“Running for the Language”: registration opens for the annual nationwide race

On May 24, 2026, the 4th annual “Running for the Language” race will take place in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as online — for participants from around the world. This year’s race is organized by the NGO “Rukh Yedyni,” the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine, with the support of the All-Ukrainian Youth Center. 1+1 media is the генеральним media partner of the event.

The race is dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian language as a foundation of identity and unity. The event will bring together thousands of people who choose Ukrainian every day—in everyday life, work, informal communication, and sports — as well as those who encourage others on their journey to switch to Ukrainian.

“The Ukrainian language should be heard everywhere, including in sports. Mass sports are about health, resilience, and the cohesion of Ukrainians. When thousands of people come to the старт for a shared value, sport becomes a language of unity. And Ukrainian should звучати confidently and loudly here”, — commented Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

The event will take place both offline and online. Offline races will be held on May 24 in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia. The online format will run from May 1 to May 24 and can be joined from anywhere in the world.

“Running for the Language is about action. About the daily choice to speak Ukrainian and support those who are still on this path. The initiative grew out of the ‘Yedyni’ project, which we launched at the beginning of the full-scale invasion to help Ukrainians switch to Ukrainian. Today, it is already a strong community that has united hundreds of thousands of people. And this race is its continuation”— emphasized Ivan Kapeliushnyk, co-founder of the NGO “Rukh Yedyni.”

“Running for the Language” offers distances for participants of different ages and fitness levels: for adults — 1, 5, 10 and 21 kilometers and for children — 300, 500 and 1,000 meters.

“Mass sports work well with values because they unite people through simple actions. When you come to the start together with others, many things are felt differently—including language. It becomes part of a shared experience, live communication, and environment. And this is exactly how a habit is formed that stays with you every day”, — noted Andrii Rebryna, Director of the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine.

“It is important for us to support initiatives that unite young people around shared values. ‘Running for the Language’ is a very simple but powerful format: through action, to show that the Ukrainian language is not only about identity, but also about everyone’s daily choice”, — said Denys Minin, Head of the All-Ukrainian Youth Center.

Participation in the race is free. You can register for “Running for the Language” via the link: until May 1 for offline participation and until May 23 for the online format.

During the race, a special space—“Language City”—will operate at the locations. Here, participants will be able to explore language and cultural initiatives and join various activities. Organizations that want to become part of “Language City” can apply via the link.

The race is organized by the NGO “Rukh Yedyni,” the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine, with the support of the All-Ukrainian Youth Center.

Partners: Commissioner for the Protection of the Ukrainian Language, Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Department of Culture of the Kyiv City State Administration, 1+1 media.

Background:

“Rukh Yedyni” is a public organization that helps Ukrainians switch to the Ukrainian language and make it a привычною part of everyday life. Thanks to the movement’s activities, since 2022 more than 568,000 citizens have switched to Ukrainian. The team has held over 8,000 meetings of speaking clubs, conducted 47 monthly course cohorts in Ukrainian, and carries out systematic work to promote the Ukrainian language.

The State Institution “Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine” implements state policy in the field of mass sports and physical activity. The Agency develops the President of Ukraine’s “Active Parks” program, implements nationwide and local initiatives, and cooperates with communities, organizations, and partners to make regular physical activity accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels across the country.

The State Institution “All-Ukrainian Youth Center” is a platform of opportunities for young people across Ukraine. Its goal is for every community to have a real space for development where young people can find support and bring their ideas to life. The center not only launches educational programs such as “Youth Worker” and helps develop a network of youth centers, but also actively advocates for youth participation in decision-making. A special focus is placed on shaping Ukrainian and civic identity by creating an environment where everyone can feel a sense of belonging, form their own position, and truly influence the future of the state.