Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
The Gent Marathon (Ghent Marathon) draws about 4,500 finishers each October through Flanders' medieval university city. The course passes the Gravensteen castle, the Graslei waterfront, and the Saint Bavo's Cathedral on flat Scheldt valley terrain. October autumn weather and cobblestone-free main roads make it Belgium's charming eastern marathon.
Gent Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Gent Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 28 March 2027 with a 9:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 50 m of climbing on a very flat layout.
The Gent Marathon is a loop that starts and finishes at the Citadelpark and passes Gravensteen, Graslei, Saint Bavo's Cathedral, and the Scheldt riverfront. The course is very flat through the lowlands, and spectators line the Citadelpark start-finish area and cheer through Graslei and the medieval centre.
The Gent Marathon course is very flat over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 50 metres of climbing and 50 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
The Gent Marathon uses open registration at gentmarathon.be with no ballot or qualifying standard. Sign-up for the March race typically opens early in the year. The flat Flemish course through Ghent's historic centre can fill before race day given strong Belgian club-runner demand.
Race-day footage from the course to help you picture the route, crowds, and key landmarks on marathon day.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Ghent.
The Bruges Marathon attracts about 2,500 finishers through the UNESCO-listed medieval city of Bruges in Belgium. The course passes the Belfry, the Markt square, and the canals that earned Bruges the nickname 'Venice of the North.' Flat Flemish terrain and fairy-tale scenery make it one of Europe's most picturesque small marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026
The Brussels Airport Marathon draws about 3,500 finishers each October on a course linking Brussels city centre with the airport zone and the Sonian Forest. The route passes the Atomium, the Cinquantenaire Park, and the EU quarter. October Brussels weather and a mix of urban and forest scenery define this Belgian capital marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026
The Brussels Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 11k finishers on an urban road in Brussels, Belgium. The course starts and finishes at the Parc du Cinquantenaire. The route passes the Grand Place, Atomium, and the European Quarter. Mostly flat with gentle undulations.
Next race: Sunday, 4 October 2026
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