Barcelona Pancreatic Cancer Charity Race 2026: date and distances

Plan your race pace

Barcelona will host the second local edition of the Cities Race Against Pancreatic Cancer on Sunday, December 13, 2026. The event will take place at Parc del Fòrum, beside the coast, and will include 5K and 10K charity races as well as a non-competitive 5K walk. The main races are scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

The central purpose is not only athletic. One hundred percent of registration income will support pancreatic cancer research through the Carmen Delgado and Miguel Pérez Mateo grants. The event is promoted by ACANPAN, AESPANC and AEG, while the Barcelona race is organized by Zona Vip Events. Runners can also consult the popular races calendar and the race map to place this event within the national calendar.

A charity day beside the Mediterranean

The 2026 edition will be the 12th overall edition of the initiative and the second held in Barcelona. Parc del Fòrum provides a wide, recognizable setting open to the sea, with enough room for the start, finish, bib collection and related activities. Public transport connections also make the venue suitable for a family-oriented urban event.

The program brings together different paces and ways of taking part. Participants looking for a short distance can choose 5K, while those preferring a longer effort can enter the 10K. The 5K walk allows people to participate without competing and reinforces the accessible nature of a day designed for runners, supporters and anyone wishing to back the cause through moderate physical activity.

Pancreatic cancer remains especially challenging for oncology research because it is often diagnosed at advanced stages and early warning signs can be difficult to identify. The race therefore uses popular sport as a channel for public awareness and scientific funding. Every bib turns an ordinary activity, running or walking through Barcelona, into support connected with prevention, diagnosis and treatment projects.

Date, location and confirmed schedules

The event will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, at Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona. The 5K and 10K charity races will start at 10 a.m., while the 5K walk will begin at 10:05 a.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. A non-competitive children’s race is also planned for noon, although its specific details will be confirmed in a later update.

The venue can be reached using metro line L4, tram T4 and several bus routes, including 7, 136, H16, B20, B23, V29, V31 and V33. The reference location is Parc del Fòrum, near Diagonal Avenue and Barcelona’s waterfront. Public transport makes it possible to avoid relying on a private car, although participants should allow extra time because of the expected attendance and normal mobility restrictions around a large event.

Sunday bib collection is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the tent area at Parc del Fòrum. Collection on Saturday, December 12, is also planned, but the exact location remains pending. To collect a bib, participants must show their national ID, passport or official identification, together with proof of registration.

Available distances and formats

The 5K race is intended as an approachable option for people beginning road events or preferring to manage their effort. The 10K requires a more consistent preparation, although the urban setting and likely flat profile around the Forum may suit participants with different levels. Both races will have official timing and general classifications.

The 5K charity walk shares the spirit of the day but remains non-competitive. There will be no ranking or awards for this format. This distinction matters when registering: the walk is not designed to measure times, but to make active participation possible for people who do not want to run or prefer to cover the course on foot.

The organizers establish absolute male and female categories for the 5K and 10K. They also provide recognition for functional diversity, with awards for the first male and female finishers in wheelchair and visually impaired categories. The official race results will be published on the organizers’ website the day after the event.

Participants under 14 who want to run the 5K must submit a signed parental authorization. For the 10K, the same requirement applies to anyone under 16. This document is more than an administrative detail: it confirms that every participant meets the age conditions and has the necessary permission before starting.

Prices, charity bib and timing chip

Fees vary according to the registration period. Until August 31, 2026, the 5K race and walk will cost 14 euros, while the 10K will cost 16 euros. From September 1 through November 30, fees will rise to 15 euros for the 5K and walk and 17 euros for the 10K.

From December 1 until registration closes, scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., the price will be 16 euros for the 5K and walk and 18 euros for the 10K. These amounts refer to each format’s registration and may be subject to the terms shown on the official platform during the registration process.

A charity bib is also available for people who want to contribute without taking part physically. It costs 15 euros and supports research in the same way. The platform also allows an additional donation to be added to either a race registration or the charity bib. This option separates financial support from athletic participation and keeps the event open to people unable to attend Parc del Fòrum.

A timing chip is mandatory for the 5K and 10K races. Participants without their own Xip Groc can purchase a single-use bib chip for 3 euros during registration. The device is integrated into the bib and does not need to be returned after the race. The walk is not classified, so its timing conditions are different.

Registration and bib collection

Online registration is scheduled to remain open until Thursday, December 10, at 11:59 p.m. The organizers also plan last-minute in-person registration on Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Diagonal Mar Shopping Centre. In that case, the technical shirt will depend on available stock.

An official technical shirt will be given to all registered participants, although late Saturday registrations do not guarantee that every size or unit will remain. This is common in events with late registration and is one reason not to leave the choice of format until the final moment, particularly for anyone who wants the organizer’s planned gift.

To collect another person’s bib, it will be enough to show a copy or photograph of that participant’s identification document and registration proof on a mobile phone. Any changes to registration details must be handled before Sunday. The organization provides zonavipevents@zonavipevents.com for questions about registration and event operations.

The start is early in the morning, so it is worth planning travel, bib collection and access to the start area in advance. At coastal races, wind can change the perceived temperature even when the thermometer is not especially low. A light layer and clothing that allows free movement are generally more useful than wearing too much.

An urban course with information still pending

The race will take place around Parc del Fòrum, but the full course map has not yet been published as final. It would therefore be unreliable to attribute specific streets, elevation changes or aid stations that the organizers have not confirmed. The available information supports describing an urban course, not a finalized route with every turn and kilometer marker.

The waterfront setting may offer a distinctive visual experience: the start takes place beside the Mediterranean, and the open horizon contrasts with the usual downtown Barcelona race landscape. At the same time, the maritime environment can bring crosswinds or headwinds. Perceived effort does not depend only on elevation; persistent wind can also change pace, especially over 10K.

Information about aid stations, medical services, road closures and exact course points should be confirmed in the final rules or event communications. Participants should review those details before race day rather than relying on routes from previous editions, since a charity race may change course for logistical, safety or public-space coordination reasons.

Where the fundraising goes and why research matters

The feature that separates this event from an ordinary urban race is the full destination of registration income. Funds support the Carmen Delgado and Miguel Pérez Mateo grants, which back pancreatic cancer research projects. According to the initiative’s published information, projects are selected by a scientific committee specializing in the disease.

ACANPAN represents patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer, while AESPANC and AEG bring together professionals connected with pancreatology and gastroenterology. This partnership between patient groups, specialists and an event organizer gives the race two dimensions: physical activity brings citizens together, while fundraising supports scientific work that may receive less visibility than research into other cancers.

The charity bib extends that support without making running a requirement. A person can contribute 15 euros, add a voluntary amount or donate through other channels provided by the organization. The underlying message is simple: participation is not measured only in kilometers. In research fundraising, financial support and public awareness are also part of the result.

For years, these races have linked participation to grant funding and awareness of a complex disease. In Barcelona, the sporting format moves the conversation from hospitals and laboratories into a public, visible and shared setting. The bib is one small part of a broader structure made up of research, patients, families, volunteers and civic participation.

A race open to different paces

The program allows runners aiming to complete 5K, participants with 10K time goals and people who prefer walking to share the same day. That diversity keeps the event from being limited to regular athletes. The non-competitive walk specifically widens participation and protects the inclusive character of an initiative connected with health.

Runners should set expectations according to the context. This is not an event designed exclusively for personal-best attempts, but a large gathering with different levels and a charity purpose at its center. Maintaining a sustainable pace, following staff instructions and leaving room during the opening meters are usually more important than accelerating to gain places immediately after the start.

For general 5K preparation, alternating easy running and walking may be enough to build tolerance, while 10K usually requires a more stable aerobic base. These are general guidelines, not an individual plan. Health status, previous experience and the body’s response should determine training load, particularly for people returning after a period of inactivity.

On race morning, arriving with time to spare, drinking normally without forcing excessive fluids and avoiding new shoes or clothing can make the experience easier. Footwear should be tested beforehand and pre-race food should be familiar. These details may seem small, but they reduce common problems such as blisters, stomach discomfort and pace changes caused by unsuitable equipment.

Barcelona adds a meaningful date beyond the stopwatch

The second Barcelona edition strengthens the initiative’s presence in a city with a long tradition of popular races. Parc del Fòrum gives the event a different identity from central circuits: more space, a waterfront landscape and a finish linked to a recognizable venue. The December date places it near the end of the calendar and may make it one of the year’s final opportunities to race or walk for a charitable cause.

Several relevant elements remain to be published or updated, including the final map, some Saturday collection details and the complete operational information. The official race website will be the reference for checking changes to schedules, rules, registration or services. Reviewing those details near race day avoids carrying conditions from earlier editions into 2026.

With prices from 14 to 18 euros depending on distance and date, a charity bib and three participation formats, the event is designed to accommodate more than one sporting profile. Running 5K, completing 10K or walking beside the sea are different experiences, but they connect with the same purpose: keeping pancreatic cancer visible and providing resources for research.

In a popular race, the time appears in the results and soon fades. Research, by contrast, needs continuity, funding and years of work. Barcelona will place both realities on the same course on December 13, 2026: the movement of those who start and the scientific patience required to turn a charity registration into greater knowledge.