Is your parkrun on at Christmas?

Christmas Day and New Year's Day are the two extra days in the UK parkrun calendar. Events don't have to take part, and plenty don't, so it's worth checking yours before you plan your morning around it.

This year both days fall on a Friday. The list below comes from parkrun's own special events page and was last updated on 8 November.

How the festive parkruns work

• It's optional. Each event team decides whether to hold a parkrun on either day, so your usual Saturday event might be on for one, both or neither.
• Same start time as usual. parkrun's volunteer rules say events on these days start at the same time as their normal parkrun.
• One result per day. You can only record one result on each of the two days, so running two events on New Year's Day for two results isn't possible.
• One event per venue. Only one parkrun can be held at each venue on each day.
• Boxing Day is a normal Saturday this year. It isn't one of the extra days, but 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, so the usual Saturday parkruns go ahead unless they're cancelled.
• Plans firm up late. According to parkrun's help centre, the special events list goes live two months before each day, and events declare over the weeks that follow.

Which events are on

As of 8 November, 312 events had said they'll run on Christmas Day and 346 on New Year's Day. Hundreds haven't declared yet, so the picture will change a lot over the next few weeks.

Showing all 937 events

Expect a crowd

Christmas Day runs can be some of the biggest of the year, because fewer events take part and plenty of people make it a family tradition. If you're going to a popular event, expect a much bigger field than a normal Saturday.

If you're heading somewhere new, arrive early and give yourself time to park. Our parkrun tourism guide covers turning up as a visitor, and the rain, cold and dark mornings guide has kit tips for a December start.

Common questions

Is parkrun on Christmas Day 2026?

Some events are. Christmas Day is an extra parkrun day, but it is optional, so each event decides. As of 8 November, 312 events on parkrun's UK list had said they will run and 309 had said they won't.

Is there parkrun on Boxing Day 2026?

Yes, because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, so it is a normal Saturday parkrun. It is not one of the extra days, so check your own event for any cancellation as you would any other week.

Can I do two parkruns on New Year's Day?

You can only record one result on each special day, so running two events for two results on New Year's Day is not possible.

What time does Christmas Day parkrun start?

Events that take part start at the same time as their normal Saturday parkrun. Check your event's own page for its start time.