guardian Launches KL Women Running Festival 2026 to Champion Women’s Wellness

Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2026 – guardian Malaysia is stepping up its commitment to women's wellness with the inaugural KL Women Running Festival (KLWRF) 2026, a new flagship platform bringing women together to celebrate movement, wellness and community.

guardian is proud to support an event expected to attract more than 8,000 participants, making it one of Malaysia’s largest women-focused running events. Taking place on 18 October 2026 at Dataran Merdeka, the festival will feature 5km, 10km and 15km race categories and welcomes women aged 16 and above from all walks of life.

More than a running event, KLWRF reflects guardian’s broader commitment to championing women’s wellness by encouraging women to take an active role in their physical, emotional and overall wellbeing.

Priscilla Wu, Managing Director of guardian Malaysia and Brunei

Speaking at the launch, Priscilla Wu, Managing Director of guardian Malaysia and Brunei, said: “At guardian, we believe women’s wellness is about more than simply looking after our health. It is about having the confidence, knowledge and support to live healthier and more fulfilling lives at every stage.

“The KL Women Running Festival brings this belief to life by creating a space where women can come together, get active, connect with one another and celebrate their strength. We are proud to support the inaugural festival that inspires more women to prioritise their wellbeing.”

 Patricia Tan, SCORE Sports Management Chief Executive Officer

The festival is organised by SCORE Sports Management. Its Chief Executive Officer Patricia Tan said the festival was created to make running more welcoming and accessible to women regardless of their experience. “When we first talked about guardian KL Women Running Festival, we knew we didn’t want to create just another race. We wanted women to come without feeling that they needed to be experienced runners or run at a certain pace to belong,” said Tan.

Building a Community around Women’s Wellness 

The launch of KLWRF builds on guardian’s growing commitment to working with partners across the healthcare, government and community ecosystem to support women’s wellbeing.

Taking place on 18 October 2026 at Dataran Merdeka, the guardian's KL Women Running Festival 2026 will also be graced by the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, underscoring the Ministry’s support for initiatives that promote women’s health, active lifestyles and wellbeing across different stages of life.

The Ministry’s participation also builds on its collaboration with guardian through the nationwide Listening Lab research initiative, which helped provide insights into the experiences and needs of women navigating midlife and informed guardian’s Embracing Midlife Wellness initiative.

Priscilla added: “The Ministry welcomes initiatives that encourage women to take greater ownership of their health and wellbeing. We are pleased that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has agreed to grace the guardian KL Women Running Festival, in support of efforts that encourage women to stay active and raise awareness of important life stages such as midlife and menopause. The collaboration between the Ministry and guardian demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help strengthen awareness and support networks for women’s wellbeing across every stage of life.”

Championing Wellness through every Life Stage 

KLWRF 2026 will bring together women of different ages, backgrounds and lifestyles through an inclusive celebration of health and active living.

The festival forms part of guardian’s wider wellness commitment, which focuses on making health and wellbeing more accessible through education, professional healthcare support, community engagement and relevant wellness solutions.

This includes guardian’s Embracing Midlife Wellness initiative, which aims to provide women with greater awareness, education and support as they navigate the physical and lifestyle changes associated with midlife.

Through its nationwide network of trusted pharmacists, guardian continues to provide accessible healthcare advice and guidance to help women make more informed decisions about their wellbeing.

Priscilla added: “Women play many different roles throughout their lives – as daughters, mothers, partners, professionals, caregivers, friends and leaders. Their health and wellbeing can often take a back seat as they care for others.

“We want to encourage women to make time for themselves too. Whether that means becoming more active, learning more about their health, seeking professional advice or simply connecting with other women, every step towards better wellbeing matters.”

Join the Movement 

The guardian KLWRF will take place this 18 October at Dataran Merdeka. Registration closes on 20 September and can be completed online at: https://www.heyjom.com/event/kl-women-running-festival-2026. Full registration details, fees and conditions are available on the registration website.

Concluding, Priscilla said: "At guardian, we aspire to be a trusted partner in every woman's wellness journey. Through collaborations with government agencies, healthcare professionals, brand partners and community organisations, we’ll continue creating meaningful programmes that empower women to live healthier, happier and more confident lives."