, and countries across Europe, making travel ever more accessible and faster,” said Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air. “There is great anticipation to see Milan come alive and welcome thousands of runners from around the world: a moment in which movement, inclusion, and sharing take shape along every kilometre of the course. It reflects the same spirit that drives our daily work and finds in Italy, and in Milan in particular, a key hub of our growth and our vision of increasingly open, dynamic, and connected mobility.”
SKY SPORT IS THE OFFICIAL BROADCASTER
Sky Sport will broadcast the race with dedicated interviews and in-depth coverage on Sky and via streaming on NOW. Sky Sport Uno (channel 201): 8:05 a.m. – approx. 10:35 a.m. The race coverage will feature commentary by Nicola Roggero and Stefano Baldini, with live studio updates (Federica Frola) until 10:00 a.m. Sky Sport 24 (channel 200): 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. “Buon Weekend,” Sky Sport’s Sunday magazine programme, will be broadcast live on location from Piazza del Duomo, hosted by Federica Frola and Gaia Accoto, alongside guests from the marathon and relay race, as well as Sky guests discussing other sports.
For international audiences, the marathon will also be available on the Milano Marathon YouTube channel with English commentary by Geoff Wightman, as well as on DirecTV (South America) and ESPN (Central America).
UNICREDIT RELAY MARATHON 2026 – 9:15 a.m.
A total of 4,000 teams will take part, representing 16,000 relay runners: a fully booked UniCredit Relay Marathon will also start tomorrow morning from Corso Sempione at 9:15 a.m., with the finish line in Via Palestro. The course follows the official marathon route, divided into four legs. The relay exchange points are as follows: Pagano (13.2 km) / San Siro (8.6 km) / Uruguay (6.9 km) / Palestro (12.1 km).
TOP RUNNERS FOR TOMORROW
Among the contenders for victory in the men’s race, wearing bib number 1 at the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2026, will be Kenyan runner Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei, winner of the 2024 Milan race with a personal best of 2:07:12. Strong expectations are also placed on Ethiopian runner Dinkalem Ayele Adane, who arrives with a personal best of 2:06:43 set in January at the Doha Marathon and is reported to be in excellent form. Another name to watch is Kenyan athlete Vitalis Kibiwott, whose personal best of 2:07:14 was achieved last December at the Mersin Marathon in Turkey. Amos Kiplagat, winner last year in Linz with a PB of 2:07:58, is also among the key contenders. A notable outsider could be Kenyan runner Laban Kiplimo, also in strong condition, who will make his debut at a major international marathon in Milan after a test race in Southeast Asia last year. Many other East African athletes are expected to contribute to a highly competitive and tactically open race.
Italy will be represented by Valdostan athlete Xavier Chevrier, a leading figure in mountain running, who holds a half marathon personal best of 1:01:47. He has chosen the Wizz Air Milano Marathon to demonstrate his ability to perform over the classic marathon distance. In the women’s race, the field is highlighted by Kenyan runner Judith Korir, 2022 World Championships silver medallist in Eugene, where she also set her personal best of 2:18:20. She will be joined by fellow Kenyan Sharon Cherop, a former Boston Marathon winner and a 2:22:28 performer in Berlin. Ethiopian duo Sifan Melaku Demise and Zewditu Aderaw are considered among the athletes in best current form, both targeting a strong performance.
Their compatriots Iddeessaa Eebbisee Addunyaa (PB 2:26:28, winner in Dublin), Yeshii Kalayu Chekole (PB 2:21:17, winner in Mumbai in early 2026), and Sintayehu Tilahun Getahun (PB 2:22:19, second in Milan in 2022) are all strong contenders for the podium. From Kenya, Agnes Keino (PB 2:22:53) and Lydia Simiyu (PB 2:25:10) could also emerge as surprise protagonists of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2026.
Among the many athletes on the start line—professionals and amateurs, 65% of whom are international participants—will also be Andrea Galbiati, President of Monza Marathon Team, wearing bib number 160. Born in 1970, Galbiati is a lawyer who ran his first marathon in Milan in December 2007. Since then, he has completed many editions of the race, including his 40th career marathon, and on Sunday, April 12, he will line up for his 60th. He chose a special bib number—160—to symbolically represent both his first and 60th marathon. He will also wear a special T-shirt reading “60th marathon – then I’ll stop (maybe)” and “Life is a marathon.” “Year after year, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon has grown exponentially,” he said. “I am excited to run once again through the streets of Milan, in an event that has captured the attention of the global running community. When I started running years ago, I never imagined I would get this far.”
TRAFFIC – SUNDAY, APRIL 12: [details https://www.milanomarathon.it/en/traffic/]
From km 0 to km 5: road closures from 7:00 am to 10:30 am;
From km 5.1 to km 10: road closures from 7:30 am to 11:15 am;
From km 10.1 to km 15: road closures from 8:15 am to 12:00 pm;
From km 15.1 to km 20: road closures from 8:30 am to 12:40 pm;
From km 20.1 to km 25: road closures from 8:45 am to 1:20 pm;
From km 25.1 to km 30: road closures from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm;
From km 30.1 to km 35: road closures from 9:00 am to 2:40 pm;
From km 35.1 to km 42: road closures from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Start / Finish Area: closures will be in place from 11:00 pm on Saturday to 12:00 am on Sunday for Corso Sempione; and from 11:00 pm on Saturday to 12:00 am on Sunday for Piazza del Duomo, Via Palestro / Via Marina and Via Manin.
