Photo via BBC Sport

World Road Running Championships 2026 - watch across the BBC

The World Athletics Road Running Championships arrive in Copenhagen this September for their fourth gathering, continuing a competition format introduced in 2023. World crowns will be contested over the mile, 5k, and half marathon distances, with coverage available on the BBC.

Fresh off a 5,000m triumph in Budapest at the Ultimate Athletics Championships, Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen headlines the contenders. The United States will be represented in the women's half marathon by Jess McClain, who posted the top American times over the marathon distance in both 2025 and 2026.

A contingent of 13 British athletes is traveling to the Danish capital. Jake Heyward, an Olympic finalist in Tokyo who placed fourth over 1500m at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2026, features on the squad alongside two-time national 1500m champion Sarah Calvert, who is set for her debut in the women's mile.

Samantha Harrison and Alex Bell will contest the women's half marathon, while Charles Wheeler, Jack Rowe, Alfie Manthorpe, and Joe Wigfield take on the men's race. In the 5k events, Megan Keith pairs with Commonwealth bronze medalist Hannah Nuttal in the women's division, and reigning UK 5,000m champion David Mullarkey, who also earned Commonwealth bronze over 10,000m, lines up for the men.