Rimi Riga Marathon News: Aiming to Rank Among Europe’s Top 10 Most Desirable Destinations, Signet Bank Relay Races, Four-Year Medal Cycle

The Rimi Riga Marathon, which plans to bring together a record number of participants – more than 40,000 runners from at least 110 countries – on the streets of Riga on May 16-17, 2026, officially announced on April 9 its goal to become one of the ten most desirable running destinations in Europe over the next four years. This ambitious plan is based on a unique synergy of sports, culture, and the urban environment that is hard to find anywhere else in the world.

A city investment with impressive returns

Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs emphasized that the city’s co-financing, which has been increased to 300,000 euros this year, is a targeted investment in the city’s export capacity and public health.

In the view of the Riga City Council, the Rimi Riga Marathon has two key strengths: social impact and economic contribution. Estimates show that in the last three years alone, the total economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon is estimated at 41 million euros, of which 33.5 million euros have flowed into the national and Riga economies from foreign sources. Every euro the city has invested in the economy over these years has yielded a return of 117 euros. That is a phenomenal return, which is why I believe that not only Riga, but all of Latvia can justifiably be proud that the Baltic region’s most ambitious public sporting event takes place here every year,

noted Viesturs Kleinbergs.

The mayor also added that the marathon helps foster a healthier society, especially among the younger generation:

One-third of the participants in the Rimi Riga Marathon are young people under the age of 18. By investing in the marathon, we are investing in a healthy tomorrow.

Thanks to the city’s support, public transportation will be free for all participants during the marathon weekend upon presentation of their race number.

Riga as a European running destination

Aigars Nords, head of the Rimi Riga Marathon organizing team, emphasized that following its 35th anniversary, the event is entering a new phase, focusing on aspects of quality and participant experience that large metropolitan areas cannot provide.

Our goal is clear: by the 40th anniversary of the marathon in 2030, Riga must become one of the top 10 most desirable running destinations in Europe. We won’t impress the world with crowds of 50,000 on a single course, but we will with a unique experience. We host four World Athletics-level competitions in a single weekend on courses where three world records have been broken.

We present popular sports in a unique Latvian cultural and artistic setting; we have the world’s most ambitious Children’s Day and already one of the largest delegations of foreign runners,

explained Aigars Nords.

The Four-Year Medal Cycle: Collect Your “RĪGA”

One of the most anticipated new features is a unique series of medals created in collaboration with the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA) and the design studio KID Design. Over the next four years, each year’s medal will feature one letter from the word “RĪGA”.

Year 2026: R (Art by Boriss Bērziņš)

Year 2027: I

Year 2028: G

Year 2029: A

We decided that, over the next four-year cycle, the medals will serve as yet another tribute to the city. Each year, participants will receive the next letter of the word “Riga,” adorned with a work by an artist curated by the Latvian National Museum of Art. This will be an additional incentive for runners to return to Riga to build a collection of Latvian art under the city’s name by 2030,

said Aigars Nords.

As previously reported, Boris Bērziņš’s work “In the Waves” has been selected as the artwork for this year’s Rimi Riga Marathon. Māra Lāce, director of the Latvian National Museum of Art, explained:

Boriss Bērziņš was a master of form whose art celebrates the human body in all its diverse forms. This is perfectly in tune with the spirit of popular sports – after all, everyone runs in a marathon, not just elite athletes.

Bērziņš’s masterpiece will adorn not only the medals awarded to finishers in all distance categories, but also the official Nike T-shirts and special Art Series T-shirts (manufactured in Latvia).

Partner Activities and News

Rimi: Focus on the younger generation and team strength

Together with the Rimi Riga Marathon, we have taught thousands of children to run. Rimi Children’s Day has grown from a small event on Esplanāde into a global movement. This year, we’ve set a limit of 10,000 participants, and spots are filling up fast,

said Everita Bičkova, Rimi’s Head of External Communications.

This year will also see the largest School Cup in the event’s history (with more than 7,000 students from 100 schools) and the Rimi Team Cup, in which more than 600 companies will compete.

Elektrum: Energy and Professional Support

Marathons have long since ceased to be just a weekend event; they are now a year-round phenomenon. To ensure runners receive the energy support they need during this long season, together with Jeļena Prokopčuka and Anita Siliņa, we’ve prepared training plans, and on Sundays we meet in Mežaparks, where our traditional training sessions are growing increasingly popular. Our most important task is to set up a European-level finish line on 11 November Embankment so that everyone can feel their maximum power in the final meters of the race,

emphasized Mārtiņš Čakste, Elektrum representative and Chairman of the Board of AS “Latvenergo.”

Spice: The Power of Music and the Atmosphere on the Track

Hundreds of choir singers will once again welcome participants along “Spice Song Alley,” stretching from Meierovica Boulevard to the Freedom Monument. In addition, this year everyone has the opportunity to submit their favorite song that they would like to hear along the route on May 17,

said Iveta Priedīte, manager of the Spice and Spice Life shopping centers, inviting shoppers to Spice during the traditional Medal Week immediately following the Rimi Riga Marathon (with a medal around their neck, of course).

Signet Bank: A New Format – The Relay

Not everyone is ready to tackle the full distance on their own, and goals are often easier to achieve as a team. That’s why, together with the organizers, we’ve introduced relay races for the marathon and half-marathon distances, which you can share with someone. Beach volleyball stars Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Samoilova will start in the 21 km relay, while the Prokopčuku family will take on the 42 km distance. Meanwhile, runners and supporters will be treated to a special mini-concert in the city at one of the race points – a gift to the city, the runners, and the residents from Signet Bank and the band “Carnival Youth,”

explained Ineta Done, a member of Signet Bank’s board of directors.