Rimi Riga Marathon contributes nearly €45 Million to the Latvian economy over three years
9 September 2026The economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon over the past three years has reached nearly €45 million, of which €38.5 million has been generated for the Latvian economy by international participants and their companions. In 2026, the Rimi Riga Marathon welcomed its largest number of international visitors to date – 6,593 international runners and 6,447 companions, or a total of 13,040 international visitors. Their spending contributed €12.52 million to the Latvian economy this year, generating nearly €2 million in VAT revenue for the state budget.
Overall, the direct economic impact of the 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon on Riga’s economy reached €13.59 million, with international visitors accounting for 92% of this amount.
According to a study of the Rimi Riga Marathon’s economic impact, conducted in accordance with the methodology of the Ministry of Education and Science and based on participant surveys as well as an analysis of attendance and spending data, the total economic impact of the Rimi Riga Marathon from 2024 to 2026 reached €44.9 million, or an average of almost €15 million per year. Over the three-year period, international visitors spent €16.95 million in the tourism sector, while shopping and other expenses amounted to €21.54 million. Overall, spending by international visitors accounted for approximately 86% of the Rimi Riga Marathon’s total economic impact, demonstrating the event’s significant role in attracting foreign spending to the Latvian economy.
The amount of tax revenue generated for the state budget from international visitors’ spending has also increased significantly – from €1.5 million last year to €2.48 million this year. The study also found that for every euro allocated by Riga City Council (with the total municipal co-financing for the marathon amounting to €191,060 in 2025), the event generated €88 for the economy of Riga and the surrounding area.
The Rimi Riga Marathon, which has evolved into the capital’s largest annual sporting event, leaves not only a significant social footprint by getting Riga and Latvia moving and making an important contribution to mass participation sport and healthy lifestyles, but also, thanks to the impressive flow of marathon tourists who arrive, stay and spend money in Riga every May, provides a considerable economic boost to both the capital and Latvia as a whole. Considering the €300,000 in municipal co-financing provided by Riga City Council for the event, every euro invested by the municipality in the marathon generated approximately €45 for Riga’s economy this year.
Viesturs Kleinbergs
Mayor of Riga
The number of international visitors continues to grow
In 2026, a record number of participants took part in the Rimi Riga Marathon – 46,313 runners, 15% more than in 2025. The number of international participants also continued to grow, increasing from 6,017 runners last year to 6,593 this year – an increase of almost 10%. Compared with 2024, when 4,306 international runners participated in the marathon, their number has increased by more than half over the past two years.
In the survey, 72% of international participants said they had travelled to Riga with family members, friends or other companions. Together with 6,447 companions, the event therefore brought a total of 13,040 international visitors to Latvia this year. This compares with 12,346 in 2025 and 10,171 in 2024.
International participants and their companions stayed in Latvia for an average of 3.42 nights, spending a total of 44,632 nights in the country. The average daily spending of international participants in the Rimi Riga Marathon reached €280, approximately 29% more than the average daily spending of international visitors to Latvia overall. According to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, the latter amounts to approximately €217 per day.
Over the past three years, the Rimi Riga Marathon has attracted 16,916 international runners to Latvia. Together with their companions, they represent 35,557 international visitors from 148 countries. Over the three-year period, these visitors spent more than 130,000 nights in Latvia, contributing €38.5 million to the Latvian economy.
The largest numbers of international participants came from Germany, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Finland and Estonia, which were also among the most strongly represented countries last year. International participants most frequently opted for the longer distances – the classic marathon (42.195 km), half marathon and 10 km race.
Our ambition is clear – to establish Riga among Europe’s most sought-after running destinations, and this status will naturally be accompanied by a significant economic contribution both to the capital and to the Latvian economy as a whole.
We are confident that international interest will continue to grow, as in the coming years we will continue to win the trust of an ever-growing global running community, attracting both marathon tourists and the world’s fastest runners to Riga. Their outstanding performances generate even greater interest in running Riga!
Aigars Nords
Head of the Rimi Riga Marathon Organizing Team
According to data compiled by World Athletics, the result achieved by Rimi Riga Marathon 21 km women’s race winner Ejgayehu Taye currently ranks an impressive third in the 2026 world rankings. Meanwhile, the half marathon’s overall Competition Performance Score places the event as high as fifth in the European half marathon rankings. High-level athletic performances are only one of the factors contributing to the development of marathon tourism, and the organizers will continue working on this and other aspects in the years ahead.
