Discover Pictou: Coastal Charm, Culture & Culinary Delights
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Looking for a reason to run, walk, peddle and/or paddle this summer… or to take in exciting outdoor events while local, national and international athletes compete?
If so, we’ve pulled together a growing list of heart-pumping outdoor events taking place throughout Nova Scotia in 2026 that you can register to take part in as a participant or volunteer as well as events that you can attend as a spectator to cheer from the grandstands or sidelines.
Professional Sporting Events
Did you know that Nova Scotia is home to TWO professional soccer teams – the Halifax Tides FC and the Halifax Wanderers FC?
The Halifax Wanderers FC has competed in the men’s Canadian Premier League since 2018 while the Halifax Tides FC, Atlantic Canada’s first and only professional women’s soccer club, has competed in the Northern Super League since 2024. Both teams play in the highest level of the Canadian soccer league!
Check out their home schedule and plan on taking in a match this year at the Wanderers Grounds, the home pitch for both teams, which is located next to the Museum of Natural History in downtown Halifax!
Season passes and tickets to matches are available on the clubs’ websites.
March & April Events
Dust off those running shoes and trade in the bulky clothing for the lighter layers of springtime outdoor activities. With the longer daylight hours come those seasonal kick-off fun runs and marathons to start another season of timed running events… on the right foot!
March Events
- The Bagel Run (monthly event), Halifax: March 15
- Night Owl 5K, Point Pleasant Park in Halifax: March 21
April Events
May & June Events
From running through Halifax and Dartmouth during the Blue Nose Marathon to runners and walkers running to enjoy a buffet of homemade muffins in Lunenburg and welcoming the summer solstice by participating in an Indigenous community-led run that celebrates healthy living and the spirit of truth and reconciliation, events in May and June offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy Spring in Nova Scotia.
June sees the highly anticipated return of Canada Sail Grand Prix where Team Canada and their international competitors will take over Halifax Harbour in their high-speed sailing catamarans, June 20-21!
May and June Don’t Miss events include:
- Medavie Blue Nose Marathon
- Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge
- ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships
May Events
- Wild Lakes 10k, Halifax: May 2
- Halifax Search and Rescue’s Eco-Endurance Challenge (EC2), Halifax: May 2
- Spike Family Fun Runs, Kentville: May 2
- Kentville Mountain Bike XCO, Kentville: May 3
- The Bagel Run (monthly event), Halifax: May 3
- Salomon Wascally Wabbit, Folly Lake: May 9
- Miss Miles, New Glasgow: May 10
- Medavie Blue Nose Marathon, Halifax: May 15-17
- Cabot Trail Relay, Cape Breton Island: May 24-26
- Bumrun 5k, Dartmouth: May 24
- Spoke Bender 50, Wentworth Valley: May 31
June Events
- Penguin Run, Enfield: June 6
- Eskasoni Nepisulti’kul Run, Eskasoni: June 6
- Ides of Marge by Cyclesmith, St. Margaret’s Bay: June 6
- Keji’s Backyard Ultra, Annapolis County: June 6
- Lunenburg 5 km Road Race & Muffin Run: June 7
- Cut N Run 2026, Chester: June 7
- 3 Peaks Challenge, Cape Breton Highlands: June 13
- Michelin Tire Trot, Bridgewater: June 14
- Doctors Nova Scotia Youth Run, Sydney: June 14
- Ulnooweg Summer Solstice Run, Millbrook: June 20
- Johnny Miles Weekend Running Event, New Glasgow: June 21
- Tatamagouche Beer Run: June 21
- Riverport Road Race, Riverport: June 21
- Canada Sail Grand Prix Halifax: June 20-21
- ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships, Lake Banook in Dartmouth: June 25-27
- Gore Mountain Bike XCO, Gore: June 28
July & August Events
There is no shortage of exhilarating activities to register for or attend this summer with fun runs on beaches, racing the highest tides in the world to racing on an island in the middle of Halifax Harbour plus sailing, mountain biking and cycling events.
Looking for a compelling – or fun – reason to participate? You can run in a kilt, run for lobster or scallops, run across a Halifax Harbour Bridge, and even run through time!
July and August Don’t Miss events include:
- ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships
- Chester Race Week
- Not Since Moses 5K/10K
July Events
- ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, Lake Banook in Dartmouth: July 1-5
- Hantsport Canada Day Races, Hantsport: July 1
- McNab’s Half Marathon, McNab’s Island in Halifax: July 4
- Run for the Lobster, Pictou: July 5
- Antigonish Highland Games 5 Mile Road Race, Antigonish: July 10
- Annapolis Royal 5K, Annapolis Royal: July 12
- Sea Me Run: Nova Scotia Marathon, Barrington: July 19
- Melmerby Triathlon, Little Harbour Pictou County: July 19
- Starrs Point Circuit Race, Port Williams: July 25
- MARC Mountain Bike XCO, Lunenburg: July 26
August Events
- Cape to Cliff Beach Run, Mavillette Beach and Cap Sainte-Marie: August 1
- Harbour Hustle, MacDonald Bridge in Halifax: August 2
- Dartmouth Natal Day Road Races. Dartmouth: August 3
- Digby Scallop Days Fun Run, Digby: August 7
- Capes 100, Mabou: August 8
- Emancipation Day Run/Walk 2026, Cherry Brook: August 8
- Chester Race Week, Chester: August 12-15
- 30th Annual Louisbourg Race Through Time, Louisbourg: August 15
- Not Since Moses, Five Islands: August 16
- Cobequid Trail Run, Truro: August 30Kentville Mountain Bike XCO, Kentville: August 30
September & October Events
Cyclists, hikers, and runners – rejoice! There are endurance events for everyone this fall in Nova Scotia!
Hike the highest mountains in the Cape Breton Highlands, take part in a gran fondo cycling event, celebrate another year of fantastic weather and harvests in the Annapolis Valley as you run in a final marathon of the year.
September and October Don’t Miss events include:
September Events
- Berwick Gala Days 6 Mile Road Race, Berwick: September 6
- Nasty Nuttby Killer 5K, Nuttby: September 12
- Picture me in a Tree 5K, 10K & 6 hour Trail Run, Centreville: September 12
- Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie, Baie St Marie: September 12-13
- Hike the Highlands, Cape Breton Highlands: September 12-18
- Kicking PancreAS 5K, Dartmouth: September 26
- Frankie’s Vertical Backyard Ultra, Mabou: September 26
October Events
- The Chiggy Ultra, Advocate Harbour: October 2
- 2026 AFL Canada Club Championships, Halifax: Oct 3-4
- O’Regan’s Subaru Riverport Duathlon, Riverport: October 4
- Rèis Mhàbu – Run Mabou, Mabou: October 10
- Nova Scotia Giant Pumpkin Festival & Regatta, Shelburne: October 10
- Valley Harvest Marathon, Wolfville: October 10-11
- Salty 7 Trail Race, Cole Harbour Heritage Park Trails: October 17
- Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon, Sydney: October 18
- Run51 – Moving for Women’s Health, Cornwallis Park: October 18
- The Mangy Coyote Backyard Ultra, Trenton: October 24
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