The 2026 Monterey Ekiden has been cancelled.
Sent to registered participants on July 7, 2026.
Dear Monterey Ekiden Participants,
It is with great disappointment that I must let you know that we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Monterey Ekiden scheduled for July 25.
This is not the outcome we had hoped for, and I am genuinely saddened to have to share this news. We invested a great deal of time, energy, and enthusiasm into creating a unique event that would celebrate running, Japanese culture, and the Monterey–Nanao friendship, and I know many of you were looking forward to being part of it. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment this cancellation may cause.
Full refunds
Everyone who registered will receive a full refund of both their registration fee and any donations made during the registration process. We will begin processing refunds immediately, and you should receive them as soon as they are processed by the registration platform.
Although this year's event will not take place, we have not given up on the Monterey Ekiden. We plan to regroup and bring the event back on a future date that does not conflict with other popular local running events, giving it the best opportunity to succeed.
A run at Laguna Seca, in the meantime
We are working with Laguna Seca to see if we can offer everyone who registered the opportunity to run on the famous WeatherTech Raceway track sometime soon and at no cost. While this has not yet been finalized, we hope it can provide a small consolation and a chance for our registered participants to enjoy this unique venue. We will let you know as soon as we have more information.
Thank you for believing in this vision and for supporting an event that was intended to celebrate teamwork, community, and the rich Japanese American heritage of the Monterey Peninsula. Your encouragement has meant a great deal to me, and I hope you'll join us when we bring the Monterey Ekiden back.
Thank you for your understanding, and I hope to see you at a future Monterey Ekiden.
With gratitude,
We'll be back.
Leave your email and you will be the first to know when we announce the new date.
Keep me posted