The Mass Participation Report Is Out!

We are proud to have partnered with Massive to assist them in gaining actionable insights from runners throughout the UK. This year their report draws on nearly 40,000 participant responses which has been collected over four years, enabling them to compare and examine the changing landscape of the mass participation sector across the UK and Ireland.

More on their findings HERE.

This report offers some great insights of where the running industry is at, suggesting strong growth and positive sentiment for the year to come, highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities that will shape the future of events.

Key findings from this year’s report:

• Participation remains strong: 89% plan to maintain or increase events in 2026, though new entrants are declining (from 26% to 18%).
• Running dominates & longer challenges rise: Running accounts for 95% of entries, with marathons and ultras gaining popularity.
• Financial pressures growing: Average spend stable (£189), but only 36% feel events offer good value, and 82% expect no rise in discretionary income.
• Younger, social, and diverse participants: New entrants are younger, more female, and often join with friends or clubs.
• Charity & sustainability trends: 14% fundraise (~£1,453 avg.), while interest in greener events is growing but cautious.

Download the FULL REPORT HERE.