Malaysia Marathon 2026 Kicks Off With 25,000 Runners, Features Humanoid Robot Competitor

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The inaugural Malaysia Marathon 2026 kicked off after midnight in conjunction with the nation’s 69th National Day celebrations, bringing together 25,000 local and international runners across four categories.

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing officiated the flag-off ceremony near Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The flagship 42-kilometer Full Marathon category commenced at 12:30 am on Aug 30, drawing 2,000 elite and amateur runners, while the 21km Half Marathon followed at 2:00 am with 8,000 participants.

In a unique twist for the championship—which has earned official recognition from World Athletics—the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) precinct was selected as the finish line for all categories, replacing the traditional venue at Dataran Merdeka.

The 10km category, scheduled to start at 3:30 am with 5,000 runners, showcases a distinct technological highlight through a special appearance by an HONOR-made humanoid robot competing alongside participants from various countries, including Japan and Nigeria. The marathon schedule concludes with the 5km Fun Run at 7:30 am, bringing together 10,000 participants.

For Full Marathon runners, the race route presents a formidable physical challenge, featuring a 900-meter climb as participants traverse the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH).

To ensure public safety and smooth event management, Kuala Lumpur Police are executing phased road closures and traffic diversions through tomorrow afternoon. Major affected thoroughfares include Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan, as well as the AKLEH and SUKE highways.

–NMT