The first ever NI Running Show is just over a month away and the countdown is very much on.
On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th February 2026, the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn will be turned into a runner’s playground, with doors open from 9.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and 9.00am to 5.00pm on the Sunday
Early bird tickets are priced at £13, children under 16 go free with an adult, and a single ticket covers both days. Run Republic readers can secure an exclusive £10 ticket via our link, working out at roughly £11.55 including Eventbrite’s fee.
How the Idea Took Shape
Founder Oonagh Cattigan has organised exhibitions worldwide since 2005.
“Exhibitions are my happy place,” she says. “I tried to leave the industry more than once, but it kept dragging me back.”
A keen Glens runner for the past decade, Oonagh spotted a clear gap.
“I visited the National Running Show in Birmingham and thought, why don’t we have something like this in Ireland? The running community deserve it.”
From there, the concept came together quickly. She linked up with Athletics NI and began sounding out brands and partners.
“Everyone said they wanted a space where they could meet runners face to face,” she recalls.
What to Expect
Around 100 brands and partners will be on site, ranging from major retailers to specialist local operators.
Retail and Gear
Decathlon, Pure Running, Scimitar, Shokz and more
Health and Recovery
Ulster Independent Clinic, Lower Limb Clinic, Active Health Solutions, Aquasun with ice baths, hot tubs and saunas
Nutrition and Supplements
Revive Active, Perform Nutrition, Altar Nutrition and other well known names
Visitors can browse stands, try out gear and take part in interactive features aimed at helping runners train smarter and stay healthy. A Reset Zone for Pilates and Yoga for runners space and a kids zone sponsored by Decathlon will also be running across the weekend.
Inspiring Talks
The busy stage sponsored by Ulster Indepent Clinic will run across both days, built around a simple idea: running is for everyone. No matter the ability, background, or surface underfoot, it is all part of the same sport. From road and track to trail and mountain, the programme reflects the full spread of how people run today.
Across the weekend, runners can dip in and out of sessions covering training, injury management, mindset, race preparation and the realities of life in the sport. The emphasis is on practical insight, straight talking and experiences drawn from every level of running.
The speaker line up reflects that breadth, led by headline speaker Paralympic gold medallist Michael McKillop, who will share lessons from competing at the highest level of the sport. He is joined by Paul Sinton Hewitt, the founder of parkrun, whose simple idea transformed recreational running worldwide. Contributors also include Sanctuary Runners and Belfast Front Runners, alongside assisted runner Tony Barclay MBE, with sessions spanning marathon running at every level, from a first ever 5K through to marathons and ultras. Injury specialist Paul McMullan of the Lower Limb Clinic will also take to the stage, joined by voices from the Any Given Run Day podcast and nutritional experts, Colleen McGrugan and Catherine McLaughlin.
With close to 20 sessions scheduled across the two days, the seminar programme is shaping up as one of the central attractions of the weekend, giving visitors plenty of reason to plan their visit as February approaches.
Exclusive Run Republic Offer
Early bird tickets are usually £13, but Run Republic readers can grab a £10 ticket through our link, or £11.55 including Eventbrite fees.
Full event details, the growing exhibitor list and the latest speaker announcements are available on the NI Running Show website.