Hackney Half Marathon 2026 British Heart Foundation Charity Run

A half marathon with a difference. Run through London's most creative and inspiring borough with vibrant street art and entertainment on course. Celebrate your 13.1 mile achievement with thousands in Hackney Marshes, complete with music, food, drink and a range of sports and wellbeing activities.

How to enter

There are 2 entry options for Hackney Half Marathon.

Charity places

Our Charity places for 2026 are now sold out. To get a charity place, you'll need to register your interest and if a place does become available we will be in touch.

Own place entry

If you've already got a place for Hackney Half Marathon, you can still sign up to run and fundraise for BHF. There's no entry fee and no fundraising goal. You'll still receive all the same benefits and support as a charity place runner.

No registration fee
No fundraising target - raise as much as you can.

I have my own place

As a thank you for supporting BHF’s lifesaving research, you’ll get:

a BHF running top or vest
personalised training plans created by our world-class coaches
a fundraising pack filled with support and useful information
regular contact from us to guide you along your journey
a Team BHF Facebook group to get support from your team members.

The easiest way to start fundraising is by setting up a JustGiving page .

You can share your page with friends and family and on social media.

We also have a wealth of fundraising resources for you. You can:

You might be an experienced runner, or this might be your first official race. Either way we’d recommend some training before taking on this kind of run.

In order to help you reach the finish line, we've put together some top tips on nutrition and some running training schedules.

Learn about nutrition for sport

See our running training plans

Join our event day team of volunteers

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of event day - but behind every incredible running event are the volunteers who bring it all to life. That’s where you come in. Motivating runners at a cheer point fuels the experience and helps us make the day unforgettable.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering at a running event is fun, fast-paced, and genuinely rewarding.

You’ll:

be part of an enthusiastic, friendly team
help to create an amazing event-day atmosphere
support vital fundraising that powers lifesaving research
gain experience, meet new people, and make a real impact.

Whether you can give a few hours or the whole day, every moment you contribute makes a difference.

What you’ll do

Roles vary, but could include:

welcoming and supporting participants
cheering runners on at key course points
supporting event leads to keep everything running smoothly.

Clear briefings and support will be provided - just bring your energy!

Who can join?

Anyone over 18 years old is welcome. Bring a friend, gather a group, or come along solo - you’ll be part of a supportive team from the moment you arrive.

Be part of something bigger

Your time helps fund breakthroughs, brings people together, and creates experiences runners remember for years. You won’t just be helping an event run smoothly - you’ll be helping drive real change.

Volunteer for us

Hackney Half Marathon