We caught up with the team behind the TUI Mediterranean Marathon League to discover what makes its four coastal races so special, how running tourism is growing and why your next race could become an unforgettable Mediterranean adventure.
1. For those discovering the TUI Mediterranean Marathon League for the first time, can you tell us about your initiative, what you offer, and what sets you apart in the world of running travel?
The TUI Mediterranean Marathon League brings together four of the Mediterranean’s most iconic coastal races: the TUI Palma Marathon in Mallorca, the Maratona di Palermo in Sicily, the TUI Cyprus Marathon in Pafos and the TUI Rhodes Marathon in Greece. Every race is run beside the sea, in a city rich in culture and history, and all four are AIMS-licensed, so runners know they are getting a professionally organised, internationally certified event.
What sets us apart is that we were built for running travel from day one. These are not big-city races where you queue for everything. These races are warm, welcoming destination events where the race is the anchor of a real holiday. With TUI as our title sponsor and official distribution partner, runners can book their race and their travel together, which makes the whole experience seamless.
2. What is the vision behind the League, what running events does it include, and how has participation changed over recent years?
The League was born from collaboration between Mediterranean race organisers who share the same belief: that marathons can drive tourism and cultural exchange, and offer a compelling alternative to the traditional major marathons. We share expertise across technical organisation, tourism and marketing, and we promote each other’s races at expos and through our channels.
The League includes four events – Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Pafos and Rhodes, each offering a Full Marathon alongside Half-Marathon, 10km and 5km options, so there is a distance for everyone. Across the League we now welcome over 25,000 athletes from around 90 countries each season, and the growth has been remarkable. Not only that, in most of our events more than 50% of the participation comes from foreigners travelling to our cities to combine running with holidays!
3. Running tourism continues to grow in popularity. What trends are you seeing in the market, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth over the next few years?
The clearest trend is that runners increasingly plan their holidays around races rather than the other way round. In our post-race surveys, ‘travel and experience’ is the number one motivation for participating, ahead of personal challenge. Runners are also staying longer: most of our international participants stay four to six nights, often with partners, family or their running club, which multiplies the value for the destination.
The biggest opportunities are in the shoulder season. Our races take place between October and April, when the Mediterranean offers perfect running weather and when destinations most need visitors. We also see huge potential in first-timers as more and more people are taking up running as a hobby. Word of mouth marketing is also one of the important trends as we see a rise in the sharing of personal achievements and satisfaction on social media.
4. What exciting developments, destinations or experiences can runners look forward to from the TUI Mediterranean Marathon League over the next 12 months?
The next 12 months are a full Mediterranean tour: the TUI Palma Marathon on 18 October 2026 (already sold out since April 2026), the Maratona di Palermo on 15 November 2026, the 29th TUI Cyprus Marathon in Pafos on 28 February 2027, and the TUI Rhodes Marathon on 18 April 2027.
The one we are most excited about is our Grand Slam Medal. An exclusive, specially designed medal awarded to runners who complete all four League events. Any distance counts and there is no time limit, so it is an invitation to explore four cities, four cultures and one running community at your own pace. And with TUI behind the League through 2027, booking flights, hotels and race entry as one package keeps getting easier. We are also always open to welcoming new member races, so the Mediterranean map may yet grow.
5. If you could leave our audience with one piece of advice or inspiration for anyone considering combining travel with a running event, what would it be – and why is now a great time to get involved?
Do not wait until you feel ‘ready’. Pick a destination that excites you and let the race give your trip a purpose. You do not need to run a full marathon as even a 5km by the Mediterranean at sunset counts just as much, and you will remember it far longer than another week on a sun lounger.
And why now? Because running tourism has never been more accessible. Direct flights, package options through TUI, races every few months across the calendar, and a Grand Slam Medal waiting for anyone who completes the set. The atmosphere at our races is what runners praise most. Come for the race, stay for the Mediterranean. We will see you at the start line!
Want to know more?
Head on over to their website: https://tui-mml.com/