Pip & Nut, the UK’s number one nut butter brand, has been confirmed as an official sponsor of the Hackney Half Marathon 2026, joining the wider Hackney Moves festival as the brand continues to immerse itself in running culture.
Taking place on the 17th of May as part of the HOKA Hackney Moves weekend, the Hackney Half Marathon has grown into London’s largest half marathon, bringing together over 85,000 runners and spectators for a two-day celebration of sport, culture and community. Pip & Nut’s activation will focus on energising runners and spectators across the course, race village and wider borough, while showcasing the brand’s range of stuffed and protein bars.
As part of the partnership, Pip & Nut will sample more than 55,000 bars across the two-day event, with finishers receiving a protein bar in their goodie bags and additional sampling taking place in the race village and along the course.
The brand will bring a high-energy presence to the event, including a branded cheer point around mile five, complete with a DJ, megaphone and inflatable arch to give runners a boost when they need it most. This is in addition to finish-line sampling, and a race village hub featuring a toast bar, photobooth and relaxation space for runners.
Pip & Nut has also partnered with five local businesses across Hackney and East London to offer exclusive post-race freebies for finishers who show their medal. These include limited-edition collaborations and giveaways across race weekend, such as nut butter cup pastries created with Dusty Knuckle, with 100 funded and available to the first finishers on Sunday, plus bars available at The Salad Project Spitalfields. Additional medal-holder treats will be available from Ethical Bean Company, Love Shack and Real Açai, reinforcing Pip & Nut’s commitment to supporting the local community and celebrating runners beyond the finish line.
Pippa Murray, founder of Pip & Nut, comments: “We’re thrilled to sponsor the Hackney Half Marathon in 2026. Hackney is the heartland of our brand, and this event is the perfect opportunity to immerse ourselves in the running community. From cheer points and sampling to shakeout runs and local partnerships, we’re excited to fuel runners and bring our signature energy to one of London’s most iconic race weekends. Be sure to keep an eye out for our Crunchy Peanut Butter jar mascot, who will also be running the race.”
In the build-up to race day, Pip & Nut will also join a series of official Hackney Half shakeout runs hosted by Motiv alongside fellow sponsors. Brand ambassadors will be sampling products and energising runners at sessions on 15 April, 3 May (at the HOKA store), 13 May and 16 May, helping to build excitement in the lead-up to race weekend.
“Our nut butter stuffed oat bars and protein bars are the perfect pre and post-running snacks,” adds Pippa Murray. “Whether it’s a pre-race energy boost or post-run recovery, we want to show how our products can play a meaningful role in runners’ routines. Hackney Half gives us the ideal platform to bring that to life, connecting with the community, sharing our products at scale, and demonstrating that natural, nutritious snacking can also be genuinely delicious and convenient.”
The sponsorship builds on the continued growth of the Hackney Moves festival, which brings together running crews, local organisations and community leaders for a weekend designed to celebrate movement and make the sport accessible to all.
Pip & Nut’s activation will sit at the centre of the race village experience, offering runners a place to refuel, recover and connect after completing the 13.1-mile route.
