National triathlon championships will head to Northumberland in 2026
A growing triathlon event in Northumberland has been confirmed as the venue for the sport’s national championships in 2026. British Triathlon has announced that The Northumbrian will host a race in next year’s British and English Age-Group Championships. Based at Kielder Waterside in Northumberland National Park, The Northumbrian is organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Northumbrian Water, and supported by Forestry England and Team Cycles. The 2026 event will be held over the weekend of 27-28 June.
Founded in 2022, The Northumbrian is now well established on the summer calendar. The event has been expanded and includes full Iron and half Iron triathlons, an ‘aquabike’ (swim-cycle) race, and two trail runs at 28k and 48k. British Triathlon has chosen The Northumbrian to host the half Iron distance race in the 2026 British and English Age-Group Championships, which will be held on Sunday 28 June. The Northumbrian’s full Iron distance race will take place on the same day, alongside the aquabike event. The trail runs will move to Saturday 27 June, which will also allow for greater capacity across the weekend.
Over 400 athletes took part in the 2025 edition of The Northumbrian and organisers anticipate the news of the national championship status will boost numbers in 2026. The event will be based at Kielder Waterside in Northumberland National Park, where triathletes will start their races in Kielder Water, a unique opportunity each year to swim in the reservoir, which is otherwise prohibited. Following that leg, participants will tackle cycle and run routes through the spectacular landscape of Northumberland National Park, including trails through Kielder Forest, which will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2026.
Founder of The Northumbrian Steve Cram comments: “This is really exciting news and a great birthday present for Kielder Forest. It’s testament to the reputation that The Northumbrian has earned only a few years that Britih Triathlon is prepared to bring the British and English Age-Group Championships here. Working with Northumbrian Water and Forestry England, we’ve built an event that combines a stunning setting with really effective planning and on the ground organisation. As a result, The Northumbrian is a very rewarding experience for athletes, spectators and event partners. We look forward to teaming up with British Triathlon to stage an exciting and successful event next June.”
Entries are now open for events at the 2026 edition of The Northumbrian, which will take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June. For more information, visit thenorthumbrian.com. The website includes details of how to book accommodation that is available at Kielder Waterside for the weekend.
