Mark your calendars and get ready to sign up and join thousands around the world for the 13th edition of the world’s largest running event.
The countdown is on – registration for the 2026 Wings for Life World Run opens on November 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM UTC. The world’s largest running event is back for its 13th edition next May, and once again, everyone’s invited to be part of this global movement.
When registration goes live, you can secure a place at your favourite location, and start setting your goals for 2026. If you thrive on the buzz of racing side by side with thousands of others, then you’ll want to grab a spot at one of the seven popular Flagship Runs worldwide and experience the incredible energy of the crowd.
At the most recent edition, legends such as ski jumping star Adam Małysz (POL), hard-enduro driver Tadeusz Błażusiak (POL), British frontman Ricky Wilson (GBR), Olympic snowboard champion Anna Gasser (AUT), and Dakar Rally winner Luc Alphand (FRA) all took their turn behind the wheel of the iconic Catcher Car.
“... the atmosphere is wonderful. This run is colourful, full of good energy,” Błażusiak declared after finishing his event in Poznan, Poland.
Prefer a more local community vibe? Follow the lead of sporting legends like Carissa Moore and Olympian Eileen Gu, and register for one of the many organized App Run Events taking place across the globe. Or you could take your lead from Red Bull Head of Global Soccer Jürgen Klopp, who had his own team for the last edition in 2025.
Over 40 App Run Events are already confirmed for 2026 in cities across the globe including Sydney, Hong Kong, Salzburg, Lima, Bangalore and Prague, with many more to be added before the big day.
And if you’d rather go it alone, just grab your phone, download the Wings for Life World Run App, and take on the Virtual Catcher Car wherever you are on May 10, 2026, at 11am UTC – the choice is yours when registration opens.
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series athlete Molly Carlson has also confirmed that wherever her busy schedule takes her in 2026, on 10th May she’ll be going all-in and taking part:
“I absolutely love taking part… Race day is so special because you’re joining a community of people who want to make a difference. We’re running for those who can’t, and it’s such a powerful feeling to know that every step you take is helping someone… It’s also about showing anyone going through tough times that they’re not alone,” she explains.
First-timers, professional athletes, passionate amateurs, Olympians and ambassadors alike can walk, roll or run together for a single mission: a future where spinal cord injury no longer means a lifetime of limitation. Whether you’re aiming to cover 50km or 50 steps next May, there’s no set distance in the Wings for Life World Run. Everyone is eventually caught by the moving finish line, and every effort on the day counts toward life-changing spinal cord injury research.
“The vibe is incredible and unforgettable – everyone running at the same time all over the world,” says Wings for Life Sports Director Colin Jackson. “By registering for 2026, you’re helping to give hope to so many people.”
Powered by research, fueled by hope
That hope is shining brighter than ever after the publication of a major scientific milestone in spinal cord research. A Wings for Life–funded clinical trial, led by Professor Michael Kilgard of the University of Texas, has shown that a pioneering therapy using vagus nerve stimulation can significantly improve arm and hand function in people with spinal cord injury.
The vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the abdomen, plays a vital role in breathing, heartbeat and digestion. The new treatment harnesses this nerve pathway, and when combined with rehabilitation exercises, encourages new connections between nerve cells – a natural process called neuroplasticity.
To boost neuroplasticity, the therapy uses a small implanted chip and a collar-like device known as the Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation System (CLV), which has already received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The project is now looking ahead to larger approval studies. If successful, CLV could be available in clinics within just a few years, transforming independence and quality of life for many living with spinal cord injury.
“Without funding, we don’t get anything done,” said Prof. Kilgard.
“Wings for Life has been totally dedicated to this task. That focus really helps us get work done... we’re one step closer to a new treatment.”
This is just one of 344 projects supported by the not-for-profit Wings for Life Foundation since 2004. To date, more than 1.87 million participants from 191 countries have raised €60.53 million for spinal cord injury research and treatment – bringing us closer to a cure.
Registration for the 2026 Wings for Life World Run opens on November 5, 2025. Be part of the world’s most inclusive race and run for those who can’t at wingsforlifeworldrun.com