The Final Countdown: The NI Running Show Lands Next Weekend

The countdown is on. The first ever NI Running Show takes over the Icon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn next weekend, on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 February 2026, with doors open from 9am to 6pm on both days.

This is the inaugural edition of what aims to become a major fixture on the local running calendar, bringing brands, clubs, speakers and runners together under one roof. 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 avail of an exclusive £10 ticket, which comes to roughly £11.55 once the Eventbrite fee is applied.

How the idea came together

The show is the brainchild of Oonagh Cattigan, who has been organising 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 regular runner in the Glens for the past decade, Oonagh felt something was missing locally. After visiting the National Running Show in Birmingham, the idea clicked. “I 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 speaking with brands and organisations across the running space. The response was immediate. “Everyone said they would love a platform where they can meet their customers face to face,” she explains.

What to expect on the floor

Across the weekend, around 100 brands and partners will be in attendance, covering everything from kit to recovery.

Retail and gear includes names such as Decathlon, Pure Running, Scimitar and Shokz.
Health and recovery is represented by the Lower Limb Clinic, Active Health Solutions and Aquasun, with ice baths, hot tubs and saunas on site.
Nutrition and supplements will feature Revive Active alongside other well known names.

Visitors can browse the stands, try equipment and take part in interactive sessions aimed at helping runners train smarter and look after themselves better. A dedicated Pilates for runners area will be running throughout the weekend, alongside a kids zone sponsored by Decathlon.

Talks and seminars

Two seminar theatres will host roughly 40 talks across the two days. Headlining the speaker list is Paul Sinton Hewitt, whose parkrun concept grew from a small weekly 5K into a global movement.

He will be joined by injury specialist Paul McMillan, as well as familiar voices from the Any Given Run Day podcast and trail running advocate Jade Hegarty.

Big names backing the show

The ambassador line up blends household names with figures deeply rooted in the local scene. Lady Mary Peters lends her support, alongside Michael McKillop, a four time Paralympic gold medallist on the track.

They are joined by mountain running stalwart Johnny Steed and NI Rave Run founder Tracy Atkinson. Together, they underline the show’s focus on every part of the running scene, from club racing to social events.

Community focus

The NI Running Show is partnering with the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and the Mary Peters Trust as its official charities.

For Oonagh, the aim is straightforward. “It’s the ideal home show for runners. A place to source kit, learn, and spend time together without the pressure of racing.”

Free on site parking is available, and there are no time limits on tickets, so visitors are free to come and go across the day.

Exclusive Run Republic ticket

Early bird tickets are usually £13, but Run Republic readers can use the dedicated link to secure a £10 ticket, priced at £11.55 including the Eventbrite fee. Full event information, exhibitor listings and the latest speaker updates are available via the NI Running Show website.