The organisers of the annual Nedbank Maseru City Run have extended the registration deadline to February 20, 2026, in response to a surge in athlete interest ahead of this year’s race, scheduled for February 22.
Speaking in an interview with the organisers Eventful Moments, they confirmed that over 2 936 runners have registered so far, with two weeks still remaining before entries close. Now in its fourth year, this year’s figures have already dwarfed the 2025 numbers, where about 1400 athletes participated.
International participation has also risen significantly. Of the total registrations, 348 athletes are from outside Lesotho, representing South Africa, Pakistan, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The organisers said the increasing foreign presence reflects the race’s strengthening regional profile and its emergence as a preferred destination for road running enthusiasts beyond the country’s borders.
The elite and professional field continues to grow, with 35 professional runners confirmed to date. Adding further prestige to the event, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Lerotholi have once again confirmed their participation, this time in the 21-kilometre half marathon, while Speaker of the National Assembly, Tlohang Sekhamane, has registered for the 10km race.
The organisers said the involvement of high-profile figures continues to generate public interest and contributes to rising registration numbers.
The event’s growth in athlete participation has been matched by strong corporate backing. The 2026 edition is headlined by Nedbank Lesotho as title sponsor, supported by Maseru Toyota, Maluti Mountain Cement, Stanlib Lesotho and NBC, listed in order of sponsorship value.
In total, 27 sponsors have been secured, with 21 of them coming on board as trade sponsors, signaling increased confidence from the corporate sector.
According to the organisers, preparations are on track, with adequate logistical arrangements already in place. They confirmed that water stations have been positioned at approved intervals of approximately three kilometres across all routes, in line with race standards.
One of the major milestones for this year’s event followed the successful World Athletics route measurement and certification exercise conducted in Maseru in October.
As a result, the 42.2km marathon is now an official Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans Marathon qualifier, elevating the Maseru City Run into the ranks of internationally recognised races.
Organisers are also pursuing inclusion of the event on the World Athletics annual calendar, a move expected to further boost international participation, with a long-term target of attracting at least 400 foreign runners in future editions.
Despite the positive momentum, organisers acknowledged challenges, particularly late entry fee payments, with many runners traditionally registering at the last minute. However, they expressed confidence that the extended deadline to February 20, 2026, for no-pack registration will help accommodate demand while ensuring a smooth race-day experience.
With numbers rising, sponsors on board and international recognition growing, the 2026 Nedbank Maseru City Run is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and high-profile editions in the event’s history.
Summary
- The organisers of the annual Nedbank Maseru City Run have extended the registration deadline to February 20, 2026, in response to a surge in athlete interest ahead of this year’s race, scheduled for February 22.
- Organisers are also pursuing inclusion of the event on the World Athletics annual calendar, a move expected to further boost international participation, with a long-term target of attracting at least 400 foreign runners in future editions.
- With numbers rising, sponsors on board and international recognition growing, the 2026 Nedbank Maseru City Run is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and high-profile editions in the event’s history.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
