49th Royal Victoria Hotel International Snowdon Race Ras Rhyngwladol yr Wyddfa 2026
Historic local hotel becomes headline sponsor at iconic mountain race
Llanberis, Wales – The 49th edition of the International Snowdon Race / Ras Rhyngwladol yr Wyddfa will see the event partnering up with the iconic Royal Victoria Hotel in 2026, cementing a relationship that dates back to the beginnings of the race in 1976.
Mountain runners from across Europe have stayed at The Vic, as it is locally known, since those early days of a handful of runners making their way up and down Wales’ highest peak. Today almost 600 runners line-up each year for one of the greatest sporting events on the Welsh calendar.
Ann Owen is General Manager at The Royal Victoria Hotel, and states,
“We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of Ras Yr Wyddfa in 2026, marking another exciting chapter in a long-standing relationship between the race and the hotel. Since the race’s inception in 1976, the hotel has shared a close connection with this iconic mountain event, and we are proud to be strengthening that partnership in the year ahead.
An international flavour can be expected across the weekend as runners from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Italy and the Republic of Ireland go head-to-head for the race victory and rub shoulders with club runners and those just hoping to complete the 10 arduous miles of this famous mountain in the heart of the Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri National Park.
Ann continues, “As the home of the Snowdon Race, the hotel has long been at the heart of the event’s atmosphere and tradition. Over the years we have welcomed countless runners, supporters, organisers and spectators through our doors, and the race has become an important part of our history and identity. Being headline sponsor for 2026 is therefore both a privilege and a natural continuation of that shared heritage.”
Race organiser Stephen Edwards, since 2009, takes charge of his 16th event in 2026, and adds:
“We are delighted to be partnering up with Ann and the team at The Royal Victoria Hotel. As a young boy I ran the race and can always remember that buzz in the village, and seeing the crowds gathered outside The Vic as I ran into the village. I aslo remember when I was 13years old onwards helping my dad on the committee, the meeting was always in the Vic, excuse for a pint and a laugh and when the agenda of the meeting was written on the back of a beer matt. Happy days!!!! Many athletes from international countries, runners from afar and locals alike will be once again staying at Vic on the Friday and Saturday nights, so the atmosphere will be fantastic across the weekend.
“The headline partnership is very important to the race, as it needs to reflect shared interests. As a resident in Llanberis everyone knows the hotel, and what it brings to the village, with many local people being employed there too – the relationship between the race and the hotel runs deep, and we hope it will do so for many years to come”.
The race will once again be televised on terrestrial TV via S4C and also be available on the BBC iPlayer, with the programme produced by North Wales-based production company Cwmni Da.
Other features of the day will be the traditional junior races starting ten minutes after the main race at 2.10pm on the Saturday for 10-18 years, once again supported by the Eryri National Park and will be organised by the Byw Iach, Cyngor Gwynedd team.
For further information on this year’s race visit https://www.snowdonrace.co.uk
ENDS
