Derry set to host Europe Triathlon Cup in landmark sporting return

PICTURED ABOVE: North West Triathlon Club (NWTC) members and Team Ireland triathlete Ryan Lundy, and Triathlon Ireland Development Squad triathlete Jude Williams launch the Europe Triathlon Cup — City of Derry Triathlon 2026 at Ebrington Square. Also pictured are, from left, Ryan Williams, Chair NWTC; Laura Colhoun, Race Director; Julie Dunne and Orla Nugent, Triathlon Ireland; and Ian Cullen (Deputy Race Director), Grofuse Digital, a corporate partner of the event. 

The City of Derry Triathlon will host a Europe Triathlon Cup event on Saturday 5 September 2026, bringing elite international triathlon racing back to the city.

More than 200 international elite athletes are expected to compete in the event across Senior and Junior elite races, which will be delivered as part of the City of Derry Triathlon race programme.

The programme will also include a Triathlon National Series age group race, with up to 500 athletes taking part.

The combination of five races in a single day will create a unique atmosphere in a festival of triathlon that combines elite international competition with mass participation racing in a compact city-centre setting.

The race categories are as follows: 

• Europe Triathlon Cup Elite Male
• Europe Triathlon Cup Elite Female
• Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Male
• Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Female
• Triathlon National Series (Age Group Event) 

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All races will be centred in and around the River Foyle, taking in Ebrington Square and Queen’s Quay, with courses designed to meet the required technical standards while maximising athlete performance and spectator engagement. 

The layout of the race courses will deliver a highly accessible, spectator-friendly experience which will make for a very special international-level triathlon event. 

The Europe Triathlon Cup event will attract elite athletes from across Europe and beyond — all vying for valuable World Triathlon ranking points. They will be accompanied by coaches, technical officials, team staff, family members, and international media.

The inclusion of a Triathlon National Series race will bring hundreds of age group athletes to the city, generating significant visitor numbers and economic benefit across accommodation, hospitality, and local services. 

The event is being delivered by North West Triathlon Club in partnership with Europe Triathlon and Triathlon Ireland, with the support of flagship sponsor Derry City and Strabane District Council through its National Event Fund. Corporate partners The AMP, Grofuse Digital and Connected Health are supporting the delivery and promotion of the event.

The organising team is working in close collaboration with local sports clubs, community partners, and statutory authorities, including the city’s Safety Advisory Group, to ensure the event is delivered safely, professionally, and to international standards.

Laura Colhoun, Race Director, City of Derry Triathlon 2026, said: “Being awarded the Europe Triathlon Cup reflects the confidence Europe Triathlon has in the City of Derry and its ability to host international-standard racing. Bringing elite and age-group competition together on the same day will create a distinctive race-day atmosphere and showcase the strengths of our compact, riverside city-centre venue.”

Darren Coombes, CEO of Triathlon Ireland, said: “The City of Derry Triathlon offers a rare combination of high-performance racing, strong local delivery, and an outstanding athlete experience. Its inclusion on the Europe Triathlon Cup calendar reflects the quality and ambition of the organising team.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh, said: “The City of Derry Triathlon is a flagship sporting event for the council area, delivering international exposure, economic benefit, and community engagement, and anchoring a landmark weekend of sport in the city.”

Ryan Williams, Chair of North West Triathlon Club, said: "The return of the City of Derry Triathlon has been long awaited and is widely regarded as one of the standout races on the Triathlon Ireland calendar. Its return as a Europe Triathlon Cup is hugely inspiring for local athletes and highlights Derry’s ability to host triathlon at the highest level.”

World Triathlon and Team Ireland triathlete, Luke McCarron, said: “Racing a European Cup in Derry was something I couldn’t have dreamt of when I did my first couple of sessions with North West Triathlon Club. The club’s members worked tirelessly to build something really special. This race is a testament to the triathlon legacy that has been created by those people. We are ready to cement Derry’s reputation on the world triathlon stage.”

Athlete registration information, event schedules, course maps, and race-week information will be published in advance at the event website: www.codtriathlon.com. 

The Europe Triathlon Cup - City of Derry takes place on Saturday, September 5 2026 and is followed by the Waterside Half Marathon on Sunday, September 6 - confirming the weekend as the most significant sporting weekend in the city’s 2026 calendar.