By: Tewodros Balcha
Great Ethiopian
Run, Africa’s largest mass-participation road race, is entering a new phase of
growth and digital transformation as it launches an ambitious expansion
strategy aimed at becoming the world’s largest 10-kilometre road race by 2030,
following a landmark partnership with Bank of America as the event’s new
Presenting Partner.
The
announcement marks one of the most significant international partnerships in
the event’s 26-year history and signals a new era focused on increasing
participation, expanding youth engagement, strengthening sport tourism and
modernising the race experience through innovation and technology.
Organisers
confirmed that registration for the 2026 Great Ethiopian Run International
10km, scheduled for 22 November, will increase to a record 60,000 participants,
while the event’s children’s races will expand to 5,000 primary school
participants. In addition, 3,000 free entries will be reserved for graduating
secondary school students to broaden youth participation.
The partnership
also extends to the Women’s First 5km, held annually around International
Women’s Day, where Bank of America will become the Presenting Partner.
Managing
Director Dagmawit Amare said the organisation’s long-term ambition extends
beyond participation numbers.
“Today marks a
new chapter in our journey as we aim to increase the impact of our flagship
race in terms of youth opportunity, sport tourism and local enterprise. We are
excited by the new possibilities opening up through our partnership with Bank
of America and the continued support of our longstanding partners.”
The
organisation has set an objective of becoming the world’s largest 10km road
race within the next five years, positioning Ethiopia’s flagship
mass-participation sporting event among the world’s leading road races.
As part of its
modernisation strategy, the 2026 edition will introduce chip timing for a
section of participants for the first time in the event’s history, alongside
expanded digital registration through the telebirr platform, Ethio Telecom’s
digital financial services ecosystem.
Ethio Telecom,
Ethiopia’s leading telecommunications and digital services provider, is among
the official partners supporting this year’s Great Ethiopian Run. Through
telebirr, its digital financial services platform, the partnership reflects the
growing role of digital technology in improving accessibility, enhancing
participant experiences and supporting the evolution of large-scale sporting
events.
Organisers also
announced an expansion of the annual Run For A Cause fundraising programme
through the GivenGain online platform, enabling participants to raise funds
directly for three Ethiopian beneficiary organisations.
The
announcement reflects broader trends in the commercial development of African
sport, with international corporations increasingly investing in events that
combine community participation, youth development, tourism promotion, social
impact and digital innovation.
Since its
establishment in 2001, Great Ethiopian Run has organised more than 250 races
across Ethiopia and has become one of Africa’s most recognisable sporting
events, attracting participants from Ethiopia and around the world while
showcasing the country’s global reputation in distance running.
The 2026 race
will be held under the theme “My Run, My Color,” highlighting both individual
identity and the diversity of participants who gather annually in Addis Ababa.
In addition to
Bank of America and Ethio Telecom, this year’s partners include UNICEF,
Ethiopian Airlines, the Ministry of Tourism, Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa and
several Ethiopian private-sector companies
