Registration is open for the 26th staging of the Reggae Marathon, with organizers preparing to build on the momentum generated by the event’s move to Kingston while introducing a major development for 2026: race operations will now be centered at the historic Devon House.
The internationally recognized road race event, which includes a Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, relocated to Jamaica’s capital city in 2025 after spending 24 years in Negril. Organizers say this year’s staging will continue efforts to establish Kingston as the event’s long-term home while strengthening its role within Jamaica’s tourism and cultural landscape.
A significant feature of this year’s event is the decision to stage race-related activities at Devon House, one of Jamaica’s most important heritage sites.
Constructed in the late 19th century by George Stiebel — widely recognized as Jamaica’s first Black millionaire — Devon House occupies an important place in the country’s history and cultural identity. The property remains one of Kingston’s most visited landmarks and has increasingly become a venue for major cultural and public events.
For organizers, the venue shift aligns with broader efforts to deepen the event’s connection to Kingston’s cultural offerings while creating a race experience that extends beyond athletic competition.
Building on Kingston’s first year
The move to Kingston in 2025 represented one of the most significant developments in the event’s history.
For nearly a quarter century, the Reggae Marathon had become closely associated with Negril, where it established itself as one of the Caribbean’s leading sports tourism events and attracted participants from Jamaica and overseas.
The transition to Kingston marked a strategic shift designed to showcase a different side of Jamaica’s tourism product while positioning the event within the capital city’s expanding cultural and entertainment ecosystem.
Organizers have indicated they intend to build on the same level of energy and engagement generated during the event’s first Kingston staging.
Kingston offers distinct advantages as an event destination, combining cultural experiences, historical attractions, entertainment offerings and transportation accessibility within a single urban environment.
The city’s position as the birthplace of reggae music also creates a natural connection to the identity of the event itself.
Reggae remains a central component of the marathon experience, a focus organizers continue to emphasize particularly following UNESCO’s 2018 inscription of reggae music on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The recognition acknowledged reggae’s cultural significance globally and reinforced Jamaica’s role as the originator of one of the world’s most influential musical genres.
Strengthening Jamaica’s sports tourism product
The Reggae Marathon has long occupied an important position within Jamaica’s sports tourism portfolio.
Sports tourism continues to represent a growing segment of global travel, with destination races increasingly functioning as economic drivers by attracting visitors who often extend stays and participate in local experiences beyond event activities.
Industry stakeholders have increasingly emphasized Kingston’s potential as a sports tourism destination, particularly as the city expands its positioning around culture, heritage and entertainment tourism.
Events such as the Reggae Marathon create opportunities to introduce international visitors to experiences beyond traditional resort destinations while increasing visitor spending across accommodations, dining, attractions and transportation sectors.
For Jamaica, the continued development of internationally recognized events remains an important component of tourism diversification efforts.
The marathon’s move to Kingston aligns with broader national efforts to showcase urban tourism experiences alongside the island’s established leisure travel offerings.
An opportunity for diaspora engagement
Organizers are also encouraging participation from Jamaicans living overseas and members of the wider Caribbean diaspora.
The event has historically attracted international participants from North America, Europe and other global markets, making it one of Jamaica’s more internationally visible participatory sporting events.
For diaspora communities, the Kingston staging creates additional opportunities to engage with Jamaica’s cultural institutions and historical sites while participating in an event that reflects one of the country’s strongest global cultural exports.
The inclusion of Devon House within the race experience further strengthens that connection by placing participants within a location that carries deep historical significance while remaining closely connected to Kingston’s contemporary cultural life.
Continuing community support
While organizers prepare for the December staging, the Reggae Marathon team has also continued community support initiatives connected to the event’s long-standing presence in western Jamaica.
Representatives recently visited Negril to distribute hurricane relief assistance totaling approximately J$1 million in cash and in-kind support to volunteer groups that assisted the event throughout its 24-year history in the resort town.
The gesture reflects ongoing ties to Negril even as organizers continue expanding the event’s Kingston footprint.
Local and international registration for the 26th Reggae Marathon is now open ahead of the December event.
For organizers, this year’s staging represents an opportunity to further establish Kingston’s role within one of Jamaica’s most recognizable sporting events while reinforcing the intersection of athletics, culture and tourism that has defined the Reggae Marathon for more than two decades.
