Da Nang to host IRONMAN 2026: First time holding full distance race in Vietnam

VHO - The 2026 IRONMAN Vietnam will take place in Da Nang on May 10, 2026, organizing the full distance for the first time, promising to attract a large number of domestic and international athletes.

On the morning of September 23, in Da Nang , the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam IRONMAN Tournament held a press conference to announce the 2026 Vietnam IRONMAN Tournament.

This is a special event as for the first time Vietnam was chosen to host the full-distance IRONMAN Triathlon - one of the most prestigious endurance sports tournaments in the world.

Scene of the press conference

The IRONMAN Group announced that the tournament will take place on May 10, 2026 in Da Nang City, including two events: full distance (Full IRONMAN) and half distance (IRONMAN 70.3).

The event promises to bring athletes the most extreme challenges, while opening up opportunities to promote the image of Da Nang - Vietnam on the global endurance sports map.

New milestone for Vietnamese sports and tourism

Hosting IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 is considered a historic milestone for the domestic endurance sports movement. Previously, since 2015, Da Nang has been associated with IRONMAN 70.3 and gradually built up its reputation in the international sports community.

After nearly a decade, the upgrade to a full-distance event is seen as a testament to the city's ability to host large-scale events.

Vice Chairwoman of Da Nang City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi: "It is the sense of responsibility and hospitality that has contributed to building the brand of Da Nang City, so that each IRONMAN is not only a competition, but also an international sports, cultural and tourism festival."

“We are excited to bring the first IRONMAN Full Distance Triathlon to Vietnam,” said Jeff Edwards, Managing Director of the IRONMAN Group Asia Region. “Da Nang has proven to be a great host destination for IRONMAN 70.3 since 2015, and now the city continues to put itself on the global endurance sports map.”

Representing the local government, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi - Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee emphasized: "Being selected to host the first full-distance IRONMAN race in Vietnam is an important milestone for the city. We will mobilize infrastructure, resources and coordinate closely with the organizing units to ensure the success of the event, thereby promoting Da Nang as a modern, dynamic and internationally attractive destination."

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Trong Thao, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City, said that hosting the tournament is an opportunity for the city to continue improving the quality of infrastructure, training human resources, standardizing organization work and promoting the development of a sustainable sports ecosystem.

IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 will bring athletes a harsh but inspiring journey, combining the sea, mountain and urban landscapes typical of Da Nang.

Challenging routes and unique experiences

IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 brings athletes a challenging journey with three rigorous competition stages:

3.8km Swim at East Sea Park: Athletes start in small groups, swim two laps of a triangular course, with a landing point after 1.9km. The open, safe and iconic ocean space of Da Nang promises to be an impressive opening.

180km coastal and suburban cycling route: Starting from Vo Nguyen Giap Street with an open sea view, the route takes athletes across Thuan Phuoc Bridge and then to the peaceful suburbs. The combination of sea and countryside landscapes brings a rare and rich experience.

42.2 km coastal run: Athletes run four round-trip laps, with the finish line at East Sea Park. This will be the most enthusiastically cheered stage, as a large number of locals and tourists can directly watch and cheer on the athletes.

The event promises to attract a large number of athletes from all over the world to the coastal city of Da Nang.

The special feature of IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 is that the event will award tickets to the 2026 IRONMAN® World Championship - the highest arena of endurance sports. This further increases the appeal, attracting the world's top athletes to compete in Da Nang.

“When we brought IRONMAN 70.3 to Vietnam in 2015, we had a vision to make Vietnam a destination for world-class competitions. IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 is the clearest testament to that journey,” said Trinh Bang, Co-founder and Chairman of Sunrise Events Vietnam.

Mr. Rob Zamacona, General Director of Sunrise Events Vietnam, also affirmed: “Bringing the IRONMAN full-distance triathlon to Vietnam is the result of many years of cooperation and development. This is a joint achievement of the IRONMAN group, local authorities and partners. We believe that Da Nang will not only successfully host an international standard sporting event, but also bring unforgettable experiences to athletes and spectators.”

Athletes will cycle from Vo Nguyen Giap coastal road, across Thuan Phuoc bridge...

Opportunity to promote tourism and promote the image of Da Nang

In addition to its sporting value, the 2026 IRONMAN Vietnam is also expected to create a big boost for the local tourism industry.

With thousands of international athletes and their families and friends accompanying them, the event will bring in high-quality tourists, prolonging their stay and increasing local spending.

Da Nang City - one of Asia's top destinations - is nestled between pristine beaches and cultural heritages, a place where modern life and traditional values ​​intersect.

Here, athletes will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich culture of Central Vietnam, enjoy world-famous cuisine and feel warm hospitality.

Experts assess that with the advantage of international standard tourism infrastructure, a developed sports community and the support of local authorities, Da Nang is fully capable of turning IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 into one of the leading sports and tourism events in Asia.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/da-nang-dang-cai-giai-ironman-2026-lan-dau-tien-to-chuc-cu-ly-toan-phan-tai-viet-nam-169779.html