Italy's 10K 'Tiramisu Run' has one prize: unlimited dessert

Road races are a viral phenomenon, and at the end, the winner usually takes home a glittering medal or memento. However, this year, Italy is offering the most delicious motivation for a road race: a sizeable serving of the country’s most revered dessert, tiramisu. On October 11, 2026, participants will come together for the first-ever “10k Tiramisu Run” through the scenic streets of Italy, according to a June 11, 2026, announcement by @visititaly and a June 19, 2026, report by WAVY News 10. The race will unfold in the city of Treviso, about a 30-minute train ride from Venice.

Most delicious motivation ever 

This is not the first time a road race has combined fitness with indulgence of taste, but this indeed is the first time when the award is a gigantic portion of tiramisu, Italy’s favorite dessert. In contrast to most races, this one also encourages walking in addition to running. The participants will walk or run through the boot-shaped country, traversing a 6.2-mile course across the “Little Venice,” passing its rose-red brick palazzos, frescoed buildings, arched porticos, cobblestone streets, winding canals, and striking piazzas.

The entertaining race will conclude in the Viale Bartolomeo d’Alviano, where participants will be commemorated with T-shirts and tiramisu. Registrations for the “10k Tiramisu Run” are open till October 8 for up to 1,000 participants aged 16 or above, per Travel Pirates. The entry fee is €18 ($20.53) till August 30; then it increases to €22 ($25.09).

An ode to fitness and Italy's favorite dessert 

While Italy is fondly known for wine tastings, pasta parties, and pizza run clubs, this is probably the first time tiramisu has been included as the award for a race. Given that Italy is the birthplace of tiramisu, this is special. Besides, global polls have suggested that tiramisu is one of the most favorite desserts in the world. Ciros London reported that 74% of people say tiramisu is their favorite dessert. According to Statista, orders for tiramisù in Italy increased by 75% between 2017 and 2025, underscoring the dessert's enduring popularity.

A sweet coincidence

Another reason why this year’s run is special is that the “Tiramisu 10k Run” coincides with the 10th annual “Tiramisu World Cup (TWC),” an international dessert cooking competition dedicated to non-professionals like dessert enthusiasts, budding pastry chefs, and home bakers from around the world. Like the “Tiramisu Run,” the Grand Finale of TWC will also take place in the city of Treviso, where the "World Champion of Tiramisù" and the "World Champion of Creative Tiramisù" are honored with crowns.

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