CHIANG RAI – On Saturday, a ceremony was held at the Heritage Hotel marking the signing of a key agreement between four organizations to bring the Spartan SUPER World Championships to Chiang Rai.
The Governor of Chiang Rai, Mr. Charin Thongsuk, led the ceremony and was joined by Dr. Supawan Teerarat from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Mr. Matthew Brook from Spartan Race Inc., and Mr. Boonperm Intanapasart from RunRIO Thailand.
This partnership sets the stage for Chiang Rai to become the location for the Spartan SUPER World Championship from 2026 to 2028.
Each year, the event will take place in December, featuring finalists from Spartan events around the world. The festival will last less than a week and offer a full schedule of sports and related activities across Chiang Rai.
Spartan SUPER World Championship 2026 to 2028
Chiang Rai’s selection as host is historic. It marks the first time an Asian city has secured the rights to organize the Spartan SUPER World Championship for three consecutive years. The event helps showcase Chiang Rai’s ability to deliver world-class sporting events and highlights the city as a destination for global festivals.
The Spartan SUPER World Championship is the grand finale on the international Spartan calendar. Athletes from around the world must progress through the National and Regional Series before reaching the final.
Spartan races are already established in Thailand with popular stops in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, and Phuket. Globally, nearly 300 events take place yearly with over 1.5 million participants and a worldwide following of more than 7 million fans. The economic benefit for host cities, including increased tourism spending, is significant.
“Taste of Spartan” Food and Drink Festival
Events like Spartan attract dedicated athletes and visitors who are keen on sport tourism, helping host cities boost revenue. Spartan competitions contribute tens of billions of baht each year to the global economy through spending on travel, accommodation, food, and local services.
With Chiang Rai set to welcome thousands of international athletes and spectators, the city expects to generate at least 800 million baht in tourism revenue per year, totalling about 2.4 billion baht over three years. City leaders are also planning ways to position Chiang Rai as a year-round hub for international sports tourism.
In December 2026, the Spartan SUPER World Championship will unfold at Singha Park, with organizers preparing a series of parallel events. These include the “Taste of Spartan” food and drink festival, a multinational music after-party, and other highlight activities to encourage longer stays in the city.
This agreement marks a new chapter for Chiang Rai as it moves towards hosting large-scale international events. The news will be made official at the 2025 World Championship in California on 4 October, where Chiang Rai will be announced as the next host.
The Thai flag will be raised at the ceremony, signifying Chiang Rai’s entry onto the world Spartan calendar starting January 2026.
