Bintulu Marathon 2026 becomes faster growing marathon in Sarawak with over 10,000 participants
Bintulu took centre stage as an international sporting destination on Sunday, August 2, as the Bintulu Marathon 2026 attracted 10,472 runners from 23 countries, making it as big (in terms of participation) as older and more established running events like the Kuching Marathon and Miri Marathon.
The figure puts the marathon as the fastest growing marathon in Sarawak, able to bring participating numbers from about 3,000 when it was first established in 2023, to over 10,000 last Sunday.
The massive number of participants turned Bintulu City into a vibrant hub of sporting activity.
Strong international participation in the Bintulu Marathon 2026 also marked a significant milestone for Bintulu itself which had been better known for its role in Sarawak’s petrochemical and seafood industry in the past.
The 2026 edition of the Bintulu Marathon was held at the Bintulu Old Airport with marathon routes going through popular landmarks around the city.
Major Marathons in Sarawak
While Bintulu Marathon is not the newest marathon to be established in Sarawak, it is considered one of fastest growing marathon in the Land of the Hornbills as compared to the likes of Kuching Marathon and Miri Marathon which were established in 2014 and 2017 respectively, giving both marathons about a decade of history and stature.
The Bintulu Marathon was only launced in 2023, with 3,535 participants then, and hence making its appeal to over 10,000 participants after just three years being nothing short of impressive.
Prior to the Bintulu Marathon 2026, the Miri Marathon 2026 had about 10,000 participants during its event in April, the HSL Samarahan Marathon 2026 in May saw 2,800 participants, with the Kuching Marathon 2026 expecting 16,000 participants this coming September 27th.
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