Thanks to a new partnership with Signet Bank, the Rimi Riga Marathon 2025–2026 running season will bring a series of events in brand-new formats.
At the end of this year, Signet Bank will help the traditional Rimi Riga Marathon Christmas Run gain new momentum by joining forces to support the charity campaign “Angels over Latvia”, organised annually by TV3 Group Latvia in cooperation with the Children’s Hospital Foundation and other supporters.
On 17 May 2026, Signet Bank will also give Rimi Riga Marathon participants the chance to take on Riga’s longest distances in a team relay format.
Christmas Charity Run in partnership with Signet Bank
To mark the beginning of the new cooperation, the traditional Rimi Riga Marathon Christmas Run on the morning of 24 December will become a charity run and will be organised together with Signet Bank.
Start and route
- Date & time: 24 December, 9:00
- Start location: By the big Christmas tree at the Latvian National Opera (Aspazijas bulvāris 3)
From the Opera:
- Along the route past the Freedom Monument
- Further along Brīvības Street to Tērbatas Street
- Continuing to Miera Street
- Turning towards the traditional Christmas Run destination – Mežaparks
- Turnaround point in Mežaparks and run back to the finish
Finish location:
For the second year in a row, the finish will be at Buono Buono pizzeria, Miera iela 10.
- Total course length: ~13 km
- Runners can choose their own distance by turning back towards the finish at any point on the way to Mežaparks.
Festive atmosphere at the finish
At the finish, runners will be greeted by:
- A festive Christmas atmosphere
- Delicious pizza – free for the first finishers, courtesy of the organisers
- A glass of good Bordeaux red wine, served from a double magnum bottle
The early Christmas morning run has become a beloved tradition for Riga residents, bringing together several hundred runners every year who are the first to wake up the city ahead of the festive celebrations.
Donation to “Angels over Latvia”
The organisers are delighted that this year, in cooperation with Signet Bank, the run will not only get snowy Riga moving but also contribute to the “Angels over Latvia” charity campaign.
- For every participant, the Rimi Riga Marathon will donate EUR 10 to “Angels over Latvia”.
- During the run, organisers will also invite participants to make their own donations.
Everyone is warmly encouraged to join in full festive spirit:
- Christmas-themed outfits
- Elf hats
- Reindeer antlers
- Or any other fun, thematic costume found at home
Important practical information
- Traffic will not be closed.
Participants will move along the pavements and must follow all traffic rules. - In case of high participant numbers, several start groups (waves) will be created to reduce potential congestion.
- The Christmas Run is free of charge and no advance registration is required.
Rimi Riga Marathon relays in partnership with Signet Bank
Next year, joining forces once again, the Rimi Riga Marathon organisers and Signet Bank will bring back the relay concept that was first introduced at the World Road Running Championships 2023:
- Relay format in both the marathon and half-marathon distances
- Teams of 2 or 4 runners
- A chance to experience Riga’s streets in an even more unique and exciting way
Detailed information and registration for the half-marathon and marathon relays, made possible thanks to the support of Signet Bank, will follow very soon – by the end of this year.
