The economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon has reached almost 45 million euros in the last three years, of which 38.5 million euros have been attracted to the Latvian economy by foreign participants and their fellow travelers. in 2026, the Rimi Riga Marathon gathered the largest number of foreign visitors so far - 6,593 foreign runners and 6,447 co-drivers, or a total of 13,040 foreign guests. Their spending on Latvia's economy attracted EUR 12.52 million this year, providing almost EUR 2 million in VAT revenue to the state budget. In total, the direct economic impact of the 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon on the Riga economy reached 13.59 million euros, 92% of which was accounted for by the spending of foreign visitors.
The Rimi Riga Marathon Economic impact study, conducted in accordance with the methodology of the Ministry of Education and Science, surveying runners and analyzing event attendance and spending data, concluded that from 2024 to 2026, the total economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon reached 44.9 million euros, or an average of almost 15 million euros per year. Over three years, foreign visitor spending in the tourism sector has reached 16.95 million euros, while shopping and other expenses have reached 21.54 million euros. Overall, foreign visitors' expenses have accounted for approximately 86% of the economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon, confirming the importance of the event in attracting foreign funds to the Latvian economy.
“The Rimi Riga Marathon, which has become the largest annual sports event in the capital, leaves not only a significant social footprint, moving Riga, Latvia and significantly promoting folk sports and a healthy lifestyle, but also, thanks to the impressive flow of marathon tourists who arrive, stay and spend in Riga every May, provides a significant economic contribution to the capital and Latvian economy. Taking into account the co-financing of the Riga City Council for the event in the amount of 300,000 euros, each euro invested in the municipal marathon returned approximately 45 euros to the Riga economy this year, “comments Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs.
Number of foreign visitors continues to grow
in 2026, a record number of participants participated in the Rimi Riga Marathon – 46,313 runners, which is 15% more than in 2025. The number of foreign participants also continued to grow - from 6017 runners last year to 6593 this year, or an increase of almost 10%. Compared to 2024, when 4,306 foreign runners participated in the marathon, the number has increased by more than half in two years.
In the survey, 72% of foreign participants said they came to Riga with family, friends or other fellow travelers. Thus, together with 6447 co-drivers, the event attracted 13,040 foreign visitors to Latvia this year. in 2025 - 12,346, while in 2024 - 10,171.
Foreign participants and their fellow travellers stayed an average of 3.42 nights in Latvia, spending a total of 44,632 nights. The average spend of foreign participants in the Rimi Riga Marathon reached 280 euros per day, which is about 29% more than the average daily spend of foreign visitors in Latvia as a whole - according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, it is about 217 euros per day.
In total, in the last three years, the Rimi Riga Marathon has attracted 16,916 foreign runners to Latvia, which together with the co-runners comprises 35,557 foreign guests from 148 countries. Over three years, guests have spent a total of more than 130 thousand nights here, bringing 38.5 million euros into the Latvian economy.
“Our ambition is clear – to strengthen Riga among Europe's most desirable running destinations, and this status will be followed by a significant economic contribution to both the capital and the Latvian economy as a whole,” comments Aigars Nords, head of the Rimi Riga Marathon organizing team. “We are convinced that international interest will continue to grow, because in the coming years we will continue to win the trust of an ever wider international runners' community, attracting both marathon tourists and the world's fastest runners to Riga, whose high-quality results create increased interest in running Riga.”
Organizers remind that according to information compiled by the World Athletics Union, the result achieved by Edžgajehu Taje (Ejgayehu Taye), leader of the 21 km distance of the Rimi Riga Marathon, currently occupies a high third place in the 2026 world ranking, while the overall competition ranking (competition performance score) of the half marathon ensures even a high fifth place in the European half marathon ranking. High-quality sports results are just one aspect of marathon tourism promotion, which organizers will continue to work with in the coming years.
Registration for the 2027 Rimi Riga Marathon
Registration for the 2027 Rimi Riga Marathon, which will take place on May 15 and 16 next year, has been open since June for the DPD Mile, 6 km, 10 km, 21 km, 42 km distances, as well as Signet Bank relays and Toyota WESS Grand Sprint distances. Registration for children's Day distances (free of charge) and the Latvian School Cup will open at the beginning of 2027. Organisers advise against delaying registration as membership fees are at their lowest until the end of September.
About Rimi Riga Marathon
The marathon has been held in Riga since 1991 and has become the most important folk sports event in the Baltics. So far, the largest number of participants in the Rimi Riga Marathon was reached in May 2026, when more than 46,000 runners from 116 countries participated in various distances in the Rimi Riga Marathon. in 2027, the Rimi Riga Marathon will take place on May 15-16, offering a wide range of distances - marathon, half marathon, Signet Bankas 42 km and 21 km relays, 10 km and 5 km runs, DPD mile (1609 m), various children's day distances, as well as the “Toyota WESS Grand Sprint”. Four Rimi Riga Marathon distances have been awarded World Athletics Road race label (World Athletics Road race label), while Latvian champions are also determined in the marathon distance.
In cooperation with the children's Hospital Foundation and Rimi, the marathon implements the charity initiative “movement for movement”, within the framework of which almost 200,000 euros have been donated to support children with movement and functional disabilities since 2019.
Rimi Riga Marathon is also the initiator of the most important sports event sustainability program in the Baltics “run for future”. As part of the program, not only is the carbon footprint of the event calculated and offset, but participants are also encouraged to make environmentally friendly and responsible decisions both during the race and on a daily basis.
Since 2007, the marathon has been organized by the agency NECom (SIA Nords event Communications) in cooperation with the Riga City Council. Main partner – Rimi, partners – TC Spice, Elektrum, Signet Banka, sponsors – DPD Latvia, WESS Motors Toyota, Sportland, Nike. Partners and supporters – Balticovo, children's Hospital Foundation, CIDO, natural mineral water Mangaļi, Garmin, Happy, Mēness aptieka, Science in Sport, KLOTINI & Sergis, LVS, LTSA, Riga forests, Riga water and others.