Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has spent most of 2025 sidelined with injury, but he and his brothers have still found ways to stay busy. Last month, the Ingebrigtsens launched a global run club, and it was only a matter of time before they took the next step—race directing.
On Thursday, the brothers announced RUNFEST, a new race series set for September 2026.
According to the press release, the objective is to bring runners of all levels together, from recreational to elite, and have them compete against one another. RUNFEST will be held in Ingebrigtsen’s hometown of Sandnes, Norway, from Sept. 24-26, 2026, with distances of 1,500m (naturally), a 5K, 10K and half-marathon.
“This is a dream that my brothers and I have had for a long time,” said Jakob in the press release. “Runfest should be a celebration of the joy of running, both for young and old. It will be a street running festival and a public festival where the world’s best runners are part of the show, but where everyone can participate.”
Registration for RUNFEST 2026 opens on Sept. 26, 2025.
Ingebrigtsen’s injury woes continue
With the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan now four weeks away, one of the biggest questions is whether Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be healthy enough to compete, let alone contend for a medal. The 24-year-old Norwegian has yet to race this outdoor season as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury sustained last fall.
His last appearance was at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March, where he won gold in both the 1,500m and 3,000m. Jakob had been scheduled to run the 1,500m in Silesia and Brussels on Aug. 16 and 22, but his spokesperson, Espen Skoland, said he is still recovering and “working on getting rid of the injury,” adding, “he would very much have liked to be able to participate.”
By missing the Silesia and Brussels Diamond League meets, Jakob will likely not have enough points to qualify for the Diamond League Final in Zurich on Aug. 27–28. While he holds an automatic spot in the 5,000m (as defending champion), and has the world championship standard in the 1,500m, the lack of races before worlds leaves him and his team with a tough decision.
Ingebrigtsen has said he intends to race at the World Championships in Tokyo from Sept. 13–21, but it is unclear whether he will contest both events, or shift his focus to the one he has dominated for the past three seasons: the men’s 5,000m.
