Run for Autism

Running together to break down barriers

The Run for Autism is one of the most popular solidarity races in Rome. Every spring, thousands of people gather in Piazza Bocca della Verità for an event that blends sport, culture, and autism awareness. The event is organized by the Sport e Società Progetto Filippide Roma Association, an organization that has been promoting sport as a tool for inclusion for people on the autism spectrum for over twenty-five years.

A route through the monuments of the Capital

The course is a loop of approximately five kilometers to be completed twice, for a total of 10.050 km. The race takes place in the heart of the historic center, passing through Via del Teatro di Marcello, Piazza Venezia, the Imperial Fora, the Colosseum, and the Circus Maximus: one of the most evocative settings in the world, making the Run for Autism an unforgettable experience for participants from all over Italy and abroad.

A unique event in Europe

The hallmark of the event is its fully integrated nature: it is the only event in Europe where athletes with autism and neurotypical runners compete together, without category distinctions or separate bibs. Alongside local Roman runners, hundreds of young people on the autism spectrum and numerous international delegations—having arrived over the years from Belgium, Albania, Tunisia, and Lebanon—take part.

Participation options

The race offers several formats designed to welcome everyone:

• Competitive race of 10.050 km, with an official ranking;
• Non-competitive race over the same distance;
• Stracittadina and fitwalking of 4.8 km, a fun run open to families, children, and walkers.

The first 1,500 finishers of the 10 km and the first 1,500 of the Stracittadina receive an official medal, which for the 2026 edition features the helmet of Miltiades, a symbol of the legend of Pheidippides.

A week of initiatives

Run for Autism is more than just a race: in the days leading up to the event, the program includes a week of conferences, cultural moments, and sports activities dedicated to autism and inclusion. The initiative is held under the patronage of the Lazio Region, Rome Capital, CONI, CIP, and numerous sports and institutional bodies, confirming its deep roots in the territory of the Capital.