Across the expanded two-day event, more than 8,000 participants from over 78 countries took on the climb. Elite athletes raced alongside fitness enthusiasts, first-time climbers, families, friends and corporate teams, each arriving with a different goal but sharing the same determination to reach the top.

Their collective achievement earned The IHH Sky Race™ a new Malaysia Book of Records title for the Largest Participation in a Towerrunning Event, with 7,797 finishers. It marked another major milestone for the event, which set records in 2025 for the Highest Towerrunning Race at 503 metres and the Most Finishers in a Towerrunning Race or Event, with 5,602 finishers.

The 2026 race also marked the beginning of IHH Healthcare Malaysia’s three-year partnership as Title Partner and Official Medical Provider.

More than 200 medical personnel from IHH Healthcare Malaysia were deployed throughout the event, supporting participants from the starting line to Level 118. Their presence helped ensure that climbers could take on the demanding physical challenge with comprehensive medical support close at hand.

“The finish line was at Level 118, but the climb began much earlier, with the preparation and resolve each participant brought to the race,” said Dr Kamal Amzan, Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare Malaysia.

“Better health is built in much the same way, through choices sustained over time. That was what this weekend brought to life. We made sure participants could take on the challenge safely, while encouraging that same commitment to health well beyond race day.”

The partnership reflects IHH Healthcare Malaysia’s commitment to helping people take an active role in their health and wellbeing. It also brings IHH’s aspiration to Care. For Good. beyond healthcare facilities and into the communities it serves.

At the front of the field, the race delivered an exciting contest among some of the world’s leading tower runners.

Japan’s Ryoji Watanabe won the men’s category in 15 minutes and 38 seconds, finishing just one second outside the course record set by Malaysia’s Soh Wai Ching in 2025. Soh placed second this year, followed by Australia’s Mark Bourne.

In the women’s category, Croatia’s Tea Faber claimed victory in 18 minutes and seven seconds, setting a new women’s course record. Finland’s Laura Manninen and Japan’s Yuko Tateishi completed the podium.

Beyond the winning times and podium finishes, the event was defined by thousands of personal milestones. For some, success meant setting a new record. For others, it was reaching the top for the first time, completing the climb with friends or discovering what they were capable of achieving.

The experience extended beyond the staircase through the Sky Race Village at Stadium Merdeka. Held from 20 to 23 August, the village brought participants, supporters and visitors together through food, interactive games, arts and crafts, partner showcases and live music.

Main Partner EBENE also secured a Malaysia Book of Records title for the Most Participants in a Sports Recovery Session, with 1,127 participants joining the race-day recovery activities.

Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia and sanctioned by the Malaysian Towerrunning Association, The IHH Sky Race™ continues to strengthen Kuala Lumpur’s place on the international tower-running calendar.

For IHH Healthcare Malaysia, the weekend demonstrated what can happen when people are supported to move, persevere and pursue better health together.

The climb may have ended at Level 118, but the stories of resilience, achievement and community will continue well beyond the finish line.