STRALESSANDRIA 2026

30th STRALESSANDRIA

SPORT, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND COOPERATION FOR THE FUTURE

StrAlessandria returns on May 9 and 10, 2026, with a special edition celebrating the event's 30th anniversary, confirming its position as an event capable of uniting sport, participation, and solidarity.

Organized by the Istituto Cooperazione Sviluppo (ICS) ETS-APS together with the Municipality of Alessandria, with the strategic support of EGATO6, StrAlessandria confirms its position as a shared space where sport, music, and civic engagement intertwine, generating value for the local and international community. Thirty years later, it remains an opportunity to strengthen bonds and promote a culture of solidarity.

This year's program spans two days packed with events open to all residents:

Saturday, May 9th – Starting at 10:00 a.m., Carrà Park will host the sports, culture, and community village, with the Volunteer Festival organized by CSVAA Alessandria in collaboration with ICS, along with music, workshops, meetings, and social gatherings.
Sunday, May 10th – Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. in Carrà Park; the competitive race begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by the participation of amateurs, families, seniors, and people with disabilities on inclusive and accessible routes, in a festive atmosphere accompanied by music, awards, and social gatherings. After the race, the day will continue with awards and celebrations, live music, social gatherings, and cultural and sharing initiatives organized with the support of YGGDRA APS.
The registration fee of €10 will support two projects: improving maternal and child health in Thiarra, Senegal, by strengthening the birth center serving 17 villages in the Kolda region, and the creation of the "Third Place" promoted by YGGDRA, a cultural and community space for young people in Alessandria.

The BECA project is also coming to fruition, providing two three-year scholarships, each worth €9,000, to young people from Alessandria pursuing higher education—universities, arts and crafts academies, music, theater, and dance schools, and specialized higher education programs—without restrictions based on merit or income, but with a focus on the candidates' life plans. The awards ceremony for the first edition will be held on Sunday, May 10th, during the closing ceremony. ERRE ENNE will fully support the scholarships, allowing the funds raised in 2025 to be allocated to ICS's international cooperation projects, thus strengthening the link between local solidarity and global impact and reaffirming its commitment to young people.

StrAlessandria 2026 is leveraging the support of key media partners to amplify the message of solidarity and participation. In collaboration with Il Piccolo, a medium-length documentary will accompany the event, capturing the values and stories that inspire the event. It will also be visible on the giant screen located near the Moccagatta Stadium and on screens provided by the Municipality of Alessandria, thus multiplying the points of contact with the community and strengthening local involvement. Furthermore, thanks to the collaboration with Il Piccolo, Multisala Kristalli, and Cineplex di Spinetta Marengo, a short advert dedicated to StrAlessandria will be shown in city cinemas from Easter Sunday until May 10th before the films.

For more information: https://www.icsalessandria.it/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ics_ets/

The Mayor of the City of Alessandria, Giorgio Abonante, states: "Sunday's StrAlessandria represents a successful challenge and opens the way to new developments toward a more running-based nature of the event, also in light of the experience gained with the walking championships. It is not simply a sporting event, but a moment in which the City recognizes itself as a community, and this edition, celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, further strengthens this vocation, combining sport, solidarity, and attention to young people through concrete projects such as scholarships and a commitment to international cooperation. It is a virtuous example of how collective participation can generate opportunities, strengthen ties with the local area, and open the door to a broader dimension of responsibility, both local and global. We thank those who work every year to organize the event and all the volunteers who make it possible and more beautiful every year."

Councilor for Sport Vittoria Oneto reiterates: "Sport is the universal language of solidarity, and StrAlessandria represents its most authentic face. I am confident that in this 2026 edition, our city will once again demonstrate its big heart, capable of racing toward goals that go far beyond the finish line. As Councilor, I firmly believe in the value of this event, which this year is evolving with the introduction of new routes, designed to engage everyone, each at their own pace. I invite every citizen to wear the official t-shirt: every participation is a fundamental contribution to the projects we support and a visible sign of a community united in a great collective embrace. Supporting StrAlessandria means promoting a unique bond between well-being, local development, and civic engagement."

Councilor for Education Irene Molina states: "The StrAlessandria is not just our city race; over the years, it has increasingly become a moment of unity for the entire community. It represents a positive example of how sport can become an opportunity for solidarity, inclusion, and well-being for all. Within this framework, schools have always been involved, both through organized groups from comprehensive schools and through activities carried out, including as an educational program, by high school and university students. A beautiful moment of celebration, in the heart of the city, eagerly awaited and always enjoyed with great participation."

Councilor for Social Policies Roberta Cazzulo adds: "Sport plays a fundamental role in social inclusion, as it offers a common ground where people can unite, interact, and overcome social, cultural, and economic barriers. In addition to teaching the fundamentals of teamwork, the beauty of being together, and the need to respect small daily rules, sport promotes greater self-awareness and respect for others."

ICS Vice President and Head of StrAlessandria, Giovanni Mercurio, says: "Thirty years of StrAlessandria are thirty years of a community that has chosen to interpret sport as a universal language of solidarity and participation. StrAlessandria 2026 embodies this vision: a vision that embraces the world without forgetting the community that inhabits it. Because solidarity is not a choice between here and there, between us and them. It is building bridges, generating opportunities, and believing that change begins when a city decides to act together, with the same heart, for those near and far. This edition not only celebrates the past, but opens the future: we are expanding our network of collaboration with institutions, associations, our partners, and above all with you: the volunteers, the students of the Umberto Eco Institute, who are taking FSL (formerly Alternanza scuola lavoro) programs, and all the students of the city's schools who wish to join the training program, the young generations who will take the field with us. They are the heart of StrAlessandria. Continuing the tradition means broadening our perspective, making it more inclusive, more participatory, capable of embracing everyone: from children to our elders, from people with disabilities to those who believe in a cohesive community. Sport is the pretext, solidarity is the value. The future we build together is the promise.

Parco Carlo Carrà - 15121 Alessandria