The Padang Pariaman Regency Government is finalizing various preparations ahead of the major sport tourism event titled Padang Pariaman Barefoot Running 2026. This national-scale barefoot running competition is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, centered in the coastal area of Kampung Nelayan, Nagari Katapiang, Batang Anai District.
Padang Pariaman Regency Regional Secretary, Hendra Aswara, revealed that all regional government organizations and supporting agencies continue to work together to ensure the smooth running of the event. Intensive coordination is being carried out to guarantee comfort, safety, and order, both for the athletes and tourists who will crowd the location.
Public enthusiasm for this unique competition has proven to exceed the committee's initial estimates. To date, the number of registered participants has surpassed 1,700. These runners come not only from the West Sumatra region but also from various major cities in Sumatra such as Pekanbaru, Medan, and Palembang, and even include international participants.
"Initially, we designed this event as a regional sports event for West Sumatra. However, seeing the high interest from participants outside the province and even from abroad, this activity has transformed into a national-scale sporting event," said Hendra.
Padang Pariaman Barefoot Running 2026 will feature two main categories, namely the Fun Run and the Championship. To motivate the participants, the organizers have prepared a total prize pool of IDR 80 million, divided into a Championship Pool worth IDR 30 million and door prizes worth IDR 50 million.
More than just a race, this running competition along the beach is expected to be a driving force for the local community's creative economy. The presence of thousands of visitors is projected to revive the culinary sector, lodging services, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the coastal area.
Through this initiative, the Padang Pariaman Regency Government is optimistic that the Barefoot Running event can become an established annual agenda, while strengthening the region's image as a leading, competitive sport tourism destination at the national level.
