As the Pan-Mass Challenge surpasses more than $1 billion in lifetime fundraising, the size of our event continues to expand. The town of Sturbridge has been an amazing partner to the PMC since 1981, and starting at the Sturbridge Host Hotel has become a cherished tradition for many of our riders.

Moving to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester will provide the PMC with expanded space and resources. The new route out of Worcester will allow for the event experience to continue to grow alongside an expanding PMC community. You’ll find more capacity and create new traditions as we ride closer by the mile to a world without cancer.

The College of the Holy Cross, a small undergraduate liberal arts college, will host the start and opening ceremonies for PMC weekend. With 174 acres and 38 buildings, Holy Cross is an ideal site for a growing PMC start. The PMC already uses two other college campuses – Babson College in Wellesley and Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne – as hub sites during PMC weekend.

The PMC is moving to Worcester for PMC 2026 (August 1 & 2, 2026), not PMC 2025. Worcester will replace Sturbridge as a start location starting in 2026.

PMC 2025 will be the same event you know and love! This will be the last ride from Sturbridge. Riders can choose to ride one day from Sturbridge to Bourne or two days from Sturbridge to Provincetown. View all PMC 2025 routes here.

Nothing! Riders and volunteers do not need to take any action right now for PMC 2026. The PMC is currently planning the route, lodging, and transportation for Worcester, as has been done in Sturbridge for decades.

The first 23 miles out of Worcester will be brand new, offering fresh scenery before cyclists merge with the historical PMC Sturbridge route in Mendon, just prior to the Franklin water stop (the second water stop on this route). The first water stop will be 16 miles out of Worcester, at a new proposed location in Northbridge.

Rest assured, Cherry Street will remain a beloved part of the PMC route, allowing riders to enjoy long-standing traditions while embracing this exciting new chapter.

You can view the proposed route here. This route is subject to change prior to PMC 2026.

The PMC will offer some lodging on the Holy Cross campus and otherwise recommend local hotels for riders to book directly.

In the spring of 2025, the PMC will disclose a list of preferred Worcester-area hotels with PMC group rates and shuttle service to the Holy Cross campus. Riders are asked to not book hotel rooms until these preferred hotels are under contract and announced.

The Wellesley and Bourne starts are remaining the same! Only the first 23 miles of the Sturbridge/Worcester route will be new; all other routes remain the same. You can see all current PMC routes here.

Thousands of dedicated volunteers make the PMC possible, and this will be no different for PMC 2026. As we build out the Worcester start, we will closely communicate with Sturbridge volunteers. We value the longtime commitment of our volunteers and hope all Sturbridge volunteers will join us in Worcester and all Whitinsville water stop volunteers will join us at the new Northbridge water stop.

As we plan for PMC 2026, we will share more details with the PMC community throughout 2025 and ahead of PMC 2026 rider and volunteer registration. We know this change impacts thousands of committed riders and volunteers and will keep the community informed for our exciting inaugural ride from Worcester!