Next race
Sunday, 25 October 2026
10:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Historic urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain
100 m climbing
Race profile
Overview
The Dresden Marathon attracts about 2,100 marathon finishers on the last Sunday of October through the restored baroque capital of Saxony. The course passes the Frauenkirche, the Semperoper, and the Elbe River embankment. Late-October weather along the flat Elbe valley makes it eastern Germany's premier marathon.
Dresden Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
- Typical participants
Approximately 2,084 finishers
- Weather
- Course records
- Men: 2:10:00 — Ezekiel Koech (2019)Women: 2:30:30 — Teclah Chebet (2022)
Course & terrain
Dresden Marathon course
Route map, elevation profile, and downloadable GPX for race-week planning.
The Dresden Marathon is a loop starting on Ostra-Allee near Heinz-Steyer-Stadion and finishing inside Heinz-Steyer-Stadion. The route passes Old Town baroque sights including the Zwinger and Semperoper, crosses the Elbe via Waldschlösschen Bridge and tunnel, and runs through Neustadt, Großer Garten, and Blasewitz/Elbe meadows. The course stays mostly flat and fast, with spectators along the Elbe embankment and through the restored baroque skyline.
Dresden Marathon route map
The Dresden Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 100 metres of climbing and 95 metres of descent, with a net climb of 5 metres from start to finish.
- Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain — approx. 116 m above sea level
↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m
Dresden Marathon GPX file
Download the Dresden Marathon GPX file
Marathon Focus' proprietary GPX processing removes duplicate points, adds elevation data, and formats the file so you get a cleaner, more reliable route to load into your Garmin, Coros, or Apple Watch fitness watch.
Registration
Dresden Marathon entry requirements
The Dresden Marathon uses open registration at dresden-marathon.com with no ballot or qualifying standard. Sign-up for the late-October race typically opens on the previous race weekend. Tiered pricing rises through the year toward a mid-October regular deadline, with late online and limited on-site options afterward.
Getting there
Dresden Marathon travel
Airports closest to Dresden for flight planning and race-week travel.
- Closest airport
Dresden Airport (DRS)
9 km / 6 mi
Race footage
Dresden Marathon videos
Race-day footage from the course to help you picture the route, crowds, and key landmarks on marathon day.
Dresden-Marathon (ab 2016) - Streckenverlauf im 3D-Stadtmodell
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Dresden Marathon elevation profile?
- The Dresden Marathon has 100 metres of total climbing and 95 metres of descent over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). The course is rolling, with 5 metres of net climb from start to finish.
- Where can I find the Dresden Marathon route map?
- This page includes a Dresden Marathon course map showing the full 42.195 km route from start to finish. Passes Old Town baroque sights (Zwinger, Semperoper, Brühl's Terrace), Neustadt, Waldschlösschen Bridge/Tunnel, Großer Garten and Blasewitz/Elbe meadows.
- How long is the Dresden Marathon?
- The Dresden Marathon is the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), certified to World Athletics rules. Historic course from Ostra-Allee near Heinz-Steyer-Stadion to inside Heinz-Steyer-Stadion.
- What time does the Dresden Marathon start?
- The 2026 Dresden Marathon starts at 10:30 am local time on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Arrive early for baggage drop and corral access — official race communications confirm any last-minute schedule changes.
- Where does the Dresden Marathon finish?
- The finish is at Theaterplatz near the Semperoper opera house.
- Does the Dresden Marathon pass the Frauenkirche?
- Yes. The rebuilt Frauenkirche church is a centrepiece of the course through the baroque old town.
- When is the Dresden Marathon?
- The race is held in April.
- Is the Dresden Marathon flat?
- Largely yes along the Elbe valley.
- What does the Dresden course pass?
- Runners pass the Frauenkirche, Semperoper, Zwinger, and the Elbe's Blaues Wunder bridge.
Official resources
Dresden Marathon links
Websites
Social Media
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Nearby Marathons
Other races closest to Dresden.
BurgBrandenburgGermany· 92 km away
Spreewald Marathon
The Spreewald Marathon draws approximately 1,200 finishers each April on a canal-region road in Burg, Germany. The Spreewald setting gives the race a strong regional identity built around waterways and villages. The course passes canals, meadows, and low-lying roads through one of Germany's most distinctive wetland landscapes. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027
PragueCzech Republic· 117 km away
Prague Marathon
The Prague Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 11k finishers on a historic urban road in Prague, Czech Republic. The course starts and finishes on Old Town Square. The route crosses the Charles Bridge twice, passing Prague Castle, Wenceslas Square, and the Vltava embankment. Very flat along the river; cobblestones on Charles Bridge and in the Old Town.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
MagdeburgSaxony-AnhaltGermany· 187 km away
Magdeburg Marathon
The Magdeburg Marathon draws approximately 300 marathon-distance finishers each October on an urban road in Magdeburg, Germany. Its flatness makes it one of Germany's more under-the-radar fast autumn marathons. The course starts on Tessenowstraße at Messe Magdeburg and finishes between the Messe halls on two flat loops through city parks and Elbe-adjacent roads.
Next race: Sunday, 3 October 2027
Planning guides
Related guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
Marathon Course Profiles Explained
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
Marathon Weather: What to Expect
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How to Choose a Marathon
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