If you trained for the Great Eastern Women's Run this year, you may have been disappointed by the news. The 20th edition, planned for Sunday 1 November 2026, did not go ahead because of the haze.

This is a short, practical explainer for registered runners and anyone who follows the event: what the organiser has said about refunds and finisher items, where your donation goes, and how to keep your running momentum going.

Status as of 7 November 2026 (SGT): the 2026 race is cancelled and there is no replacement date. Refund and finisher item details below are from the organiser's announcement on 16 October 2026, reported on 17 October. Please check the official site for any later updates.

What happened

What happened
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

The organiser announced on 16 October that the race would not proceed. More than 12,000 women had signed up for what was billed as the largest edition yet, with seven categories ranging from a 21.1km half marathon to the 100m Princess Dash for girls aged 3 to 6.

According to a report on the announcement, the organiser weighed the likelihood of haze lasting into early November and the health risks of long periods of outdoor exercise, saying it was "not ideal for our participants, especially young children and elderly." It also considered a later date, shorter distances or a modified programme, but did not find an option it was confident would be safe.

Singapore's air quality was unhealthy at times in October, with reports of the 24-hour PSI reaching the 170s to 190s in the central region on 9 October. SportSG also issued a haze advisory for ActiveSG facilities, saying vulnerable groups such as seniors, children and people with health conditions should take extra caution when exercising outdoors.

Refunds, medals and your donation

Refunds, medals and your donation
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Refund: paid registrants receive a full refund of the race fee, applied automatically to the original payment method within six to eight weeks. You do not need to apply.
Medals: participants will still receive their medals, and half marathon entrants will also receive a finisher tee.
Collection: details were to be announced later. Watch the official website and your registration email.
The S$20 donation is not refunded. It still goes to Daughters Of Tomorrow and the Singapore Cancer Society.
There is no replacement date for 2026.

The six to eight week window counts from the announcement, so refunds should land around late November to mid-December. If you have not seen the refund by early December, contact the organiser through the official website.

About the charities: Daughters Of Tomorrow runs job-readiness programmes for vulnerable women, and the Singapore Cancer Society supports cancer survivors. The 2026 fundraising campaign, supported through Community Chest, ran from 20 May to 3 October.

Keep the momentum going

Your training is not wasted. Here are some ways to put it to use, while being sensible about air quality:

  • Check the air first. Look at the PSI readings before outdoor runs, and move indoors or go easier when the air is unhealthy.
  • Run for free. parkrun holds a free 5km every Saturday at 7:30am at several parks, and ActiveSG has a track and gyms across the island. See our guide to free and low-cost options:

  • Join in as a supporter. The BYD Singapore International Marathon weekend runs from 4 to 6 December, and the organisers have yet to publish official spectator information. See

  • Watch for 2027. The organiser has not announced next year's edition. We will write a full race guide once it does.