On Saturday evening, the Czech capital will transform into the epicenter of world distance running. The third-largest running event of the year in the Czech Republic, the Birell Grand Prix 2026 and its main highlight, the Birell 10K Night Race, has drawn nearly 14,000 runners from 98 countries to the starting line. Among them will be 42 elite athletes from 16 nations aiming for record times against the backdrop of evening Prague.
Ahead of the race itself, a press conference was held on Friday morning at the Hilton Prague Atrium hotel, where representatives of institutions as well as the top Czech and international stars answered questions from journalists and the host. In the men’s field, course record holder of the Prague Half Marathon, Rodrigue Kwizera, carrying a personal best of 26:54, ranks among the absolute favorites. “I am extremely happy to return to Prague. My form is very good and my goal is to set the best time possible, ideally under 27 minutes. I feel confident about breaking my personal best. A world record isn’t in the plans this time, but in the future, I would like to attack the sub-26:30 mark,” said the Burundi native, who will compete under the Spanish flag in Prague for the first time.
The women’s field is dominated by Clare Chemtai Ndiwa, whose personal best of 29:49 trails the current course record by a mere six seconds. “Thank you very much to the organizers for the invitation. I feel exceptionally well prepared and will do everything I can to attack the race record,” confirmed Ndiwa, emphasizing her high ambitions.
The domestic scene is also strongly represented. Damián Vích will strive to reclaim the Czech national record. “I don’t like to set specific time targets for myself. I will run at 100% and we’ll see what number lights up at the finish line. It would obviously be amazing to reclaim the Czech 10K road record in front of home fans.” He also shared a glimpse into his race day preparations: “Race day before an evening run is usually very long—you basically just lie in bed with your feet up and wait.” Finally, he recalled his victory from last year, admitting that the final 5 kilometers were a complete blur. “Running at such a high pace, you don’t even have time to enjoy the beauty of Prague; you only notice the lead car. I focused purely on myself. And during the final three kilometers, I focused on not pressing my watch right at the finish line so I wouldn’t ruin the victory photo,” Vích added with a smile.
In the women’s category, Tereza Hrochová will draw significant attention, racing less than three weeks after a demanding marathon at the European Championships in Birmingham, where she finished in an impressive ninth place. “After the European Championships, I completed a high-altitude training camp in Austria. Training went well, though I still feel some fatigue in my legs. I would like to target the time I ran here last year, but we’ll see how the race suits me,” Hrochová summarized. In 2025, she won among Czech women with a time of 31:38.
This year’s race is completely sold out. “The Birell Grand Prix is taking place for the 29th time. An incredible 13,500 people from 98 nationalities will take to the start line. An iconic evening route with beautiful views of the Vltava River and Prague Castle is prepared,” highlighted Jiří Nečásek, Director of Marketing and Communications of RunCzech.
The event enjoys long-term support from the city, the athletics federation, and corporate partners. “Prague has long-term strategies focused on supporting tourism, and events of this type fit right into them. The social and economic return on such significant international events is high,” stated Tomáš Slabihoudek, Councillor of the City of Prague. According to Libor Varhaník, President of the Czech Athletics Federation, road races strengthen the Czech Republic’s position on the world stage: “Thanks to RunCzech, the Czech Republic is a major global player, and awards from World Athletics confirm it. Out-of-stadium athletics plays a key role in bringing people together.”
The traditional venue for the event is the Hilton Prague Hotel. “Thanks to these events, thousands of runners come to the Czech Republic and create a unique atmosphere. Thanks to the cooperation with RunCzech, Prague transforms into a center of world running, and we greatly appreciate this privilege,” described Commercial Director of the hotel Dagmar Vránová. Title partner Birell is celebrating its 11th year of partnership with the organizers. “The Birell Grand Prix is our favorite race of the year. This year, participants can look forward to the new Birell Music Point zone, and roughly 30 members of our Pilsner Urquell team will also be on the course,” said Michaela Vyhnalíková from Birell. Michaela Halásová, Sports Marketing Manager at Adidas—the title partner of the Adidas Women’s 5K Run preceding the main event—shared a similar sentiment: “We are extremely happy to be long-term partners of RunCzech and hope that will continue into the future. The season is turning out great for us in almost every race. At the same time, we see plenty of positive emotions and stories surrounding the events, among elite and recreational runners alike.”
The race also carries a charitable dimension. The organizing team collaborates with the Pink Bubble Foundation, which helps young cancer patients, and the Cesta za snem (Journey to a Dream) organization, which engages athletes with disabilities and their families in active movement.
The race evening will kick off at 6pm with the adidas Women’s 5k Run and continue at 7:30pm with the Birell 10k Night Race. The race will be broadcast live on the website and worldathletics.com with English commentary. You can find and read the full event guide here.
