Tawau Half Marathon 2026

Tawau Half Marathon 2026 is the grand finale of the three-race Sabah East Coast Half Marathon Series, following earlier 2026 rounds in Kunak and Lahad Datu. Organised by Kelab Pelari Tawau (Tawau Runners), the event returns on 13 December with a deliberately hillier character than many local road races. Current organiser material describes the 21K as a "Fun Hill" course, with the climbing around Bukit 3 forming the main physical test, while the 5K provides a shorter community-focused option.

Both races start and finish at the Institute of Science & Management in Tawau. The 21K starts at 5:15am and has a 4 hour 30 minute cut-off; the 5K follows at 6:00am with a 1 hour 30 minute cut-off. The early schedule is important in Tawau's tropical climate and is intended to move the longer-distance field through much of the route before the hottest part of the morning.

The half marathon is open from age 16, with Open and Veteran divisions and Veteran eligibility from age 41. The 5K is open from age 10. Timing-bib use is compulsory, bib swapping is prohibited, and the organiser permits runners using wheelchairs, blades or other assistive devices to participate, although they are not eligible for prizes under the published rules.

The event has additional regional significance as the concluding round of the Sabah East Coast Half Marathon calendar. Local reporting on the series noted participation from runners across Kunak, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and other parts of Sabah, positioning the finale as both a competitive challenge and a community sports event for the state's east coast. Final race-pack collection details have not yet been published, so participants should check the official Ticket2u listing and organiser channels closer to race week.