This weekend, the streets of East London came alive as the HOKA Hackney Half headlined the HOKA Hackney Moves festival, marking the beginning of a new era for London’s biggest and most in-demand half marathon.
More than 27,000 runners signed up for the sold-out event on Sunday 17 May, with participants experiencing the electric atmosphere that defines Hackney, passing iconic landmarks including Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, Hackney Wick and Victoria Park, before finishing in front of roaring crowds at Hackney Marshes.
HOKA Hackney Half was officially started by Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, while the HOKA Hackney 5k was started by Cllr Dylan Law, Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Cabinet Member for Safer Homes and Housing Services.
The first finisher for the HOKA Hackney Half was Sam Tyas (01:06:35), followed by Chris Bruchhausen (01:07:09) and Oliver Way (01:07:29). Ciara Boyd-Squires Long was the fastest female to cross the line (01:14:54), closely followed by Tessa McCormick (01:14:58) and last year’s fastest female Becky Briggs finished in 01:16:49.
Celebrity runners included Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, broadcaster Clara Amfo, comedian Elis James and Married at First Sight star Leah Marie Tyrer.
Across the weekend, the HOKA Hackney Moves festival welcomed over 60,000 people to a celebration of fitness, music and community, with live performances, workouts, and cultural moments showcasing the very best of East London. One of the highlights of the multi-day festival was a surprise performance by renowned DJ Norman Jay MBE.
The 2026 edition marked the first year of HOKA as title partner, building on a long-standing relationship and shared commitment to the power of movement and community.
At the heart of HOKA Hackney Moves remains its industry-leading community programme, which returned bigger than ever in 2026. The Hackney Academy, a 12-week initiative providing free coaching, kit and race entry, supported 50 runners from Hackney and surrounding boroughs, many of whom crossed the finish line of their first-ever half marathon this weekend.
More than 40 local community organisations and over 60 Community Champions were integrated into the event, ensuring the festival continues to be shaped by, and representative of, the borough it calls home.
The festival also saw the return of the free Hackney Community 5K on Saturday, alongside an expanded schools’ challenge, allowing thousands of young people to complete their own half marathon journey and cross the iconic finish line.
Thousands of runners took on the HOKA Hackney Half in support of charitable causes, helping raise over £4m for the event’s official charity partners. This year, the event proudly supported Single Homeless Project as its Headline Charity Partner, alongside a wide range of national and local charities, continuing the event’s track record of generating millions in fundraising each year.
The weekend reinforced HOKA Hackney Moves as far more than a race, a cultural moment celebrating the borough’s diversity, creativity and spirit.
Ian Allerton, Managing Director, Motiv Sports UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see the HOKA Hackney Half and HOKA Hackney Moves continue to grow as a celebration of everything that makes this community so special. Big thank you to the runners, community and everyone involved.
“From elite runners chasing times, fundraisers supporting powerful causes, to first-timers crossing the finish line, and from our community partners to the thousands of supporters lining the streets, this weekend truly captured the spirit of Hackney.
“With HOKA as our title partner, we’re excited to keep building on this momentum and creating even more opportunities for people to experience the joy of movement.”
For runners looking to take part in the 2027 HOKA Hackney Half, entries go on sale on Monday 18 May. You must pre-register via the official event website to receive the entry link: www.hackneymoves.com
