The New Balance City Series 2026 is a brand-backed 5K and 10K road race happening across five Indian cities, with the Delhi and Bengaluru editions on September 13, 2026. Registration is open now via IndiaRunning.com — 5K at ₹999 and 10K at ₹1,499, with a finisher medal, New Balance t-shirt, and timing bib for all participants. If you’re a first-time racer or a regular runner looking for a well-organised community event before the main marathon season kicks off, this one is worth marking on your calendar.
| Event | New Balance City Series 2026 |
| Delhi Race Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Bengaluru Race Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Delhi Venue | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi |
| Distances | 5K | 10K |
| Entry Fee (5K) | ₹999 |
| Entry Fee (10K) | ₹1,499 |
| Finisher Medal | Yes — all finishers |
| T-Shirt | Yes — New Balance race t-shirt |
| Timing | Chip timing for all participants |
| Registration | nbcityseries.com — Register Now |
| Official Site | nbcityseries.com |
What Is the New Balance City Series?
The New Balance City Series is a brand-organised running series that takes place across five Indian cities — Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad. It is not a charity run or a mass participation marathon. It is a structured, timed road race at 5K and 10K distances, designed to give Indian runners access to a well-produced race experience without the complexity of a full or half marathon sign-up.
The series is run by the New Balance Run Club India (NBRC), which has built a community of 8,000+ registered runners across its city chapters through 20+ community training runs throughout the year. The City Series is the competitive centrepiece of that community calendar — an actual race with chip timing, a finisher medal, and a race t-shirt from New Balance.
Why it matters for Indian runners: Most brand-backed running events in India are either free fun runs with no timing, or full-scale marathons with lengthy training commitments. The New Balance City Series sits in a useful middle ground — a properly timed, entry-fee race that is achievable for newer runners while still competitive enough to draw experienced club runners chasing a 5K or 10K personal best.
When Is the New Balance City Series 2026?
The Delhi and Bengaluru editions of the New Balance City Series 2026 are scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026. This places the event right at the start of India’s main running season — post-monsoon, with cooler mornings returning, and several months before the big November-January marathon window.
September racing in Delhi and Bengaluru is worth planning for: temperatures typically drop to the high 20s by race morning, and the air quality in Delhi, while variable, is generally better in September than in the October-November pre-smog transition. For Bengaluru runners, September is near-ideal — the city’s elevation keeps mornings cool and conditions consistently runnable.
Always verify the exact race start time and any venue changes on the official site at nbcityseries.com as race day logistics are confirmed closer to the event.
Where Does the Delhi Edition Take Place?
The New Balance City Series Delhi 2026 is held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. JLN Stadium is one of Delhi’s best-known sporting venues and a familiar landmark for Delhi runners — the surrounding roads and the stadium complex itself offer a clean, well-surfaced route with good crowd visibility.
Getting there: JLN Stadium is on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro (JLN Stadium station). It is well-connected from South Delhi, Central Delhi, and NOIDA via metro, making it one of the more accessible race venues in the city. Parking is available but limited on event days — the metro is the practical choice.
What Distances Can You Run?
The New Balance City Series offers two distances — a 5K and a 10K. Here is everything you need to know to pick the right one.
| 5K | 10K | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 5 kilometres | 10 kilometres |
| Entry Fee | ₹999 | ₹1,499 |
| Best for | First-time racers, returning runners, beginners | Experienced 5K runners, half marathon builders |
| Finish time (beginner) | 35–45 minutes | 70–90 minutes |
| Finish time (intermediate) | 25–34 minutes | 50–68 minutes |
| Finisher medal | Yes | Yes |
| NB Race t-shirt | Yes | Yes |
| Chip timing | Yes | Yes |
Which distance should you choose?
Pick the 5K if you have been running regularly for 4–8 weeks, can comfortably cover 3–4 km in training, and want your first race experience to feel achievable rather than gruelling. A 5K at a well-managed race is one of the best ways to catch the racing bug — the atmosphere, the timing bib, and the medal make it feel like a real event even at a short distance.
Pick the 10K if you can already run 6–7 km comfortably in training without stopping. It is also the right choice if you are building toward a half marathon in the November-January season and want a benchmark race to test your fitness before the big events.
How Do You Register for the New Balance City Series 2026?
Registration for the New Balance City Series 2026 is open now via IndiaRunning.com. The process takes under five minutes.
Step 1: Go to the official website
Step 2: Select your city (Delhi or Bengaluru) and distance (5K or 10K).
Step 3: Fill in your personal details — name, date of birth, gender, and contact information. Your t-shirt size will be collected here.
Step 4: Pay online. 5K is ₹999 all-inclusive; 10K is ₹1,499 all-inclusive. Payment via UPI, debit/credit card, and net banking are accepted.
Step 5: You’ll receive a confirmation email with your registration details. Your race bib and t-shirt will be available for collection at the event expo or bib pickup point before race day — details to be shared by the organiser closer to the date.
Register early. The 2025 edition of this series saw strong sign-ups across cities, and the 8,000+ registration milestone suggests growing demand. Early registration also locks in the base price — organisers may increase fees as the event fills up.
What Do You Get as a New Balance City Series Finisher?
Every finisher at the New Balance City Series 2026 receives the following:
All finishers, both 5K and 10K
Race-edition NB t-shirt for all participants
Official time recorded for all runners
Refreshments and cool-down session at finish
The chip timing is the detail that sets this apart from most brand community runs in India, which are typically untimed fun runs. Getting an official time for your 5K or 10K is useful as a training benchmark, and it makes the race worth entering even if you are an experienced runner who has done bigger events.
Which Cities Does the New Balance City Series Cover?
The New Balance City Series 2026 runs across five cities. Delhi and Bengaluru are the confirmed September 13 dates. Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad are also part of the series calendar — dates for those cities may differ.
| City | Race Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | September 13, 2026 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium |
| Bengaluru | September 13, 2026 | TBC — check nbcityseries.com |
| Mumbai | TBC | TBC |
| Pune | TBC | TBC |
| Hyderabad | TBC | TBC |
Check our full India Marathon Calendar 2026–27 — updated monthly with 160+ events across all distances and states.
What Should You Wear and Carry on Race Day?
For a September morning race in Delhi or Bengaluru, light and breathable is the priority. The NB race t-shirt you pick up at bib collection is usually suitable for the race itself — most runners wear it on the day.
Race day kit checklist:
Running shoes — your most important decision. For a 5K or 10K on road, you need a cushioned road shoe with a secure fit. Do not race in shoes you have not trained in. If you are looking for a shoe upgrade before September, our best running shoes guide for India covers every budget from ₹2,500 to ₹18,000.
Socks — anti-blister running socks make a noticeable difference even at short distances. Cotton socks cause hotspots on harder road surfaces.
Hydration — the race will have water stations, so you do not need to carry water for a 5K. For the 10K, one small handheld bottle or a waist pack is useful if you are a slower runner or if it is a warm morning.
Watch or GPS tracker — not essential, but useful for pacing. A basic GPS watch helps you avoid going out too fast in the first kilometre, which is the most common mistake at short-distance races. See our guide to budget GPS running watches for Indian runners if you are looking for one under ₹5,000.
What to leave at home: heavy earphones, large hydration packs, cotton t-shirts, and new shoes you haven’t broken in.
Is the New Balance City Series Right for You?
Yes, if:
- You want your first ever timed race in a well-organised environment
- You are a regular runner building toward a half marathon in November or December and want a benchmark race
- You are based in Delhi or Bengaluru and want a quality local event before the big marathon season
- You want official chip timing and a finisher medal at an accessible price point
Not the best fit if:
- You are training for a full or half marathon and need a half marathon tune-up race — this event only goes up to 10K
- You want an elite-field race with prize money — this is a community event, not a competitive open championship
All upcoming races in Delhi NCR — 5K to full marathon
View Delhi Calendar →
Karnataka & Bengaluru race dates, distances & registration
View Bengaluru Calendar →
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The New Balance City Series 2026 Delhi edition is on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
The Bengaluru edition of the New Balance City Series 2026 is also on September 13, 2026. The venue will be confirmed by the organiser closer to race day at nbcityseries.com.
Registration for the New Balance City Series 2026 costs ₹999 for the 5K and ₹1,499 for the 10K. Both prices are all-inclusive — there are no additional charges.
Register online at IndiaRunning.com via the official New Balance City Series registration page. Select your city, choose your distance, fill in your details, and pay online via UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking.
All finishers at the New Balance City Series receive a finisher medal, a New Balance race t-shirt, a chip timing bib, and post-run refreshments. Both 5K and 10K finishers receive the same perks.
Yes. The New Balance City Series uses chip timing for all participants across both the 5K and 10K distances. Every runner gets an official finish time.
The New Balance City Series Delhi 2026 is held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The stadium is accessible via the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station on the Violet Line.
