The Karnten Lauft Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each August on a lake road in Klagenfurt, Austria. Summer lake scenery makes it more of a holiday marathon than a city-center one. The route passes lake roads, resort areas, and scenic sections around one of Austria's best-known summer lakes. Lake roads, resort areas, and scenic sections around one of Austria's best-known summer lakes make August's Klagenfurt race more holiday marathon than city-center tour.
Karnten Lauft Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Karnten Lauft Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 2 August 2026 with a 9:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 100 m of climbing on a mostly flat with gentle undulations layout.
Starts and finishes near Worthersee in Klagenfurt. The route passes lake roads, resort areas, and scenic sections around one of Austria's best-known summer lakes. Mostly flat with gentle undulations. Very flat throughout.
The Karnten Lauft Marathon course is mostly flat with gentle undulations 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.
The Karnten Lauft Marathon uses open online registration at kaerntenlaeuft.at with no ballot or qualifying time for the general field. Sign-up for the August race typically opens the previous year and places are allocated first-come, first-served. Charity bibs are available through partner organisations when general entry closes.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Klagenfurt.
The Ljubljana Marathon draws about 4,500 finishers each October through Slovenia's compact capital. The course passes Ljubljana Castle, the Triple Bridge, Tivoli Park, and the Ljubljanica River embankment. October autumn colours and a flat valley setting make it the largest marathon in Slovenia.
Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
The Maratona di Trieste draws approximately 1,500 finishers each November through Italy's most cosmopolitan Adriatic port. The course passes Piazza Unità d'Italia — Europe's largest sea-facing square — the Miramare Castle, and the Karst plateau roads with views across the Gulf of Trieste. November's mild Adriatic weather and the Habsburg-era architecture make it a unique borderland marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 22 November 2026
The Linz Donau Marathon draws about 3,500 finishers each April along the Danube in Upper Austria's industrial-cultural city. The course passes the Ars Electronica Center, the Lentos Art Museum, and the Danube parklands on flat riverside terrain. April spring weather and a fast Danube-side profile make it Austria's largest marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 11 April 2027
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