By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-09-28 12:31:42 | Updated at 2026-09-28 19:20:50
8 hours ago
Running: Jamaica
Key Facts
- Date and venue. Sunday 6 December 2026 on the Kingston Waterfront in Kingston, Jamaica. The Half Marathon starts at 5:45 a.m., the 10K at 5:55 a.m. and the 5K at 6 a.m., all from Nethersole Place.
- What the race is. The 26th Reggae Marathon, organised by the Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston, offers a Half Marathon, a 10K and a 5K. The full marathon is now offered only as a virtual event.
- Why it matters. The race spent 24 years in Negril before moving to the capital in 2025. Runners who remember Seven Mile Beach will find a city course, with pre-race events now at Devon House.
- Entry fees. International runners now pay US$125 for the Half Marathon, US$95 for the 10K and US$60 for the 5K. Fees are higher on site, and no entry is refundable or transferable.
- What to know. Online registration closes at midnight on 3 December 2026. There is no race-morning registration or packet collection, so runners must reach Devon House on 4 or 5 December.
Reggae Marathon Kingston 2026 falls on Sunday 6 December on the waterfront of the Jamaican capital. Its Half Marathon, 10K and 5K run there for a second year, far from the old Negril home.
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The Reggae Marathon returns to the Kingston Waterfront in Jamaica on Sunday 6 December 2026. Runners who remember Negril will find a new city, a new pre-race venue and a firm 3 December entry deadline.
Reggae Marathon Kingston 2026: Race Day Is Sunday 6 December
The 2026 Reggae Marathon runs on Sunday 6 December on the Kingston Waterfront in Jamaica. It is the event’s 26th staging and its second in the capital.
Three distances are on offer: a Half Marathon, a 10K and a 5K. The organiser’s 2026 fact sheet gives starts of 5:45 a.m., 5:55 a.m. and 6 a.m. respectively.
All three races leave from Nethersole Place on the downtown waterfront. The course stays open for four hours, and the organiser expects a low of about 24°C at the start.
From Negril to Kingston: What Changed for Returning Runners
For 24 years the race was run in Negril, on the western tip of Jamaica. Organisers announced in January 2025 that the 25th staging would move to Kingston.
Race director Alfred Francis framed the move as a tribute to the capital’s heritage. After the 2025 race he told the Gleaner that, “as for now it is Kingston”.
The course itself feels different. The 2025 men’s Half Marathon winner, Garfield Gordon, told the Gleaner that Negril was easier because the Kingston route has many turns.
The women’s winner, Cecile Heinrich, admitted she had first been disappointed to lose Negril. She said she came to like the new route after a few months.
In October 2025, weeks before the first Kingston race, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, hit western Jamaica, including Negril. The organiser says it has since donated goods worth J$1.5 million (about US$9,500) to Negril volunteers, the Jamaica Observer reported.
Past runners should treat 2026 as a city race rather than a beach weekend. The organiser has also listed 5 December 2027 as the date of the following edition.
Entry Fees and the 3 December Deadline
All fees for international runners are quoted in US dollars, so no conversion is needed. The early rate ended on 31 July, and the current rate applies from 1 August.
The Half Marathon now costs US$125, the 10K US$95 and the 5K US$60. Entering on site in Kingston costs US$140, US$110 and US$80 respectively.
Online registration closes at midnight on 3 December 2026. Fees are neither refundable nor transferable, and name changes are not allowed.
The minimum age is 14 for the Half Marathon and 10 for the 10K and 5K. Conversions in this article use 157.9 Jamaican dollars to the US dollar, the rate on 28 September 2026.
Devon House: Packet Pick-Up and the Pasta Party
Pre-race activity has moved to Devon House, a heritage mansion in Kingston built in the late 19th century by George Stiebel. The organiser confirmed the new home in June 2026.
Registration and packet collection open on Friday 4 December from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday 5 December, registration runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and collection until 6 p.m.
The Pasta Party follows on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Devon House. Entry is included in the race fee, and companions can buy tickets at the packet pick-up booth.
There is no registration or packet collection on race morning. Anyone landing late on Saturday should plan around that rule before booking flights.
The Course Along the Kingston Waterfront
The mostly flat routes are certified by World Athletics and AIMS and sanctioned by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association. The 10K follows Ocean Boulevard before looping through downtown streets.
Runners pass the Art Walk on Water Lane and turn back on Michael Manley Boulevard. The Gleaner noted the Supreme Court and the National Gallery among the landmarks on the route.
The fact sheet lists 13 aid stations, one every mile, plus cooling stations with misters and iced towels. Reggae music plays at every mile of the course.
The Finish Line Beach Bash runs on Port Royal Street from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Bob Marley and Rita Marley trophies go to the Half Marathon winners.
Getting There and Where to Stay
The organiser recommends Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston for visitors from the United States. Negril veterans used to fly into Montego Bay, on the other side of the island.
There are no free shuttles to packet pick-up or the Pasta Party. The organiser points runners to JUTA Kingston, which offers event rates, and to Uber.
The race’s accommodation page lists the ROK Hotel as about 750 metres from the start at Nethersole Place. Other listed hotels, including the Jamaica Pegasus and the Courtleigh, are about 3 km from downtown.
What Is Not Yet Published
The race-day information page still says details will be posted closer to the date. The organiser’s FAQ page also shows an older 5:15 a.m. start, which the 2026 fact sheet supersedes.
No 2026 entry cap or expected field size has been published. The price of Pasta Party tickets for non-runners will only be shown at the pick-up booth.
More: Jamaica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
FAQ
When and where is the Reggae Marathon in 2026?
It runs on Sunday 6 December 2026 on the Kingston Waterfront in Kingston, Jamaica. The Half Marathon starts at 5:45 a.m., the 10K at 5:55 a.m. and the 5K at 6 a.m.
Is the Reggae Marathon still held in Negril?
No, the race moved from Negril to Kingston in 2025 after 24 years on the west coast. The organiser has listed Kingston again for 2026, with pre-race events at Devon House.
How much does entry cost for international runners?
From 1 August the fees are US$125 for the Half Marathon, US$95 for the 10K and US$60 for the 5K. On-site entry in Kingston costs US$140, US$110 and US$80, and no fee is refundable.
Can I register or collect my bib on race morning?
No, there is no race-morning registration or packet collection. Online entry closes at midnight on 3 December, and packets are collected at Devon House on 4 and 5 December.
Sources: Reggae Marathon official site, 2026 International Fact Sheet, FAQs and accommodation page (consulted 28 September 2026), Jamaica Gleaner (7 December 2025 and 26 April 2026), Jamaica Observer (24 January 2025 and 2 August 2026), South Florida Caribbean News (28 May 2026).
