The Cuban capital is preparing to host the 40th edition of Marabana on November 15, the most important road running event on the island and one of the most prestigious in the Americas.

The event returns to the same circuit as the previous edition, but with its sights set on a participation that promises records in the national category. More than 3,000 Cuban runners have confirmed their presence, a number that consolidates Marabana as the great road athletics event here.

Joining them are runners from ten nations, a sign of the interest the race continues to generate internationally. "In the midst of the situation the country is experiencing, as a consequence of the brutal economic and financial blockade intensified by the U.S. government, we will have the presence of about fifty runners from some ten nations," Carlos Gattorno Correa, leader of the National Commission of Marabana-Maracuba Races and Walks, told JIT.

That organization has worked for months to guarantee the technical and logistical conditions, and the day is expected to unfold in an atmosphere of popular celebration. The history of Marabana is, in itself, a lesson in continuity and transformation.

It was born in 1987 as a half marathon, with a small group of athletes who ran through the capital's streets on a memorable morning. That first edition did not have the brilliance of today's, but it planted the seed of an event that would grow over the years.

In 1990 a qualitative leap occurred: the marathon distance, 42 kilometers and 195 meters, was incorporated into the program. This change broadened the spectrum of participants and raised the technical level of the race, making Marabana one of the few marathons in the Caribbean recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

The route then extended beyond the Malecón, embracing arteries such as the Paseo del Prado and the Rampa, in a course that would become classic, filled with architectural beauty.

The 1990s brought with them names that were engraved in the collective memory. Cuban and foreign runners achieved marks that are still remembered with respect, and their victories helped cement the event's prestige.

The race has also been the scene of exciting duels between local athletes and visitors, at a time when foreign participation was beginning to emerge.

The year 2016 marked a before and after in Marabana's internationalization. The organization achieved an exceptional expansion, with the arrival of hundreds of runners from more than thirty countries, and the total number of participants exceeded all expectations. That edition is remembered as the one with the greatest global projection, with media coverage that placed Havana on the world running map.

The pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge in 2020. With empty streets and the world confined, Marabana reinvented itself in a virtual format, allowing runners to complete kilometers in their own cities and register their times remotely. This adaptation not only kept the flame of the race alive but demonstrated its ability to survive crises.

Today, in 2026, the recovery of foreign participation is still incomplete, due in large part to the U.S. blockade of Cuba. Although countries such as Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Colombia have confirmed representatives, the number of foreign athletes has not reached pre-pandemic levels. Organizers trust that this edition will be a decisive step toward closing that gap.

The course is another of Marabana's attractions. Starting from the Ramón Fonst sports complex, which is also the finish line, runners will travel through streets and avenues near the Historic Center, Old Havana, Centro Habana, the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, and El Cerro, on a route that combines heritage, sea, and architecture.

The start is scheduled for 6:00 a.m. for the marathon and then, in staggered fashion, the half marathon at 6:15 a.m., and the 10k at 7:00 a.m.

Among the protagonists of the day, the participation of Cuba's best current distance runners is expected, as well as emerging figures seeking to make history.

Marabana 2026 thus presents itself as a celebration of resistance, history, and community. In a country where sport is passion, this race remains the great festival of effort and self-improvement.

Havana will be ready on November 15 to receive all those who want to run, sweat, and cross the finish line.