Overview

• The 2026 ballot opened at 8am on 3 September and closes at midnight on 14 September, with results due on 15 September.
• The 45th AJ Bell Great North Run is scheduled for Sunday 13 September 2026, with a second traditional ballot to follow in January.
• AJ Bell has named Alzheimer’s Society as the official charity for the 2026–27 Great Run Series.
• This Sunday’s 44th edition expects around 60,000 runners and about 200,000 spectators on the Newcastle-to–South Shields route, with roughly £25 million projected for charities.
• Founder Sir Brendan Foster says demand to expand remains high but capacity is constrained by regional infrastructure, notably the Tyne and Wear Metro.