Second edition celebrates Coastal Karnataka with traditional performances, authentic cuisine, inclusive race categories and enthusiastic participation from Bengaluru’s corporate and running communities
Bengaluru, 1 November 2026: NICE Road came alive with the colours, sounds and spirit of Karnataka on Sunday morning as over 3,000 runners participated in the second edition of Hoysala Hustle, organised by Bhasin Sports to celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava.
Bringing together runners, corporate teams, running clubs, families and communities, Hoysala Hustle 2026 transformed a road race into a vibrant celebration of Karnataka’s cultural heritage.
Building on its inaugural edition, the event continued its distinctive concept of celebrating a different region of Karnataka each year. This year’s spotlight was on Coastal Karnataka, with its rich traditions, performing arts, cuisine and cultural identity woven into the running experience.
Participants competed across four distances — 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K — with runners of different ages and abilities sharing the same spirit of celebration.
NICE Road Comes Alive with Coastal Karnataka’s Cultural Heritage
What made Hoysala Hustle particularly memorable was the extraordinary cultural experience created along the race route.
Runners were greeted by traditional performances including Dollu Kunitha, Huli Vesha, Chende, Siddhi Dhamal, Yakshagana, Kolata and Hagalu Vesha, bringing the energy and diversity of Karnataka’s performing arts to the course.
The rhythmic beats of traditional drums, colourful costumes and spirited performances created an atmosphere rarely experienced at a road-running event.
For thousands of participants, the race became much more than a test of endurance. It was an opportunity to experience Karnataka’s living cultural traditions while celebrating fitness and community.
A Coastal Karnataka Breakfast to Remember
The celebration continued beyond the finish line, where runners were treated to an elaborate spread inspired by the flavours of Karnataka.
The specially curated menu featured Kotte Kadubu Idli, Mangaluru Buns served with chutney and saagu, Channa Usli, Millet Bisi Bele Bhaat with Khara Boondi, and Organic Jaggery Kesari Bhaat.
The traditional breakfast emerged as one of the event’s most appreciated experiences, reinforcing Hoysala Hustle’s commitment to celebrating Karnataka through every aspect of the event.
Participants also enthusiastically appreciated the specially designed finisher medals, which served as memorable keepsakes of their achievement and the cultural celebration.
A Milestone for Inclusivity in Running
In a significant step towards making competitive running more inclusive, Hoysala Hustle 2026 introduced a dedicated Trans/Non-Binary Open Category, alongside the traditional Men’s and Women’s Open Categories.
This marked an important milestone for the event, recognising that sporting achievement and the opportunity to compete deserve to be celebrated across gender identities.
The event also welcomed the participation and support of four organisations working towards social impact and inclusion:
- Guide Runners India
- Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
- Join the Dots Foundation
- Inclusive Strides
Their involvement reinforced the event’s belief that running should be accessible, welcoming and empowering for everyone.
Corporate Bengaluru Comes Together
Hoysala Hustle witnessed enthusiastic participation from Bengaluru’s corporate community, with organisations encouraging their employees to embrace fitness, teamwork and community engagement.
Companies including Apotex, JBM, TDPS and Ingersoll Rand participated with particularly strong contingents.
Other participating organisations included Wurth Elektronik, Tecnicas Reunidas, Oliveboard, Sakra, Century Real Estate, PDI Technologies, UCAM, BIAL, Decathlon, VFS Global, Cisco, PracticeMock, Toyota Group, TTIPL, Hyundai, IBM, IDFC FIRST Bank, Kanthal, Keysight, Microsoft, NU Hospitals, Routematic, Titan, YourDOST and ZeOmega, among others.
NHRD served as the Corporate Engagement Partner, helping strengthen the connection between corporate wellness and community participation.
The event demonstrated how running can bring colleagues together beyond the workplace while encouraging healthier lifestyles and stronger organisational camaraderie.
Nearly 90 Running Clubs Represented
The Bengaluru running community came out in remarkable strength, with participation and support from nearly 90 running clubs and communities.
These included BLRRUNNERS, Running Roadies, RUNBLR, Bengaluru Front Runners, New Balance Run Club, Odu Running Club, RunAddicts, Jayanagar Jaguars, Running Ninjas, Stride Run Club, Runners360, Running Buddies, Soles of Bangalore, PaceMakers, Skechers Run Club, Adidas Runners, Garmin Running Community, HSR Running Club, Namma Bengaluru Runners Club, Runners High and many others.
The participation extended beyond Bengaluru, with running communities from other parts of Karnataka and India joining the celebration.
The overwhelming support from running clubs contributed significantly to the event’s atmosphere, bringing together experienced endurance athletes, recreational runners and first-time participants.
Exceptional Race-Day Experience
Participants praised the event’s organisation, smooth race-day arrangements, enthusiastic on-route support and overall experience.
From the early-morning flag-offs and cultural performances to the support stations, medical arrangements, post-run refreshments and awards, the event was designed to deliver a memorable experience for every runner.
The race was supported by Sakra Hospitals as Medical Partner, Perfect Bounce as Physiotherapy Partner, and Fast&Up as Energy Partner.
Wurth Elektronik and Trivedi Corp were among the event’s sponsors, whose support helped bring the celebration to life.
Celebrating Karnataka, One Region at a Time
Speaking about the event, Ankur Bhasin, Race Director, Hoysala Hustle, said:
“Hoysala Hustle was born from a simple idea — that a running event could be much more than a race. It could be a celebration of who we are, where we come from and the extraordinary cultural heritage we are fortunate to inherit.
Every year, we want to take our runners on a journey through a different region of Karnataka. This year, Coastal Karnataka came alive on NICE Road — through its music, dance, food and traditions.
To see over 3,000 people come together on Kannada Rajyotsava, running alongside these incredible cultural performances, was truly special. There couldn’t have been a better way to celebrate our pride in Karnataka.
What made us equally happy was the participation of so many corporates, running clubs and social impact organisations. We also took an important step towards inclusion by introducing a Trans/Non-Binary Open Category. Our ambition is to build an event where everyone feels welcome, and where every finisher takes home not just a medal, but a story to remember.”
Sushil Bhasin, Co-Founder, Bhasin Sports, added:
“Running has an extraordinary ability to bring people together, irrespective of age, background or ability. Seeing thousands of runners take to NICE Road, supported by their families, running communities and corporate teams, was immensely satisfying.
We wanted to create an event that combines the joy of running with the pride of belonging to Karnataka. The response from participants has been extremely encouraging, and it motivates us to keep building Hoysala Hustle into a celebration that runners look forward to every year.”
More Than a Race
With over 3,000 participants, nearly 90 running communities represented, strong corporate engagement, meaningful social inclusion initiatives and a distinctive cultural experience, Hoysala Hustle 2026 reinforced its identity as a running event with a difference.
As the final runners crossed the finish line, the energy of the performances, the camaraderie among participants and the celebrations of Kannada Rajyotsava left behind memories that extended far beyond the racecourse.
For one unforgettable morning, NICE Road was not merely a road. It became a celebration of Karnataka.
About Hoysala Hustle
Hoysala Hustle is an annual thematic running event organised by Bhasin Sports in Bengaluru, celebrating Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage through running.
Featuring 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K distances, the event brings together fitness, community, culture and social inclusion.
Each edition celebrates a different region of Karnataka, incorporating its distinctive performing arts, traditions, cuisine and cultural experiences into the event.
About Bhasin Sports
Bhasin Sports is a sports-event organisation committed to promoting running, fitness, community engagement and inclusive sporting experiences. Through events such as Hoysala Hustle, it aims to bring people together through the joy of sport while creating distinctive, memorable participant experiences.
Media Contact:
Team Bhasin Sports
Hoysala Hustle 2026
Bengaluru
