{"id":7820,"date":"2026-05-20T16:54:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/press-release-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T17:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:05:17","slug":"press-release-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/press-release-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Press Release 2026<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Planicare’s Douro Half Marathon exceeds 20,000 registrations and reinforces the region’s sporting, tourist and economic impact<\/h2>

The 19th edition brings together 8,279 athletes in the 21K Half Marathon, more than 12,000 participants in the Walk and representatives of 58 nationalities. Bernardo Rocha and M\u00f3nica Silva return to the Douro to defend the titles they won in 2025.<\/p>

Peso da R\u00e9gua, May 20, 2026.<\/strong> The 19th Planicare Douro Valley Half Marathon is preparing to once again transform the Douro into one of the country’s biggest running venues. The 2026 edition will have more than 20,000 entrants, split between the 21K Half Marathon and the Walk, confirming the sporting, tourist, economic and popular strength of one of the most emblematic races on the Portuguese calendar.<\/p>

Scheduled for May 24, 2026, the race once again affirms its position as “The Most Beautiful Race in the World”, bringing together competition, hiking, tourism, landscape and emotion in a territory recognized worldwide for its identity, heritage and visual strength.<\/p>

The 21K Half Marathon has 8,279 registered runners, consolidating its position as one of the country’s major distance races. The Walk exceeds 12,000 participants, taking on an exceptional popular dimension and reinforcing the family, inclusive and community nature of the event.<\/p>

The international dimension remains equally important, with 1,057 foreign participants and 58 nationalities represented. Brazil is the foreign country with the largest presence, with 434 participants, followed by Spain, with 116, and France, with 103. This representation confirms the growing projection of the Douro as a destination for running, active tourism and territorial experiences.<\/p>

An event with a direct impact on the territory<\/h3>

More than a road race, the Planicare Douro Half Marathon is a territorial event. It mobilizes athletes, walkers, companions, technical teams, partners, sponsors, institutions, volunteers, tour operators, hotels, restaurants, local businesses and public bodies, creating an impact that goes far beyond the sporting dimension.<\/p>

Throughout the weekend, the event generates direct demand for accommodation, restaurants, transport, commerce, tourist services and local experiences, contributing to the economic dynamism of the region and promoting the Douro as a national and international destination. The event also plays an important role in combating seasonal tourism, by attracting thousands of visitors outside the traditional periods of greatest tourist pressure.<\/p>

The connection to the landscape, the river, the wine, the culture and the local hospitality makes the Planicare Douro Half Marathon a privileged showcase for the region. The route, experienced between the banks of the Douro and the surrounding vineyards, promotes a strong image of the region and reinforces the Douro’s position as a destination of excellence for sport, leisure, active tourism and authentic experiences.<\/p>

The organization estimates that the event will generate a direct economic impact of over 5 million euros, with particularly significant effects on hotels, restaurants, local businesses, transport, tourist services and media promotion of the region. This impact is magnified by the presence of more than 20,000 registrants, by the companions who travel to the region and by the national and digital media coverage associated with the event.<\/p>

Peso da R\u00e9gua, Lamego and Armamar at the center of territorial projection<\/h3>

The 2026 edition once again puts the Douro Wine Region at the center of national attention. The event will take place in a region with a strong heritage and tourist value, directly involving the municipalities of Peso da R\u00e9gua, Lamego and Armamar, with Peso da R\u00e9gua playing a central role in the operation, reception and participant experience.<\/p>

The Douro Museum is a reference point for welcoming athletes, while the Baga\u00faste Dam and Avenida do Douro stand out as key moments in the sporting day. This link between symbolic sites, natural heritage and the race experience reinforces the identity of the event and its value for the region.<\/p>

The Planicare Douro Half Marathon also contributes to the promotion of endogenous products, the enhancement of the cultural landscape and the affirmation of the interior as a stage for major national events. By attracting participants from 58 nationalities, the race brings the name of the Douro to thousands of athletes and visitors, generating exposure that continues before, during and after the event through television, press, social networks, photography, video and content generated by the participants themselves.<\/p>

Walk with a social and community dimension<\/h3>

The Walk, with more than 12,000 participants, is one of the most popular expressions of the 2026 edition. This massive turnout reinforces community involvement and transforms the event into a celebration open to families, groups of friends, institutions, companies and participants of all ages.<\/p>

The strength of the Walk demonstrates that the Planicare Douro Half Marathon is not limited to the competitive world. It is also a project of collective participation, public health, social cohesion and emotional attachment to the territory.<\/p>

This grassroots dimension is particularly relevant to the region because it creates a direct link between residents, visitors, local institutions and the event itself. The Douro is not just a backdrop. It is an active part of the experience.<\/p>

Defending champions return to the Douro<\/h3>

The 2026 edition will also have strong competitive interest, with the presence of several leading names from the Portuguese fund.<\/p>

In the men’s section, Bernardo Rocha, a Salgueiros athlete and winner of the 2025 Douro Half Marathon, stands out. The defending champion returns to defend his victory after a season marked by great competitive consistency. With internal benchmarks of 1:04:32 in the half marathon, 29:10.65 in the 10,000 meters and the title of absolute national champion in the 10,000 meters in 2025, Bernardo Rocha arrives in the Douro as one of the central names in the race.<\/p>

Also among the leading candidates is Lu\u00eds Saraiva, an athlete from Vit\u00f3ria Sport Clube, with benchmarks of 1:02:47 in the half marathon, 28:40 in the 10 km and 2:13:51 in the marathon. A Portuguese international, he represented Portugal at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships and was part of the national team at the Munich 2022 Europeans. He is one of the Portuguese athletes with the best recent record on the road.<\/p>

Another name in the spotlight is F\u00e1bio Oliveira, from CA Macedo de Cavaleiros. Winner of the Gaia 2025 Half Marathon in 1:04:36, he also has references of 2:14:51 in the marathon and 29:50 in the 10 km road race. He is a complete athlete, competitive over long distances and capable of challenging for the top spots.<\/p>

Rui Teixeira, from AD Vila Ch\u00e3 do Mar\u00e3o, adds to the men’s list. A Portuguese cross-country international, with appearances at the World and European Championships, he has a long, high-level career in cross-country, road, cross-country and trail running. With an internal benchmark of 1:03:16 in the half marathon, he arrives in the Douro as one of the most experienced and respected athletes in the squad.<\/p>

Elite women with Olympians, internationals and defending winners<\/h3>

In the women’s section, the presence of M\u00f3nica Silva, a CA Macedo de Cavaleiros athlete and winner of the 2025 edition, is one of the highlights. With a time of 1:11:37 in the half marathon, a mark she achieved in Valencia in 2024, and 34:36 in the 10 km road race, M\u00f3nica Silva returns to the Douro as one of the strongest Portuguese athletes in the distance today.<\/p>

The race will also feature Carla Salom\u00e9 Rocha, an Adidas athlete, Olympian and Portuguese international. A former Sporting athlete, she placed 8th in the 2019 London Marathon with 2:24:47, one of the great Portuguese marathon marks. She competed in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 European Championships and the 2017 World Championships, and returned to the national team for the Rome 2024 Europeans, in the half marathon. His presence reinforces the competitive status of the race.<\/p>

Another name of enormous importance is Sara Catarina Ribeiro, an Olympian in the marathon at the Tokyo Games and a medal winner at the 2011 European Under-23 Championships in the 10,000 meters. With internal benchmarks of 2:26:39 in the marathon, 32:21.19 in the 10,000 meters and 15:51.05 in the 5,000 meters, Sara Catarina Ribeiro brings to the Douro international experience and competitive ability in various distances.<\/p>

Among the contenders for the top spots is Beira-Mar’s Carla Martinho, winner of the 2025 Gaia Half Marathon in 1:14:10. With a strong track record at the national level, a reference on the road and a long competitive career, Carla Martinho arrives in the Douro as one of the most competitive veteran athletes in the country.<\/p>

A mass event with sporting, tourist and community value<\/h3>

The Planicare Douro Half Marathon stands out for its ability to bring together very different audiences in the same event. On the one hand, a 21K Half Marathon with a strong competitive edge and athletes of national and international renown. On the other, a Walk with more than 12,000 participants, which turns the event into a celebration open to the community, families, groups, companies and visitors.<\/p>

This dual dimension is one of the distinguishing marks of the race. The 2026 edition will once again show that the Douro is not just a stage for competition, but also a place for experiences, socializing, tourism, economic promotion and popular participation.<\/p>

With more than 20,000 entrants, 58 nationalities represented, an estimated direct economic impact of more than 5 million euros and a reinforced competitive squad, the Planicare Douro Vinhateiro Half Marathon is confirmed as an anchor event for the region and as one of the great national showcases for running in Portugal.<\/p>

Key figures from the 2026 edition<\/h3>
  • More than 20,000 subscribers in total<\/li>
  • 8,279 runners in the 21K Half Marathon<\/li>
  • More than 12,000 participants in the Walk<\/li>
  • 1,057 foreign participants<\/li>
  • 58 nationalities represented<\/li>
  • 434 participants from Brazil, the most represented foreign country<\/li>
  • 116 participants from Spain<\/li>
  • 103 participants from France<\/li>
  • Estimated direct economic impact of over 5 million euros<\/li>
  • Peso da R\u00e9gua, Lamego and Armamar directly linked to the race territory<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Planicare’s Douro Half Marathon exceeds 20,000 registrations and reinforces the region’s sporting, tourist and economic impact The 19th edition brings together 8,279 athletes in the 21K Half Marathon, more than 12,000 participants in the Walk and representatives of 58 nationalities. Bernardo Rocha and M\u00f3nica Silva return to the Douro to defend the titles they won […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7820","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7820"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7832,"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7820\/revisions\/7832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/douro-half-marathon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}