Nike is taking women’s running into the dark, and the race series is back for 2026. The After Dark Tour is built for women and combines running with a nighttime experience that blends sport, culture and community.
The tour visits seven cities: Shanghai, Sydney, Mexico City, London, Los Angeles, Manila and Mumbai. Runners can pick a 10K in London, Manila, Mumbai or Shanghai, or a half marathon in Los Angeles, Mexico City or Sydney. Every race takes place at night. There’s no South African stop on this year’s list.
Nike wants these races to feel like events, not just a start line and a finish line. Each stop has curated pre-race moments, on-course energy and a post-race celebration of movement, confidence and community. Each city also gets its own flavour. The Los Angeles stop finishes with a concert at SoFi Stadium.
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The format seems to be working. One in three participants were first-time racers, and nearly half said they signed up because they wanted a race built around women. That shows how many people want a different kind of running event, one that welcomes beginners as much as seasoned runners.
South African women’s running is growing, and a night race with a party at the end would suit our cities well. For now, runners who want to take part will have to look at the cities on the list. Nike has directed runners to afterdarktour.nike.com for race dates and registration. Nike has said it hopes to welcome even more women to the start lines in 2026.
