Santiago to run for pancreatic cancer research in 2026

Plan your race pace

Santiago de Compostela will add the Carrera de las Ciudades against pancreatic cancer to its sporting calendar for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026. The event will start and finish at the athletics track of the University of Santiago de Compostela and include an approximately 6-kilometer main race, a shorter event, a walking race and children’s races.

The event is designed as a charity fundraiser: all entry fees will go to pancreatic cancer research. The main race and the under-14-to-16 event are scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the walk and races for younger participants. Registration is listed as open, with a stated deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 11:59 p.m.

A new charity event on Santiago’s calendar

The Santiago edition is part of Carrera de las Ciudades, a national circuit that holds events in several towns to raise money for research projects. The 2026 event will be the circuit’s first in Santiago and is designed to welcome a broad range of participants. It is not limited to those looking to compete, as it also includes a walking event and races for children.

The Galician Athletics Federation is organizing the race with the support of the University Hospital Complex of Santiago, known as CHUS. The initiative is promoted by ACANPAN, the Spanish Association of Pancreatology and the Spanish Association of Gastroenterology. The charitable purpose is central to the event: money raised through registration will be donated to pancreatic cancer research.

The national circuit relies on collaboration among organizations, health care workers, local entities and participants. In Santiago, the event brings that cause into the city’s everyday life through a morning of physical activity in a university setting. Those who do not want to run can take part in the walking event without needing to keep pace with or meet the demands of an athletics competition.

Date, schedule and starting point

The event is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2026, at the University of Santiago de Compostela Athletics Stadium. The USC track will serve as the start and finish area for the different events. Published information sets the start of the main race and the under-14-to-16 event at 10:30 a.m., so that time should be distinguished from the rest of the schedule.

The 3-kilometer walk will start at 11 a.m. Children’s races are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. for under-8 participants and 11:40 a.m. for under-10 and under-12 participants. Each event has its own start time rather than one mass start, so families attending together should note the schedule for their registered category.

Organizers place the event on the university’s South Campus, with the stadium as the start and finish landmark. The main race will pass along streets on the South Campus, although available details do not include a complete map or specific streets. The distance is described as approximate, so the final route and any changes should be confirmed through official event information before travelling.

Distances and events for different ages

The main race will cover approximately 6,000 meters on streets around the South Campus. The under-14-to-16 event will cover about 3,000 meters, while the community walk will also be around 3,000 meters on the same course. The program separates the main competition from recreational and introductory options, without requiring all participants to run the same distance.

Children’s races will take place inside the stadium. The under-8 event covers 400 meters, while the under-10 and under-12 races cover 800 meters. This format keeps the shortest races in a controlled space, separate from the outside course, which is practical for families and younger participants.

The walk is noncompetitive and will not have results. Its inclusion broadens the event’s purpose: people can take part by running, walking or supporting the children’s events. The main race and age-group events are organized as athletics races, but official rules, categories and results procedures should be checked in the event regulations, especially for children’s races.

Registration, fees and where the money goes

The announced registration deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Organizers say they will not accept registrations after that period closes or on race day. The deadline therefore applies to those running the 6 kilometers as well as participants in the shorter races, walk or children’s events.

Registration costs 10 euros for the 6-kilometer race. The 3-kilometer events, walking race and children’s 400- and 800-meter races cost 6 euros. According to the event information, the fees will go entirely to pancreatic cancer research. A zero bib is also available for people who want to donate without taking part in a sporting event.

The charitable contribution is straightforward: each registration adds to the cause, with fees varying by event. Available information does not specify possible processing fees, refund terms or transfer conditions, so those details should not be assumed. The official registration platform is the place to check the final amount and current terms.

Bib pickup and planning for race day

Regular bib pickup is scheduled at As Cancelas Shopping Center in Santiago de Compostela. On Friday, Nov. 20, it will be available from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 21, there will be two pickup windows: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. These times allow participants to collect their bibs before race morning rather than leaving all arrangements until the event.

Organizers have provided for an exceptional pickup on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 9 to 9:30 a.m. near the USC Athletics Stadium. That is a short window reserved for exceptional cases, so picking up a bib earlier offers more flexibility. Anyone relying on race-day pickup should confirm the exact location and conditions in advance, particularly if travelling from outside Santiago.

Available information does not provide full details on parking, road closures, bag storage or public transport. It also does not specify showers or changing facilities for this event. Logistics from other races on the circuit should not be assumed to apply in Santiago: each host location has different arrangements, which should be confirmed through the local organizers’ information.

A university course without a detailed map published

The announced main race route covers about 6 kilometers along streets on the University of Santiago’s South Campus. The approximately 3-kilometer distances for the under-14-to-16 event and the walk correspond to one lap of the main course, according to the description available. The 400- and 800-meter races, by contrast, will take place inside the stadium.

The reference to the South Campus places the race in an urban university setting, but it is not enough to reconstruct the route turn by turn. The information reviewed does not include streets, elevation, refreshment points or a verifiable map. The published distance is approximate, so an official map, once available or updated, will be the right resource for details on crossings and access.

That distinction between a general description and a precise map matters to participants. The stadium clearly identifies the start and finish area, while movement around the campus may involve access arrangements or temporary restrictions. Checking official instructions closer to race day can prevent confusion without assuming a route that has not yet been detailed in the available information.

Research at the heart of Carrera de las Ciudades

The Santiago race is part of a project that uses community sport to support pancreatic cancer research. Across the circuit, money raised goes toward research grants selected by a specialist scientific committee, according to general information about the initiative. The Santiago event brings that work to the setting of the city’s university hospital and public university.

Pancreatic cancer presents major clinical and scientific challenges, and research requires continuity, specialist teams and funding. A community race cannot replace health care work or deliver immediate answers, but it can help sustain projects and raise awareness of a disease that receives less public attention than some other cancers. Each registration contributes to a collective effort to fund scientific research.

The first 10 editions of the circuit recorded 73,106 participants and raised 1.2 million euros for research, according to the information provided about the initiative. That record helps explain how a new host city can expand both participation and visibility for the cause. In Santiago, the local debut connects sport with scientific and health care organizations without turning the day into an event reserved for experienced athletes.

What to check before attending

The event’s essential details have been announced: date, city, start and finish venue, main start times, approximate distances and published fees. Some operational details may still be updated before race day. The route map, access instructions, full categories and any changes to bib pickup should be checked through the organizers’ official channels.

Participants should also make sure their chosen event matches the relevant age group and distance, particularly for children’s races. Available information lists 400 meters for under-8 participants and 800 meters for under-10 and under-12 participants, while under-14-to-16 participants have an event of about 3 kilometers. The 3-kilometer walk, meanwhile, does not have competitive results.

The November schedule leaves a specific window for travel planning: bib pickup is available at As Cancelas on Saturday, Nov. 21, and the race takes place the next day. The registration deadline is Nov. 18 at 11:59 p.m., according to the published terms. Checking details close to the event is especially useful for a local debut, when arrival logistics and routes may still require more precise guidance.

A debut combining sport and local commitment

The arrival of Carrera de las Ciudades in Santiago expands Galicia’s calendar of charity races and offers several ways to participate on the same morning. From the six-kilometer main event to children’s races and the walk, the program brings different groups together around a shared cause. The USC stadium will be the hub of the event, with the South Campus serving as the main race setting.

The sporting side is measured in kilometers, but the event’s purpose goes beyond the clock. Registration fees go to research, and the involvement of health care and scientific organizations links public participation with an ongoing need for knowledge. That connection turns a November morning into an opportunity to run or walk while supporting work that continues throughout the year.

The Nov. 22 edition will, above all, mark Santiago’s first encounter with this national circuit. Its reach will depend on clear practical information and participants knowing which event suits their abilities. With staggered start times, options for different ages and a defined charitable purpose, the event offers a shared city route as one way to support research.