Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving morning ritual is already on the calendar, with registration now open for the 2026 Thanksgiving Day Race. The 117th edition is set for Thursday, November 26, giving local runners a chance to earn their appetite before the holiday meal arrives.
Registration opened for the Western & Southern 10K, the TDR 5K and the ProAmpac Kids Fun Run, WLWT reports. The organizers are again offering a menu that ranges from a serious 10K effort to a quarter-mile outing for younger runners, all built around Cincinnati’s long-running Turkey Day tradition.
The 2025 race drew more than 11,000 registered runners and walkers across the 10K and 5K, according to Pig Works, the organization behind Cincinnati’s Flying Pig and related events. That turnout gives the 2026 opening plenty of momentum for families and friend groups that treat the race as their unofficial launch into Thanksgiving.
Three Distances And An Early Start
The ProAmpac Kids Fun Run starts at 8:30 a.m. and covers a quarter-mile, while the Western & Southern 10K and TDR 5K are scheduled for a 9 a.m. start, WLWT says. Packet pickup is planned for November 24 through November 26 at TQL Stadium, giving participants a chance to handle the pre-race logistics before heading into the holiday.
That stadium-centered format has been part of the race’s recent makeover rather than a one-off bit of Cincinnati sports theater. In a 2023 announcement, FC Cincinnati said TQL Stadium would serve as race headquarters, with the 5K added and both races finishing on the stadium field.
Registration is available through the official race website. With the calendar still in summer, Cincinnati runners now have a long runway to train, assemble a team and decide whether Thanksgiving morning calls for a 5K, a 10K or a very determined quarter-mile.
