More runners than ever before will take to the streets of Newcastle this Sunday, 5 July, for the AJ Bell Great North 10K. The North East’s biggest and best 10K event will welcome 13,000 runners, transforming the city in a celebration of community, determination and achievement.
With participation continuing to grow year on year organisers are delighted to increase the number of places from 10,000 last year so more runners than ever can take part. And with less than 100 places available, there’s just about time to join the region’s fastest growing running event.
Anna Thompson, Event Director, said, ‘The AJ Bell Great North 10K is more popular than ever, with 2026 set to be our biggest event yet. It’s a fantastic reflection of the passion for running in the North East and how the running community is really getting behind this event.
Starting and finishing on Great North Road, the route takes in the city centre and showcases some of Newcastle’s most famous landmarks, including Greys Monument, the iconic Tyne Bridge, and many more,
From the first stride to the finish line, runners will be powered by incredible North East support, with tens of thousands of spectators, live music zones, charity cheer points and entertainment zones, creating an electric atmosphere around the course. The celebrations continue at the finish as runners receive their finisher medal and t-shirt, and enjoy the finish line DJ and live music in the event village on the Town Moor.
The AJ Bell Great North 10K also marks the start of an exciting summer of running in the North East, with thousands using the event as the perfect stepping stone for building towards September’s AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday 13 September.
2026 sees a continuation of the event’s partnership with Newcastle United Foundation, with hundreds of runners joining the much-loved Black & White Wave to raise vital funds to support life-changing education, employability, sport and wellbeing programmes across the North East.
Newcastle College will also have a large presence at the event, with hundreds of participants set to take part in the ‘Blue Wave’, and College volunteers supporting activity across the day.
This year’s AJ Bell Great North 10K features hundreds of inspiring runners taking on the challenge for causes close to their hearts, celebrating personal milestones and supporting charities that make a real difference.
Nafis, 41, from Newcastle only discovered running after turning 40. Having never previously run more than 2.5km on a treadmill, he credits the inspirational Great Run community and Newcastle’s unique event atmosphere for motivating him to take on his first Great North 10k.
Andrew, 28, from Bedlington is running to prove that determination can overcome adversity. After suffering a serious knee injury in 2020, Andrew underwent surgery and was told he would never play sport or take part in strenuous activity again. Refusing to accept that prognosis, he’s now taking on the Great North 10k to show that with resilience and belief, anything is possible.
Hayley, 42, from Middlewich will be running just under two years after undergoing life-saving open heart surgery to repair a large hole in her heart. She’s taking on the Great North 10k to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and to celebrate how far she has come since her operation.
If you can’t make it to the streets of Newcastle to cheer on runners in person, then check out the live stream on the Great Run YouTube channel, and join tens of thousands of people who are expected to tune in to watch the action unfold.
