EN_GB 
JA 35 teams will tackle the 112 km Thames Path route between Windsor and Reading
17 UK University teams will compete in the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden having gone through qualifying for the first time – highlighting the elite level of competition
The 112km team relay on June 12th 2026 has been licenced by England Athletics – reflecting the high-performance standing of the event
The year’s FT Nikkei UK Ekiden – which also includes 18 corporate and community runners’ teams – will be the first since the word ‘Ekiden’ was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in December last year
The best university teams will go head-to-head in the nation’s most formidable endurance relay race – a centuries old Japanese relay that is seeing soaring popularity in Britain – a month today.
The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden will return for its third year with a series of firsts that will make it the most competitive and testing yet.
On June 12, athletes from universities, alongside teams from 18 leading companies in the corporate world, will take part in a 112km endurance battle where 35 mixed teams of 10 male and female runners hand over a “tasuki” sash in Japan’s most popular sporting event.
Sixteen elite teams from British universities – who have all gone through qualifying for the first time – will compete alongside runners from Japan’s Ritsumeikan University and 18 corporate and community teams in a contest quickly becoming the defining endurance event in university sport.
The 2026 FT Nikkei UK Ekiden – which takes place on a picturesque stretch along the Thames between Windsor and Reading – will see a series of firsts for one of Britain’s fastest growing elite team races, which organisers hope will inspire future Olympians of the future.
For the first time the event is licensed by England Athletics and has required all of its elite university teams to go through qualifying before earning their spot.
Such is the sports growing popularity, the word “Ekiden” was even added to the Oxford English Dictionary in December 2025.
“The UK Ekiden is a truly special race, and it is a team race, which people can aspire to be part of. University teams must qualify, while corporate teams support the event and compete alongside them. With costs covered for universities and mixed teams representing their institutions, it creates a high-performance, inclusive environment. Introducing qualification has elevated the competition even further. We already have a waiting list, and it’s fast becoming a standout fixture in the student sporting calendar. Being awarded an England Athletics licence this year is a significant milestone for the UK Ekiden. It adds an extra layer of credibility to the event and reinforces our position as a recognised and professionally delivered championship. Inspired by the 100th Hakone Ekiden university running relay race, I’ve seen how it brings the whole country together to cheer on the next generation. Ekiden culture and team work is extremely important in Japan, it’s all about hearts and minds. Our plan is also for the UK Ekiden to continue for 100 years.”
“The UK Ekiden tests which institution is truly the best in endurance running. Success depends on the strength of the team, not the individual—there’s nowhere to hide. It showcases distance running in its purest form: a point-to-point relay. Behind every Olympic star is a journey. The Ekiden aims to play a key role in developing the next generation, offering a platform for emerging talent to shine. Keep an eye on these athletes ahead of 2028 and beyond—several have already represented Great Britain. This is a true championship—no team reaches the start line without earning it. Every place is hard-won, secured either through automatic qualification from the 2025 edition or by meeting strict time standards. What sets the UK Ekiden apart is its mixed-team format, with men and women competing together towards a shared goal—something rarely seen in sport. It’s a progressive model that reflects the future of competition, bringing teams closer and strengthening collective performance.”
Runners will line up on the start line at 8am on June 12 in Brocas Field, Windsor before teams navigate the Thames path, footpath gates, fields and bridges, through towns and across roads before ending up in King’s Meadow, Reading.
The race is a Japanese relay format – using a tasuki sash rather than a baton. Each team has a tasuki that represents its collective effort and dreams and it’s the tasuki that is passed from runner to runner
Just like in Japanese races, the day before, there will be a tasuki ceremony to hand over the sashes to each team.
This year’s event promises to be even more competitive than last year’s, where Ritsumeikan University took the glory after the University of Oxford team was disqualified for not making the tasuki handover within the designated area. Loughborough University and St Mary’s were second and third in a tense battle in 29-degree heat.
The 2026 FT Nikkei UK Ekiden will also see a Corporate Trophy for the first time, with the sponsors putting forward teams to compete and creating valuable connections with the exceptional talent pool represented by the university teams.
“It’s a notoriously challenging time for graduates entering the job market, and the headlines can be pretty discouraging. “At the UK Ekiden, we’re proud that our corporate partners don’t just fund the event and student participation they also engage directly with students. This year, we’re introducing informal talks in the race village where sponsors share their career journeys and offer practical advice, helping students better understand the opportunities ahead of them.”
Supported by Financial Times and Nikkei, the race seeks to shine a light on university team running and deepen links between the United Kingdom and Japan through the shared joy of sport. It also offers a unique opportunity for British participants and spectators to experience the traditions and values of Japanese running culture.
The collaborative ethos embodied in the Ekiden format is at the heart of the event, celebrating teamwork and the collective achievement of a shared goal.
The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden wants to not only celebrate the best of university competition but also help the development of athletes and give back to university clubs, through its prize money of £3,000, £2,000 and £1,000 for the top three teams.
For the first time this year, a “Mini Ekiden” will also be rolled out for up to 50 primary schools across the UK, where pupils can experience handing over the sash in the ultimate team sport. Boxes will be sent out to junior and secondary schools in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales containing tasuki sashes from Japan and an information booklet about how to hold an Ekiden on school sports days. In a few years time, these students could be representing their universities in the main race.
Each year, the race spotlights a Japanese prefecture to introduce new regions of Japan to UK audiences. In 2026, the focus is Ishikawa Prefecture, located on the Sea of Japan, following the devastating earthquake that impacted parts of the region in 2024. This year’s event reflects that connection, with runners joining us from Ishikawa, prizes sourced from the region, and a specially commissioned poem, created by a local community, featured on the reverse of our medals (NOTE TO EDITORS: the poem on the medal can be found at the end of the release).
“The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden stands as a powerful symbol of unity, reflecting the close partnership between Nikkei and the Financial Times and the enduring ties between Japan and the United Kingdom. Through the universal language of sport it connects people and fosters enduring bonds through the relay sash (Tasuki). We are deeply honoured to take part in this historic initiative.”
"What I love about the UK Ekiden is how it brings together the best of Japanese and British traditions – athletic, cultural and academic. It’s a race built on team work and for us that means it’s a really impactful event for our people, our brand and our global outlook.”
Headline sponsors Nikkei and the Financial Times are joined by official partner ASICS and official sponsors ABeam Consulting, Arcus Investment, Daiwa Capital Markets Europe, Japan Airlines, Kikkoman, Marsh, Science in Sport, Sports Ground, Suntory Global Spirits, Ueshima Coffee.
Supporters include the UK Embassy, Japanese Embassy, MUSUBI, Japan National Tourism Organization, Ishikawa Prefecture, Royal Air Force, The Tokyo Club, Momiji, Blick Rothernberg, Fujifilm, Linley, Sapporo.
-Ends-
Participating Universities
- Loughborough University – Second place (2025)
- St Mary’s University
- University of Leeds
- University of Exeter
- University of Birmingham
- University of Cambridge
- University College London (UCL)
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Oxford – Winners (2024)
- Cardiff University
- Newcastle University
- University of Bath
- Durham University
- King’s College
- University of Bristol
- Ritsumeikan University – Winners (2025) – Guest Team (2026)
- Wild card- Royal Holloway University
Corporate Teams
- Nikkei – FT Group (3 teams)
- ASICS (2 teams)
- ABeam Consulting
- Arcus Investment
- Daiwa Capital Markets Europe
- Japan Airlines
- Kikkoman
- Marsh
- Science in Sport
- Sports Ground
- Suntory Global Spirits
- Ueshima Coffee Company
Community teams
- State Visit Legacy team
- Royal Air Force
- Storytellers
風雪を聴き
言葉を襷に
春を編んでいく
With the wind and snow
Words become the passing sash
As we weave the spring
The poem was especially commissioned as part of our ongoing plan to connect different regions of Japan with the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden. This year we focus on Ishikawa prefecture, and the poem was composed especially for the UK Ekiden medals by the community at Gaxo, our Japanese charity this year https://npo.gaxo.club/