Doha Festival City, Qatar’s leading retail, leisure, and lifestyle destination, will host RunFest 2026, an indoor running festival for participants of all ages and fitness levels, on Friday, 25 September. RunFest 2026 underscores the mall’s long-standing commitment to fostering community wellness and championing healthy lifestyles for all, encouraging every member of the community to set a personal health goal and take a step towards it.
RunFest 2026 will transform Doha Festival City into a dynamic running track from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, with a professionally managed, chip-timed race taking place on a bespoke 1.3 km circuit. Participants can register across five distinct race categories: a 10 km race, a 5 km race, a 1 km Fun Run, a 1 km Kids Run for children from 8 to 12 years old, and a 500-metre Mini Kids Run for children under 8.
Beyond the track, the festival will feature a vibrant Event Village designed to entertain both participants and spectators. The hub will boast a main stage with live entertainment, dedicated spectator viewing areas, expert-led warm-up sessions, exhibitor booths, and engaging activities for visitors of all ages.
The event will culminate with an official podium presentation, where top performers will be recognised and awarded exclusive Doha Festival City Gift Cards.
Commenting on the occasion, Tugrul Comert, Asset Management Director at Doha Festival City, said:
“Our goal has always been to make Doha Festival City a vibrant hub where people can connect, thrive, and prioritise their wellbeing in a welcoming environment. Guest experience is at the heart of everything we do, and our community wellbeing becomes our priority, from the moment they step inside the mall. RunFest 2026 is the latest and most ambitious milestone on that mission.”
Tugrul Comert, Asset Management Director at Doha Festival City
As part of this strategy, Doha Festival City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Qatar Sports For All Federation (QSFA) in June, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The synergistic partnership aims to promote health, wellness, and nationwide community engagement by creating more accessible and inclusive opportunities for people to stay fit.
The joint-led weekly Friday Community Run recorded more than 6,000 cumulative participations between May and August 2026. This was followed by the debut of the 5K Steps Challenge, an inclusive step-tracking initiative encouraging visitors to stay active while walking inside the mall via a live leaderboard on the QSFA app.
Commenting on the collaboration, Abdullah Al Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, said:
“Our mission is to make physical activity accessible to the different segments of our communities and to weave sport into everyday life across Qatar. RunFest 2026 invites everyone to set a personal goal and work towards it, which encapsulates QSFA’s mission and aligns with the country’s socioeconomic development agenda.
Abdullah Al Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation
Aspiring racers interested in the festival are encouraged to register at: runthroughqatar.com/event/doha-festival-city-run-fest-2026. You can also register to participate via the Qatar Sports For All Federation (QSFA) app.
