The Puri Coastal Marathon will take place in Puri, Odisha, on 13 December 2026, as India’s first road-plus-sand marathon, with a total prize purse of Rs 1 crore on offer. The event is called the OMC Puri Coastal Marathon, and it will run along the coast of the sacred city, mixing stretches of road with stretches of sand. The Puri Coastal Marathon has drawn support from Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Kapil Sharma, who have joined the campaign to invite people to take part.
Runners can choose from four race categories, with distances of 42K, 21K, 10K and 5K, so the event covers seasoned marathoners, competitive athletes, fitness enthusiasts and first-time runners. Registrations close on 14 November 2026, which leaves prospective participants a short window to secure a place. The Puri Coastal Marathon is being presented as a new kind of running event in India, one that pairs competitive racing with the coast, the culture and the community of Puri.
The backing for the event reaches beyond the film industry. Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, Olympian Anuradha Biswal, former Indian weightlifter K. Ravi Kumar and Indian para-athlete Suchitra Parida have all lent their support. From Bollywood, Ajay Devgn, Rajkummar Rao, Manjari Fadnis, Sharad Malhotra and Archana Singh have joined the campaign, along with comedian Kapil Sharma. Each of them has extended an invitation to people to take part in the race.
Puri Coastal Marathon race categories and the prize purse
The Puri Coastal Marathon prize purse of Rs 1 crore is the largest single draw for the event, and it will be shared across the race categories. The 42K full marathon is the headline distance, while the 21K half marathon, the 10K and the 5K give shorter options for runners who want to be part of the day without running the full course. The mix of road and sand is what sets the race apart, since running on sand asks for a different stride and different strength from running on tarmac, and the course will test even experienced marathoners.
Puri was chosen for the race because of its coast and its standing as a place of pilgrimage and culture. The city draws visitors through the year for the Jagannath temple and the beach, and the marathon adds a sporting reason to visit. The organisers have described the event as a blend of competitive running, coastal scenery, cultural exploration and community participation, and the race is due to bring runners from across India and from outside the country to the Odisha coast.
Puri Coastal Marathon and the stars backing the race
The Puri Coastal Marathon campaign has used the film stars and athletes behind it to reach a wide audience. Ajay Devgn and Kapil Sharma are the two best known names in the group, and their invitations to take part have carried the event well beyond the running community. Rajkummar Rao, Manjari Fadnis, Sharad Malhotra and Archana Singh have added their voices too, while Abhinav Bindra and the other athletes have given the race credibility with serious runners. The support has helped the event stand out in a crowded calendar of Indian marathons.
With registrations closing on 14 November, the countdown to the race is short. Runners who want a place in the Puri Coastal Marathon need to sign up before that date, and the organisers expect a field that mixes elite athletes with first-time runners. December is a good month for a long run on the Odisha coast, with cooler mornings and a sea breeze off the Bay of Bengal. The sand sections will slow the pace, and runners who train on roads may find the softer ground hard on the calves and ankles, so the organisers have advised participants to practise on sand before the day. Water stations and medical support will be placed along the course, and the shorter distances mean families can run together, with children and first-timers taking on the 5K while the serious field chases the prize money in the longer races.
The race takes place on 13 December 2026 in Puri, Odisha, with a Rs 1 crore prize purse and four distances on offer.