Organisers have kept the half marathon quota at 8,000 and added a 10km race to broaden the event's appeal
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge half marathon returns 15 November with a new 10km race
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The Bank of China Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Half Marathon 2026 will take place on 15 November, with priority registration open until 15 June (12 pm). A public ballot is scheduled between 18 June (2 pm) and 2 July (12 pm).
Participants in the upcoming race can choose to take part in the 21.0975km half marathon or the newly added 10km race. Both events are organised according to three age categories – Junior (born between 2007-2010), Senior (born between 16 November 1991 and 31 December 2006) and Master 1-8 (born on 15 November 1991 or before). The half marathon is capped at 8,000 participants and the 10km at 2,000, for a total of 10,000.
On the day, racers will gather at AsiaWorld-Expo before the start on the bridge’s Hong Kong Link Road. They will run along the bridge’s Hong Kong section, passing landmarks such as the Scenic Hill Tunnel and Sha Lo Wan, then turn around at the half-way mark and return to the Hong Kong Link Road to finish.
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The half marathon carries a prize pool of US$80,800. The first-placed man and woman each receive US$15,000, with US$7,500 for second and US$6,000 for third.
A separate pool of HK$180,000 rewards Hong Kong permanent residents who finish in the top three of their age categories. In the half marathon, they earn HK$3,000, HK$2,000 and HK$1,000 for first, second and third; in the 10km, the equivalent prizes are HK$1,500, HK$1,000 and HK$500.
On the inclusion of a new 10km event, the head of the race organising committee, Simon Yeung Sai-mo, said it was intended to increase the event’s appeal among the general public.
“The 10km race is about popularisation, so more members of the public can experience the grandeur of the bridge,” Yeung was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.
Still, the organisers are hoping to further boost the prestige of the race by attracting more professional runners, especially those ranked among the top ten worldwide.
Last year’s 2024/2025 HZMB Half Marathon was held on 5 January, with Grace Loibach Nawowuna of Kenya winning the female half marathon with a time of 1:07:56. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha Tolosa clinched first prize in the male race with a time of 1:01:27.
