European Athletics has officially opened applications for its ’30 Under 30 Running Leaders’ initiative, a competition designed to support the next generation of professionals in the mass participation and running industry.
The programme will select 30 young professionals from around the world to attend the European Running Business Conference (ERBC) 2026, which is taking place in Porto, Portugal, on November 6–8, 2026. The initiative is open to individuals aged 18–29 who are actively involved in organising races or working with athletics federations and event delivery partners.
According to European Athletics, the programme aims to provide first-hand experience and networking opportunities with international industry leaders. The selection process involves an eligibility and quality review, followed by a random draw to ensure a ‘transparent selection of 15 female and 15 male winners.’
Applicants have until May 24, 2026, to submit their motivation and professional details via an online form. The winners will be announced by June 10, 2026.
The main prize for the 30 selected participants includes free registration for the European Running Business Conference 2026, access to all workshops, and a race entry for either the Porto Marathon or the associated 10km event.
Additional prizes to be awarded among the winners include:
- Two prizes of return economy flights within Europe plus three nights’ accommodation at the Neya Porto Hotel
- Two prizes of three nights’ accommodation at the Neya Porto Hotel
- Ten free entries to the European Running Championships 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia
European Athletics is the governing body for athletics in Europe and organises the European Running Business Conference (ERBC) every two years. The conference gathers together race directors, tech companies, and federations to discuss the future of the running industry.
The ERBC 2026 in Porto follows previous editions of the conference held in cities such as Stockholm and Tallinn, and focusing on innovation & growth across the mass participation sector.
Held on November 6–8, 2026, ERBC 2026 will be hosted at the Alfândega Porto Congress Centre, a historic venue located on the banks of the Douro River. As mentioned in the competition details, the Porto Marathon (which includes a 10km option) will serve as the host race and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 8, alongside the final day of the conference.
ERBC 2026 schedule highlights:
- Friday, November 6: Opening sessions, industry keynotes, and networking dinner
- Saturday, November 7: Morning run (hosted by MYLAPS), workshops on AI and technology, and trail running culture discussions
- Sunday, November 8: Porto Marathon and 10km race day, followed by race-day hospitality for delegates
www.erbc2026.european-athletics.com
