Delhi Half Marathon 2026: Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese headlines elite field, Irine Cheptai to lead women's charge
(Courtesy : Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon)
The event will be held on October 18 (Sunday)
The Delhi Half Marathon 2026 will see a star-studded international elite field take on the 21st edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Sunday, October 18, organisers Procam International announced on Tuesday.
In the men’s field, Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese will headline the elite line-up with a personal best of 58:59, making him the fastest athlete among those announced for this year’s Delhi Half Marathon.
In the women’s field, Kenya’s Irine Cheptai will lead the charge with a personal best of 64:53.
Big prize on offer
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The 21st edition will bring together some of the world’s finest distance runners, who will compete for a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the winner in each category set to receive USD 27,000.
Prize money will be awarded to the 10th-place finisher in both the men’s and women’s categories, alongside separate incentives for the top Indian finishers.
Apart from this, an event-record bonus of USD 12,000 is also in the offing for the elite athlete who betters the previous mark in their category.
Birhanu Legese will be joined by a formidable field of seven men with sub-60-minute personal bests, setting the stage for one of the most competitive men’s races in the event’s history.
Among those looking to win the Challenge Legese is Kenya’s Charles Matata, the 2023 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon runner-up, who also finished second at the Istanbul Half Marathon earlier this year.
Two other leading Ethiopians, Deriba Tesfaye and Melaku Belachew, will add further strength to the field. Both arrive in Delhi in impressive form, with Deriba finishing second at the Rotterdam Marathon and Melaku claiming victory at the Hong Kong Marathon 2026.
“It has always been a pleasure running in the Indian capital. I am doing well and am looking to get into great shape before race day this year,” he added.
Tough task ahead for Irine
In the women’s field, VDHM 2022 winner Kenya’s Irine Cheptai, a Platinum Level athlete with a personal best of 64:53, will have a tough challenge on her hands in Delhi this year.
The women’s field will also feature last year’s silver medallists Ethiopia’s Melal Siyoum Biratu and Kenya’s Cynthia Limo, the 2024 runner-up.
A Kenyan-born athlete competing under the Israeli flag, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter will be another dark horse to watch. Salpeter won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships and has also won multiple medals for Israel at the European Championships.
Speaking about her chances this year, Irine said, “I know there are several young runners who will be competing at the Delhi Half Marathon. But I have the experience of running in Delhi, and I am confident of challenging for the podium and fighting for my second title here.”
Irine Cheptai arrives in Delhi in impressive form, having won the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai in February before finishing sixth at the Boston Marathon. Her recent performances underline her credentials as a strong contender for the title in Delhi.
Vivek Singh, the Joint Managing Director of Procam International, said, “As we step into the third decade of the Delhi Half Marathon, we have witnessed remarkable milestones from record participation and new event records to some of the world’s finest elite athletes making their mark on the Delhi course. Each edition has raised the bar, and this year promises to be no different.
Further adding, “The elite field assembled for the 21st edition is a testament to the stature of the event on the global running calendar. With a highly competitive line-up, we expect every athlete to push their limits, challenge existing benchmarks, and inspire the global running community with performances of the highest order.”
This year’s Half Marathon will feature 36 of the world’s top athletes, who will vie for the men’s and women’s titles, comprising 18 men and 18 women athletes.
When will Delhi Half Marathon 2026 take place?
The race will begin at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, October 18.
What is the prize money on offer at Delhi Half Marathon 2026?
The total prize purse in the event is USD 275,732 (Rs 2.61 crore approx.), with the winner in each category set to receive $27,000 (Rs 25,60 lakh). Prize money will be awarded to the 10th-place finisher in both the men’s and women’s categories, alongside separate incentives for the top Indian finishers. Apart from this, an event-record bonus of $12,000 (Rs 11.38 lakh) is also in the offing for the elite athlete who betters the previous mark in their category.
Which top international athletes will be in action in the Delhi Half Marathon 2026?
Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese is the fastest athlete who will be in action in the elite category. He will be joined by Kenya’s Charles Matata, and fellow Ethiopians Deriba Tesfaye and Melaku Belachew. In the women’s category, Kenya’s Irine Cheptai, Cynthia Limo, Melal Siyoum Biratu of Ethiopia and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter are the top names.
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