On Saturday, September 5, 2026, one of the world’s most popular and fastest races, the Birell Grand Prix Prague, will return to the illuminated streets in the center of Prague. The traditional running festival offers two courses: the purely women’s adidas Women’s 5k run and, above all, the Birell 10k Night Race. Both events report being completely sold out, with a total of over 13,000 participants, representing a historical record for the event. Alongside thousands of runners of 98 different nationalities, the world elite will stand at the starting line of the 10k race, with their sights set at minimum on breaking the European record.
The Birell Grand Prix Prague confirms its position as one of the most attractive sporting events in Central Europe. This year, over 9,000 runners will line up at the start of the 10k race, representing a year-on-year increase of 30% in participant numbers, while 4,000 women will set off on the five-kilometer route. The event also has a significant economic impact. According to measurements, in 2025 it brought 161.5 million CZK to the city and the state.
The main race, the 29th edition of the Birell 10k Night Race, will start at 7:30 PM from the Municipal House on Náměstí Republiky in central Prague. The course is fast, flat, and leads through Karlín, crossing the Vltava River twice and offering impressive views of Prague Castle. Compared to 2025, there is a minor adjustment to the route: the hairpin turn on Nábřeží Kapitána Jaroše towards Holešovice was removed, and instead, the section on Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše towards Malostranská was extended.
The star of the men’s field is Rodrigue Kwizera, a native of Burundi, who will represent Spain for the very first time since acquiring his new citizenship. He arrives in Prague with a clear goal: to break the 10k European record (currently held by Frenchman Yann Schrub with a time of 26:43). Kwizera has delivered great performances in the past, including a victory at the Generali Half Marathon Prague 2026 in a race record time of 58:16. Over 10k, his personal best is 26:54 from last year, but in Madrid he covered the distance in 26:01, and only the course profile, which does not meet the requirements for world record recognition, prevented him from entering the history books. Backing him up will be Victor Kipruto Kiprono from Kenya with a personal best of 27:10, Uruguayan Santiago Catrofe, who ran the distance fastest in 27:16, or Isaac Kibet Ndiema from Kenya with a PB of 26:55. A dark horse could be French debutant Romain Legendre.
The starting field of the Birell 10k Night Race will also be enriched by a quartet of high-quality Japanese male and female distance runners. Tomoya Ogikubo is among the prominent Japanese runners over distances from 5 km to the half marathon. His compatriot Shunya Kikuchi is primarily a marathon specialist, while Maki Izumida is among the experienced Japanese distance runners with strong performances over 5,000 and 10,000 meters. In the women’s race, she will be joined by talented Koharu Chugo, who, despite her young age, is among the greatest hopes of Japanese running.
In the women’s category, Clare Chemtai Ndiwa from Kenya will feature as the main favorite, having already completed a 10k race in 29:49. Nipping at her heels will be Chaltu Dida Diriba from Ethiopia, whose personal record is just one second slower, another Kenyan Miriam Chebet, European aces Konstanze Klosterhalfen and Alina Reh from Germany, or Austrian record holder Carina Reicht. The domestic top tier and the RunCzech Racing team will be represented by Damián Vích (holder of the Czech race record of 28:46 from 2025), Patrik Vebr, or the latest addition to the Czech team, Bára Stýblová. The clear favorite for victory among Czech women will be Tereza Hrochová.
In addition to individuals, the 10k also offers a three-member team competition and a special Birell Cup for employees of the Plzeňský Prazdroj group. Title partner Birell has stood alongside RunCzech at this event for 11 years now.
The schedule will kick off on Saturday at 6:00 PM with the 26th edition of the adidas Women’s 5k Run. The race is intended exclusively for women of all age and performance categories – the time limit of 50 minutes can be met by every participant even at a fast walk. No elite runners start in the 5k; the priority is the joy of movement, a shared experience, and community support. A popular doubles category is also included.
Athletic performance at the Birell Grand Prix Prague is closely linked to helping others, and each race has its main charity partner. The five-kilometer race is partnered with the Pink Bubble organization, which helps young people after cancer treatment get back on their own feet. Beneficiaries of the assistance are affectionately called “BUBBLES”. The ten-kilometer route is linked with the Cesta za snem (Journey to a Dream) organization, which connects disabled and able-bodied people through sports and mutual inspiration.
After a successful premiere during the spring season, the Running Doctors will be on the course. Eight qualified runner-paramedics will be spread out directly within the racing field. They will run at equal intervals at the pace of the others and are prepared to intervene immediately in case of any health complications. Complete medical service is provided by the Emergency Medical Service of the Capital City of Prague. At the finish line, the Golem module and a medical tent will be available; along the route there are 3 ambulance stations, 8 medical points (runners will pass them 15 times), and mobile bicycle patrols with defibrillators (AEDs).
A complete hydration system from Mattoni and Gatorade ionic drinks is prepared for the participants. On the 10k course, 1 refreshment station will be available (at 5.5 km with fruit, water, and ionic drinks) and 2 refreshment stations with water. A live stream of the entire evening will be available to watch on the OnePlay platform or with English commentary by James Thie on the RunCzech YouTube channel.
Event Schedule (Saturday, September 5, 2026)
- 6:00 PM Start of the adidas Women’s Race 5k (Náměstí Republiky)
- 6:50 PM Time limit for the 5k race
- 7:30 PM Start of the Birell 10k Evening Run (Náměstí Republiky)
- 9:00 PM Time limit for the 10k race, end of event
