Thousands of runners, walkers and supporters filled the city on Sunday as the Chevron City to Surf for genU returned, turning the journey from Perth’s CBD to City Beach into one of the city’s biggest community events.
Since 1975 the City to Surf has grown into a major community event, with the 2026 event offering participants the choice to run, walk or roll the distance.
Participants had the choice between a 12-kilometre course, beginning at the intersection of St Georges Terrace and William Street in Perth, or a 4-kilometre course starting at McLean Park in Floreat, with both routes finishing at City Beach Oval.
For some, it was a race against the clock, while for others it was a chance to raise money, spend time with family or simply achieve a goal they had been slowly working towards.
Among them was 19-year-old Sienna Watt, who had watched the event from the sidelines for years.
“I’d always wanted to do it, but every year I’d tell myself I’d do it the next year,” she said.
This year, she finally signed up.
Sienna had never considered herself a runner and had never completed a distance anywhere close to 12 kilometres at a running pace.
“I honestly didn’t know if I could do it,” she said.
“But I’d talked about doing it for years, so eventually I thought I just had to give it a go.”
She took on the 12-kilometre course, turning what had once been a yearly goal into a reality as she joined thousands of other participants making their way through Perth towards City Beach.
More than a race
More than simply raising money through a fun run, the event supports thousands of Australians living with disability, with funds raised staying in Western Australia to support people living with disability in the state.
genU Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Michael van Oudtshoorn said the event brought together people from across the community, from experienced runners chasing personal bests to families and first-time participants taking on the challenge for the first time.
“City to Surf is about much more than running,” he said.
“It brings together people of all ages and abilities, whether they’re chasing a personal best or simply challenging themselves to reach the finish line.”
The 2026 event also relied on hundreds of volunteers working across the course, while spectators, families and friends gathered at City Beach to support participants as they crossed the finish line.
The final push
For Sienna, the support became increasingly important as the kilometres began to add up.
“It got really hard around eight or nine kilometres,” she said.
“I remember thinking, ‘Why did I sign up for this?’”
The encouragement from spectators and volunteers helped keep her moving as she made her way towards the finish.
“There were people cheering everywhere, and even when you were exhausted, you’d hear someone yelling for you and it gave you another little push,” she said.
As City Beach came into view, the finish line was finally within reach.
“I could see the beach and I knew I was almost there,” Sienna said.
“I was tired, but I was also thinking, ‘I’ve actually done this.’”
Crossing the finish line marked the end of a challenge Sienna had spent years putting off, and although she had entered without a time goal, completing the 12 kilometres gave her a sense of achievement that went beyond simply finishing a race.
“I didn’t care about my time,” she said.
“I just wanted to get to the end, and when I crossed that line I was really proud of myself.”
For the thousands of other participants, the reasons for taking part were different.
Some chased personal bests, others walked with friends, completed their first fun run or raised money for a cause close to them, but they were all brought together by the same journey towards City Beach and the purpose behind the event.
The finish line carnival at City Beach Oval continued the community atmosphere, with live entertainment, carnival rides, refreshments and medals for participants as friends and family gathered to celebrate their achievements.
For one first time runner, the City to Surf turned a long standing goal into a 12-kilometre achievement, while across Perth, thousands of others found their own reasons to make the journey from the city to the surf.
Ellie Palmer
Ellie Palmer is a Journalism and Broadcast Media student at Edith Cowan University with a passion for TV journalism and live broadcasting. She enjoys telling engaging stories, speaking with people and bringing important issues to life.
