BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE– Registration for the 2026 Mbabane Marathon is now officially open, with the eighth edition of the prestigious road-running event set to take place on Saturday, November 21.
The announcement was made by Acting Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Mabulala Maseko, delivering remarks on behalf of Minister Bongani Nzima, during the official launch of the marathon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane on Friday.
Maseko urged athletes to register early and begin preparing for what promises to be another exciting edition of the event.
“Registration for the 2026 Mbabane Marathon opens immediately after this launch. I encourage athletes to register early and begin preparing for what promises to be another exciting edition of the Marathon,” he said.
The marathon is scheduled to start at 5:30am on November 21, when the streets of Mbabane are expected to come alive with runners, supporters, colour, energy and determination.
The Minister said the event had grown beyond being merely a race, describing it as a celebration of sport, physical development, health, culture, business, tourism and community.
“The Mbabane Marathon is most definitely more than a race. It is a celebration of sport, physical development, health, culture, business, tourism and community,” said Maseko.
He said the event brings together athletes, families, businesses, visitors, Government, the private sector and the wider community, demonstrating how sport can contribute to the development of cities and the country.
Maseko commended the City of Mbabane for its vision and commitment to using sport as a platform for broader city development.
He said the continued growth of the marathon demonstrated that Mbabane was positioning itself as a city where people could participate, compete, connect, do business and create memorable experiences.
The Minister also highlighted the marathon’s potential contribution to tourism and economic development, noting that athletes and visitors attending the event would use accommodation establishments, visit restaurants, purchase goods and services and interact with local businesses.
“In this way, sporting events become economic events,” he said.
Maseko said the Mbabane Marathon therefore contributed to positioning Mbabane and Eswatini as an attractive destination for sports tourism.
He encouraged the business community to take advantage of the opportunity created by the event by showcasing local products, services, hospitality and the country’s unique character.
The Minister also praised MTN MoMo Fintech and other sponsors and partners for their continued investment in the marathon.
He described their contribution as an investment not only in a sporting event, but also in the health of the people, youth development, promotion of the city and economic growth.
Maseko singled out MTN MoMo Fintech for its wider support of sport in Eswatini, saying the company’s involvement extended beyond athletics to football, cycling and basketball.
“To the athletes who will participate in the 8th Mbabane Marathon, I say: Come ready to challenge yourselves. Come ready to experience the beauty and character of Mbabane. Come ready to test your endurance against the unique highveld terrain of our capital city,” he said.
He further called on residents of Mbabane and the wider Kingdom of Eswatini to come out in numbers to support the runners and create an atmosphere of excitement and pride.
The Minister said athletes from Eswatini, the SADC region and beyond were expected to take on the challenge when the marathon gets underway in November.
He congratulated the City of Mbabane, MTN MoMo Fintech and all partners for reaching the eighth edition milestone and wished the organisers and athletes a successful event.
He officially launched the eighth edition of the Mbabane Marathon 2026.
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