Jakob Ingebrigtsen: Norwegian Legend Shares Why Sandnes Is Perfect Race City

The world will soon discover a unique running celebration in Norway, blending elite talent, community spirit, and unforgettable festival energy.

Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen is making his hometown, Sandnes, Norway, the road running capital of the world in 2026. Between September 24–26, 2026, the seaside resort town will host RUNFEST 2026, a first-time international running festival uniting elite competition with community celebration.

The festival will welcome the world's top middle-distance stars along with recreational runners of all ages and abilities.

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With 1500m, 5km, 10km, and half marathon race distances on the menu, the festival will make running accessible and not forgettable. It will be produced as a street party with sport, culture, and entertainment on the menu.

"This is a dream that me and my brothers have had for many years," says Ingebrigtsen as quoted by Athletics Weekly.

"Runfest can be a party to the joy of running for young and old. Runfest will be a street run festival as well as a people festival where the world's best runners are part of the event, but where everyone can participate — both novice runners and seasoned runners with many years of experience."

Organisers of RUNFEST 2026 include Team Ingebrigtsen, Spring Runclub, Nike, Fabel Ignite, and Blink Festival organisation.

Together, they hope to create a "three-day folk festival" that will resound far beyond Norway's borders. Registration for the inaugural edition opens on September 26, 2025, at 10 a.m.

More Than Just a Race

To Ingebrigtsen, RUNFEST 2026 is just as much about community as it is about fast times. In bringing together professional runners and hobby runners to share the same platform, he is attempting to promote cross-generational engagement and build a bridge between supporters and professionals.

Running has given me so much, and I hope that we are able to create a race in Sandnes that runners from all around the world talk about and would want to be a part of, and that can inspire even more people to lace up their running shoes next year," he says.

The festival will also offer something more than road racing. Cultural activities, live shows, and food will be woven into the programme to enable visitors to feel Sandnes as well as the sport.

A Festival of Ideas and Inspiration

Adding depth to the celebrations, RUNFEST 2026 will host a professional conference of sport, health, and innovation. Lectures, panel discussions, and debates will touch upon issues of physical and mental health, motivation, social responsibility in sport, and application of innovation for sports development.

The conference will be led by Yngvar Andersen, a foremost campaigner of active living.

With the weight of authenticity of the Ingebrigtsen family, corporate backing from global brands, and the appeal of a Norwegian seaside resort, RUNFEST 2026 is set to be more than just another addition to the racing calendar.

It will be an event that brings together elite level athletic performance with the hospitality of a community celebration — with the added power of one of the sport's most intriguing champions behind them as their patron.