A couple of weeks after the 2026 editions of the IRONMAN 70.3 Knokke-Heist triathlon and the 5150 Knokke-Heist Triathlon, IRONMAN and the City of Knokke-Heist in Belgium have announced that next year, the coastal seaside resort will welcome the first-ever full distance IRONMAN triathlon held in the country.
Since launching back in 2023, the IRONMAN 70.3 Knokke-Heist triathlon and 5150 Knokke-Heist triathlons have collectively welcomed over 11,500 athletes and have played a significant role in the growth of triathlon racing in Belgium.
In recent years, IRONMAN notes that Belgium has become one of the fastest growing countries in Europe by participation with 38% growth at the IRONMAN 70.3 brand and 105% growth at the IRONMAN brand since 2023, emphasising Belgium’s growing interest in longer and middle distances. In 2026 Belgium grew to become the fourth biggest nation by participation in Europe at the IRONMAN brand, despite never having previously hosted an IRONMAN in the country.
As a nation, Belgium has been a top achieving country producing multiple world champions and high-achieving athletes. Luc Van Lierde and Frederik Van Lierde have both won the sport’s most coveted title, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, while more recently Jelle Geens achieved back-to-back IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship titles and a podium this weekend in Nice.
“After several years of triathlon events in Knokke-Heist, this is a particularly significant moment for our municipality,” said Bert De Brabandere, Alderman for Tourism and Sport of Knokke-Heist.
“The evolution towards an IRONMAN is a natural and ambitious next step in the development of our event. We are extremely proud to host Belgium’s first-ever IRONMAN and to offer Belgian athletes the opportunity to become an IRONMAN on home soil.
“We are thrilled that Belgium’s very first IRONMAN will take place in Knokke-Heist, a destination renowned for hosting world-class international events and providing an exceptional playground for endurance sport.”
Thibault Vellard, Regional Director, South West Europe at The IRONMAN Group, said “This milestone reflects the continued growth of triathlon in Belgium, giving local athletes the opportunity to take on the legendary IRONMAN in front of a home crowd while welcoming competitors from around the world to discover this unique destination at the crossroads of Belgium and the Netherlands. We look forward to welcoming athletes for what promises to be a fast, memorable, and truly unforgettable IRONMAN race.”
The IRONMAN Belgium, Knokke-Heist course promises a race experience in one of Northern Europe’s most picturesque regions. For 2027, the IRONMAN Belgium, Knokke-Heist triathlon will replace the 5150 Triathlon and the IRONMAN 70.3 Knokke-Heist triathlon.
The race will begin with a 3.8 km swim in the picturesque town of Sluis, located just across the border in the Dutch province of Zeeland. This unique setting will provide athletes with a start to their IRONMAN journey in the Damsche Vaart, calm, protected waters with strong spectator support expected.
Athletes will then embark on a one-loop 180 km bike ride through the wider Zwin region, passing scenic polder landscapes, villages, and expansive countryside roads before returning to Knokke-Heist.
The race will conclude with a 42.2 km marathon showcasing the many faces of the renowned seaside resort. Athletes will run along the seafront promenade, lined with beaches, restaurants, beach bars, boutiques, and art galleries, with the North Sea providing a backdrop all the way to the finish line.
“After four triathlon weekends featuring an Olympic distance quarter triathlon and an IRONMAN 70.3, we are taking a new sporting step in 2027 with the organisation of an IRONMAN triathlon,” added Bert De Brabandere.
“The course through the magnificent polder landscapes and along our coastline will offer athletes a unique challenge in an exceptional setting. An event of this stature perfectly aligns with our sporting and tourism ambitions. We look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes, their families, and supporters, who will also have the opportunity to discover Knokke-Heist beyond the summer holiday season.”
Priority registration will open on September 22, 2026, followed by general registration on September 24, 2026.
