The 3rd FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, the only authentic university Ekiden outside Japan, to be held on June 12 in the UK – First event since "Ekiden" was adopted into the Oxford English Dictionary –

Ekiden Group Ltd. (Representative: Anna Dingley) will hold the 3rd FT Nikkei UK Ekiden (hereinafter, UK Ekiden) on June 12, 2026, as an initiative to popularize and develop "Ekiden," a long-distance relay race originating from Japan, in the UK.

This event is the origin of Ekiden competition in the UK and is developed as a university-versus-university long-distance relay race. This will be the first event since the word "Ekiden" was adopted into the Oxford English Dictionary last year, and as the only authentic university Ekiden outside Japan, both the scale of competition and interest continue to expand.

It is also attracting attention for its high level of competition as an unprecedented university-versus-university long-distance team competition in the UK. Furthermore, this event also serves as a symbol of the historical and cultural ties between Japan and the UK.

■ Event Overview

This event will be held along the River Thames, approximately 112km, from Windsor to Reading in the UK. It will be a relay format with 10 members per team (mixed gender), divided into university-versus-university and corporate/community-versus-community divisions.

Ekiden is a long-distance relay race, and this event is the only authentic university Ekiden outside Japan. While based on the traditional Japanese rule of passing a "tasuki" (sash), it has also evolved in a unique British way, such as mixed-gender team composition.

・ Name: FT Nikkei UK Ekiden (English name: FT Nikkei UK Ekiden)

・ Date: Friday, June 12, 2026

・ Venue: Windsor to Reading, UK (along the River Thames)

・ Distance: Approximately 112km

・ Format: 10 people per team (5 men, 5 women, mixed gender)

・ Divisions: University-versus-university (17 teams) / Corporate/Community-versus-community (18 teams) (planned)

< Key Points of the 2026 Tournament >

First event since "Ekiden" was adopted into the Oxford English Dictionary

Number of participating universities expanded to 17 (3 in the first year)

First introduction of a seeding and qualification system due to increased interest in participation

Implemented as an event officially recognized by England Athletics, the governing body for athletics in the UK

Ritsumeikan University (last year's winning school) from Japan will participate as a guest

Held on a scale of approximately 35 teams, including corporate and community divisions

Implementing Noto Peninsula earthquake recovery support in cooperation with Ishikawa Prefecture

LINLEY, a luxury craft brand led by David Linley, cousin of King Charles III, will specially produce trophies using wood from houses damaged by the Noto Peninsula earthquake

Paddington Bear, a popular British national character, is also scheduled to appear to cheer on the event

Traditional rules of running around Windsor Castle and passing the "tasuki" are inherited

■ UK Ekiden as a Symbol of UK-Japan Exchange

This event embodies a new form of UK-Japan exchange through sports by developing Ekiden, a competition originating from Japan, in the UK.

This event was established in 2024 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Hakone Ekiden and the state visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to the UK. The timing of the event also coincides with the state visit, positioning it as an event symbolizing the friendly relations between the UK and Japan. Furthermore, this event is also positioned as a partner of the "MUSUBI Initiative," promoted by the British government to foster cultural and human exchange between the UK and Japan, contributing to the deepening of relations between the two countries through sports.

The course starts at the foot of Windsor Castle, the residence of the British Royal Family, runs along the River Thames, which His Majesty the Emperor studied during his time at Oxford University, and passes through Henley Bridge, which also appears in His Majesty's book "With the Thames." Through these efforts, the event allows participants to experience the historical and cultural ties between Japan and the UK.

Running along the Thames, associated with His Majesty, and passing the "tasuki"

■ Participating Teams and Highlights

In the university-versus-university division, strong universities representing the UK are scheduled to participate, including Loughborough University (runner-up in the 2nd tournament in 2025), Oxford University (winner of the 1st tournament), Cambridge University, and University College London (UCL). Attention is focused on the competitive structure between these strong schools. Additionally, Ritsumeikan University, last year's winner, has been confirmed to participate as a guest under a special UK-Japan exchange invitation.

In the corporate-versus-corporate division, a distinctive feature is that sponsor companies not only provide sponsorship but also participate as teams themselves. In addition to Japanese companies, British media personnel and British Air Force teams are also scheduled to participate. Below is a list of participating schools and teams as of now:

< Participating Schools in the University-versus-University Division >

Loughborough University (Runner-up in the 2nd tournament / 2025)

St Mary's University

University of Leeds

University of Exeter

University of Birmingham

Cambridge University