25th World Congress of AIMS

Tromsø, Norway, June 2026

The Congress website is now available at https://msm.no/en/aims/ and registration is open.

The Midnight Sun Marathon Foundation welcomes all AIMS members to the 25th World Congress of AIMS, June 18–20, 2026.

Located at 69°N, 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø sits on a small island surrounded by majestic mountains and deep fjords. With a population of about 80,000, it may seem small by global standards, but it is one of the most populated cities within the Arctic region.

Being inside the Arctic Circle, Tromsø offers some of the world's most spectacular natural phenomena. In winter, the Northern Lights dance across the sky, and in summer, the Midnight Sun creates a truly unique atmosphere. From May 21 to July 22, the sun never sets – offering 24-hour daylight.

All AIMS members and sponsors should diary the date now to ensure they do not miss out on what will be a most exciting experience.

Congress agenda

The latest Congress agenda can always be seen on this page. Last updated: 17 November 2025, 5pm CET (Tromsø time)

Wed 17 June 2026

09:00–17:00 Annual Meeting of AIMS Board

13:00–21:00 Information and registration for delegates

19:00 — Side-event: Visit to Polaria

21:00 — Side-event: Social gathering

Thu 18 June 2026

08:30–09:00 Arrival Reception and Registration

09:00–09:15 Welcome words by AIMS President, Host City Representative, and Local Organising Committee

09:15–09:55 Presentation #1: Midnight Sun Marathon – Inspiring the World from the Arctic
The host race shares how unique natural conditions (midnight sun, northern lights, polar climate) can attract global runners and transform a city into a sports tourism destination.

09:55–10:35 Presentation #2: The Future of Running Tourism – Building Cities through Sport
Exploring how marathons are catalysts for tourism, cultural exchange, and city branding in both large capitals and smaller destinations like Tromsø.

10:35–11:05 Coffee Break and Networking

11:05–11:45 Presentation #3: Tech at the Edge – Data, AI and the New Era of Race Organization
How innovations in data, wearable technology, and AI are changing runner experience, logistics, and global engagement.

11:45–12:00 Special Address: World Athletics
A 15-minute update from World Athletics on global running development, partnerships, and alignment with AIMS.

12:00–13:00 Lunch Break

13:00–13:40 Presentation #4: Sustainability Beyond Borders – Greener Races, Healthier Planet
Examining climate responsibility in the running industry, with Arctic-specific insights on how fragile ecosystems can guide sustainable practices.

13:40–14:40 Annual AIMS Reports: Reflecting on Achievements and Looking Ahead

14:40–15:10 Coffee Break and Networking

15:10–15:50 Nomination Presentations for Board Election

15:50–16:20 Proposals for Hosting the 26th World Congress of AIMS

16:20–16:35 Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Association

19:30–21:00 Welcome Dinner

22:00 — Midnight Sun Experience - Cable Car

Fri 19 June 2026

08:30–09:00 Arrival Reception and Networking

09:00–09:40 Presentation #5: The Business of Endurance – Attracting and Retaining Sponsorship in a Competitive World
This session explores how marathons can position themselves as powerful marketing platforms for brands. From digital storytelling to sustainability partnerships, discover what sponsors are truly looking for in 2026 and how events can deliver long-term value.

09:40–10:20 Presentation #6: AIMS Sponsors Presentations

10:20–10:50 Coffee Break and Networking

11:00–12:00 Panel Discussions (choose 2):The Changing Landscape of Sponsorship – What Brands Expect in 2026 and Beyond; Running in the Digital Age – Social Media, Communities, and the Next Generation of Runners; The Next Generation of Runners – Inspiring Youth Participation Worldwide; Climate and Culture – Balancing Global Growth with Local Identity

12:00–13:00 Lunch Break

13:00–14:15 Interactive Session: Together Under Arctic Skies
An open-floor exchange where delegates co-create visions for AIMS’ role in uniting global running communities under shared values of inclusion, sustainability, and growth.

14:15–14:45 Coffee Break and Networking

14:45–15:15 Summary of Interactive Session

15:15–16:00 Presentation #7: The 5 Golden Principles of a Race Start – Crowd Flow & Crowd Management
An engaging session on how crowd flow impacts both safety and runner experience. Marcel shares five universal principles that apply to races of any size, offering practical, science-based takeaways for organizers worldwide.

16:00 — Photo of congress delegates

19:00–22:00 Dinner

Latest Congress news

AIMS Congress speaker confirmed

Marcel Altenburg to speak on crowd safety · Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Mr Marcel Altenburg has confirmed his participation as a speaker at the AIMS World Congress in Tromsø.

Mr Altenburg is Crowd Safety Consultant and Programme Leader of Crowd Science at Manchester Met University in the UK.

He teaches the MSc Crowd Safety and Risk Analysis course there at the world’s leading university for the subject. Apart from research, he also provides crowd science solutions regarding safety, risk and efficiency for projects around the globe.

His expertise includes the dynamics of crowd movements and crowd behavior in complex environments with the goals of safety and efficiency. He is independent crowd safety advisor to World Marathon Majors, world leading sport events, government agencies and police, as well as the German Football Association. A regular part of his work is the analysis of safe environments for crowds and spectators, inside and outside of stadia. He supported the crowd safety plans at all venues of the EURO2024 as well as the German Venue at EURO2020.

He will speak on Friday, 19 June 2026, 15:15 (time subject to change), on “The 5 Golden Principles of a Race Start – Crowd Flow & Crowd Management”.

The initial Congress programme will be published soon.

Tromsø update

AIMS World Congress 2026 · Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:12:00 +0000

The Midnight Sun Marathon Foundation welcomes all AIMS members to the 25th World Congress of AIMS, June 18–20, 2026.

The Congress will take place in Tromsø, Norway the same weekend as the Midnight Sun Marathon. We will provide more information on the program, but here are some important things to remember.

At 69N, 350km North of the Arctic Circle, on a small island surrounded by majestic mountains and fjords, you will find Tromsø. The city has a population of 80.000, quite small compared to most places, but it is one of the most populated places in the Arctic.

Being inside the Arctic, Tromsø can offer some of the most spectacular natural phenomena. In winter, the Northern Lights dance across the dark sky, and in summer the Midnight Sun creates a special atmosphere. From May 21st to July 22nd the sun never sets, and you can experience 24-hour daylight.

The Midnight Sun Marathon race has been one of the most spectacular running events since it started in 1990. The Marathon starts at 20:30/ 8:30 PM, and most runners will cross the finish line after Midnight – wearing sunglasses. The race offers Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and 5km distances. In 2025 more than 10,000 registered for the event.

Being far away from the rest of Europe one must plan the travel. Tromsø has an international airport with direct flights to the major cities in Northern Europe. Usually we would recommend flying through Copenhagen or Oslo.

Norway is a part of Schengen and most nationalities will have the same rules for travelling to Norway as they have travelling to other countries in the Schengen area.

Please find information about applying for a Visitors Visa at the UDI website. If you are planning to participate please contact Midnight Sun Marathon to get the personal invitation.

The Congress will take place at the Scandic Ishavshotel. Participants will stay at this hotel.

The transfer time from the airport is 15 minutes by bus or taxi. The organiser will arrange this for all participants travelling to Tromsø.

The daytime temperature will probably be 14 – 20° C. At night it will drop even if the sun is up. We will of course send all the participants guidance on how to dress for an Arctic summer.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or if you need an invitation letter. E-mail: info@msm.no