On a mild Saturday night on April 25, more than 3,800 female runners from across the country and beyond converged on Shanghai’s bustling Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street to kick off a one-of-a-kind 10-kilometer night running event hosted by sportswear giant Nike.
The race marked the Shanghai stop of Nike’s 2026 After Dark Tour (ADT), and more notably, served as the opening leg of the brand’s annual global women’s running series for this year. Unlike previous installments, the 2026 Shanghai event rolled out two user-centric upgrades tailored to female running enthusiasts: a brand-new dual-partner “Sister Team” registration channel that lets runners sign up with a running companion, and the event’s first-ever first-person live broadcast option that allowed audiences around the world to follow the race through the runners’ own perspectives.
The course was designed to showcase Shanghai’s most iconic waterfront and skyline landmarks, leading runners past the historic Bund, the scenic Huangpu River green corridor, and the structural marvel of Nanpu Bridge, giving participants a unique night-time view of one of Asia’s most dynamic metropolises.
Two of China’s top elite female athletes, retired tennis legend Li Na and professional long-distance runner Zhang Deshun, joined the crowd of everyday recreational runners on the course, cheering on participants and sharing their own experiences of building confidence through sport.
Adam Antoniewicz, vice-president and general manager of Nike’s running business in Greater China, praised the one-of-a-kind Shanghai setting in an on-site interview. “The route is unbelievable. It’s something I’ve never seen before and that’s the unique advantage of Shanghai,” he said, noting that the city’s mix of iconic urban scenery and vibrant running culture made it an ideal host for the opening of the global series.
Antoniewicz added that the After Dark Tour is far more than a running race: it is a global women’s running platform that has already been hosted in major cities including Sydney, Los Angeles, and London, with a core mission to bring female runners of all skill levels together, celebrate the power of female companionship, and help more women build self-confidence through consistent movement.