9 May, 2026 • Trident College, Solwezi
Welcome to the Kansanshi Marathon!
The Kansanshi Marathon has been on an incredible journey:
2023: Kansanshi Mine made history by hosting the first World Athletics–accredited marathon in Zambia’s NorthWestern Province. With a record K400,000 prize purse, it became the biggest in Zambian running at the time.
2024: Participation grew to 1,700 runners from 22 countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The event delivered ZA & World Athletics–accredited 42.2km, 21.1km, and 10km races, cementing its international status.
2025: Over 2,000 runners took part, with national attention on the landmark introduction of the 5km differently-abled category. Engagement soared, community feedback was exceptional, and the event ran safely and professionally.
2026: This year, we’re going even bigger — aiming for 2,300 runners from across Zambia and the world. New routes, global recognition, and an even stronger experience await! To celebrate growing participation from senior athletes—many proving that “60 is the new 40”—the organisers are proud to introduce a new 60+ age category with prizes for the 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km events.
5km Fun Run
Zambians & Residents: K300
International: K1,000
A non-competitive, friendly event for beginners, recreational runners, and children.. NO prizes, but you’ll still get a race bag, bib and race chip to self time your run.
5km Differently-Abled
Zambians & Residents: K300
International: K1,000
A competitive run – same route as the fun run, but with prizes. We welcome a bigger and stronger field this year.
10km
Zambians & Residents: K400
International: K1,000
The 10km run is our most popular event! This is a good intermediate distance for beginners who want to challenge themselves, or racers who want to test their pace.
Half Marathon (21km)
Zambians & Residents: K400
International: K1,000
Our half marathon (21km) is certified with World Athletics and ZA.
Our 21 km run (half marathon) is a challenging but beautiful route.
Due to ongoing infrastructure and proposed large scale upgrades across Solwezi—supported by Kansanshi Mining PLC and the Solwezi Municipal Council, The 21km route will take you into the suburbs of Solwezi and away from major roads and traffic.
Marathon (42km)
Zambians & Residents: K400
International: K1,000
Our full marathon (42.2kms) is certified with World Athletics and ZA.
It is worth noting that the 42 km marathon route will now follow a double loop of the 21 km route, ensuring safety and consistency for all athletes.
FAQ
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No swapping, no substituting, and no name changes are allowed.
This is for your safety and insurance cover — medical teams rely on your registered details in case of an emergency.
Running under someone else’s name is dangerous and against Athletics Zambia rules.
Anyone caught doing so will be disqualified and may be potentially banned from future events.
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Refunds (less a small admin fee) are available if requested before 24th April.
Email: kansanshi.events@gmail.com with your ticket, name, distance, and reason.
Thanks for understanding!
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Any substitutions, upgrades or downgrades will incur a cash payment on collection of race numbers of K50 per entry changed. This needs to be paid before the race numbers are released.
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Minimum ages:
42km - 18 years old
21km - 16 years old
10km - 12 years old
Children under the age of 5 may participate in the 5km Fun Run only under the full supervision and responsibility of a parent or guardian.
For safety reasons, strollers, prams, scooters, bicycles and any similar wheeled devices will not be permitted on the route. This is to prevent congestion and obstruction, particularly at the start and finish areas.
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A valid Tessera ticket, a DPO is not a ticket and won’t be accepted.
Please make sure you receive a Tessera ticket after your DPO notification.
Bring a pen to registration.
Personal ID
Please note: No collection on race day! Be sure to collect your race pack in advance.
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No collection on race day! Be sure to collect your race pack in advance.
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Yes, at the Bag drop tent - your race bib will have a tag for you to pin onto your bag.
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Only THREE ELITE runners per country (male and female categories separately) will be eligible for prize money.
For clarity: if three male ELITE runners from “Country A” qualify, they will be eligible to receive prize money (subject to meeting all event requirements). Any fourth, fifth, or subsequent ELITE runner from “Country A” will not be eligible for prize money.
This rule applies to both the Full Marathon (42km) and the Half Marathon (21km) events.
The limitation applies to all participating countries except the host country, which is exempt from this restriction.
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The 42km marathon has a cut-off time of 2h 40m at the halfway mark.
The Kansanshi Marathon 2026 is made possible through the generous support of our valued sponsors. Their partnership strengthens our community, enhances the athlete experience, and helps us deliver a worldclass race year after year. Please click on their logos below to visit their websites and learn more about who they are and the incredible work they do.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Copper Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
