The "Night Run in the Sunset Capital" is an annual running event in Nizhny Novgorod, held since 2023. As of 2026, four editions have taken place. The organizer is ANO "Rating Sport". Sberbank (Nizhny Novgorod branch) serves as the event's strategic partner, and it is also held with the support of the regional Ministry of Sports.[6] The race is included on the list of events fulfilling the objectives of the state program "Sport of Russia," operating under a directive from the President of the Russian Federation.[2]

Format and Routes

Participants cover distances of 2, 5, and 10 km. The routes for all distances run along the Nizhne-Volzhskaya Embankment in the city's historic center.[2] The 2 km distance is positioned as an entry-level option for beginners, while the 5 and 10 km distances are aimed at more experienced runners.[2] The program includes music along the route, volunteer support, and — following the finish — a concert and light show: in 2026, the show was projected onto the The Kremlin between the Georgievskaya and Borisoglebskaya towers. The post-finish concert program in 2026 concluded with a performance by the rap duo "STEREO SHIRINA."[6][4]

2026 Edition

The fourth race took place on 1 August 2026. The starts for each distance were staggered: the 2 km distance began at 20:00, the 5 km at 20:30, and the 10 km at 21:30.[6] More than 5,500 people took to the start line — both professional athletes and amateurs, including journalists from the joint editorial team of "NNTV," Volga, Volga 24, and the news agency Vremya N. Of the 5,562 registered participants, 4,835 actually started; women outnumbered men among those who started — 2,696 versus 2,139.[6][1] Around a third of participants were visitors from other regions of Russia. Before the race, the event's "king" and "queen" were announced based on an online vote on the VKontakte social network: they were Vladimir Mordashov, a Distinguished Rescue Worker of Nizhny Novgorod Region from Pavlovo, and Olga Upman from Cheboksary.[6][4]

Winners in the 2 km distance: Dmitry Makhnev (men) and Elena Lebedeva (women); in the 5 km — Andrey Dolin and Ariadna Trofimentseva; in the 10 km — Pavel Yegorov and Viktoriya Anisimova. Nizhny Novgorod Region Minister of Sports Dmitry Kabaylo personally participated in the 5 km race.[6][1]

Nizhny Novgorod Region Minister of Sports Dmitry Kabaylo noted that the race has become one of the most recognizable sporting events of the region's summer season and helps residents take their first step toward a healthy lifestyle.[4] Director of ANO "Rating Sport" Nataliya Bocharova described the event as one that unites sport, music, and urban culture.[2]

Sources

  1. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — The starts for each distance in the 2026 edition were staggered: the 2 km distance began at 20:00, the 5 km at 20:30, the 10 km at 21:30. (archive)
  1. Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod journalists took part in the "Night Run" (archive)
  2. Vremya N — More than 5,500 people participated in the "Night Run in the Sunset Capital"
  3. Newsroom24 — Nizhny Novgorod journalists took part in the "Night Run" — Sports
  4. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Night Run 2026 in the "Sunset Capital": photo report, Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)