Dubrovnik’s jubilee edition got off to a lively start
The first day of Du Motion 2026 turned Dubrovnik into a full sports stage, with the festival’s 10th edition opening on 25 April and bringing together almost 3,000 runners from 55 countries. The day began with the signature Run the Wall race and continued with the much-loved Orlando Kids’ Race on Stradun.
Run the Wall opened the weekend in the city’s most dramatic setting
The sports programme began with the race on the city walls, starting from Stradun and once again placing one of Dubrovnik’s most recognisable landmarks at the centre of the event. DuList described the jubilee edition as another confirmation of Du Motion’s international profile, while race director Alen Bošković pointed to the strong turnout as proof of how far the event has grown since its first edition in 2015.
The day also brought the first winners of this year’s edition. According to the opening race report, the fastest runners were Marin Desnica of Dubrovnik, who finished in 10:56, and Rebecca Gessat of Germany, who set a women’s record time of 13:25.
Nearly 3,000 runners gave Dubrovnik a strong opening day atmosphere
The wall race was only part of the wider picture. DuList’s coverage of the opening day described Dubrovnik as a major sporting stage this weekend, with thousands of runners already giving the city a particularly energetic spring atmosphere. The turnout, spread across participants from 55 countries, underlined how strongly Du Motion now sits on the international running calendar.
Then came Orlando
After the wall race, the spotlight shifted to the youngest participants.
The Orlando Kids’ Race once again brought children to Stradun, where, as organisers put it, “little legends” took over the city’s most famous street. DuList described them as the new generation of running heroes and noted that, even after ten years, the children’s race remains one of the event’s most charming and popular moments.
The weekend is only just beginning
With the first day now behind it, Du Motion 2026 has already delivered a strong start: a dramatic race on the walls, international participation, record-level energy and a joyful children’s event in the heart of the Old Town. And with the weekend’s main races still ahead, the city’s running mood is only building. This final line is an editorial inference based on the reported first-day programme and turnout.
