Jakarta. The MyBCA Jakarta Running Festival (JRF) 2026 will become Indonesia’s first road race to receive a World Athletics Gold Label, with the Jakarta administration also offering free public transport to participants.

The event will run from Oct. 22 to 25 at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, featuring 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and Junior Dash races. The main races will be held on Oct. 24 and 25, alongside an expo and other activities.

Event organizer Kelompok Lari Anak Bangsa President Director Dickie Widjaja said JRF received the Gold Label for its half marathon after organizers raised standards from last year’s event.

“This year, we slightly raised the standards. MyBCA Jakarta Running Festival 2026 received the Gold Label for its half marathon. This Gold Label happens to be the first in Indonesia,” Dickie said at a JRF 2026 press conference at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday.

The World Athletics Road Race Label is an international designation for leading road races. Under the 2026 regulations, a Gold Label indicates that an event meets World Athletics competition rules and higher standards for organization, safety and runner experience, while also having a world-class elite field and commitments to anti-doping. For runners, the designation also means the race is part of the World Athletics competition and rankings framework. 

Dickie said World Athletics will directly audit several aspects of JRF, including the course, medical services and anti-doping measures.

JRF 2026 will also introduce a Blue SPR Line, or Shortest Possible Route, marking the shortest possible path along the marathon course. Organizers said the line will help elite runners and participants seeking personal-best times.

“Usually, this line is only found in major marathons. So if we talk about something that may be found in Berlin, Tokyo or Chicago, it is now in Indonesia, in Jakarta,” Dickie said.

Indonesian Athletics Association (PB PASI) Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said JRF was the first marathon event in Indonesia to receive the Gold Label.

“For years, there have been marathon races in Indonesia, and this is the first one to get gold,” he said.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the administration would provide free public transportation for JRF participants as part of its support for the event. Participants wearing their marathon bibs will be able to use MRT Jakarta, TransJakarta, Transjabodetabek and the Kelapa Gading-Manggarai route of LRT Jakarta free of charge.

“This is the first time that MRT, TransJakarta, Transjabodetabek and LRT Jakarta from Kelapa Gading to Manggarai will be free of charge. We will make it zero rupiah for everyone wearing a marathon bib,” Pramono said.

The policy is part of Jakarta’s efforts to promote the capital as a destination for major events and sports tourism.

JRF 2026 is expected to attract runners and supporters from across Indonesia and overseas, giving organizers an opportunity to promote Jakarta as an international running destination.

Pramono said he hoped the event’s higher standards would help JRF develop into a major international marathon within the next two to three years.

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