Next race
Sunday, 18 October 2026
9:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain
100 m climbing
Race profile
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.
Ljubljana Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 4,500 finishers
Course & terrain
The Ljubljana Marathon is a city loop that starts on Slovenska cesta near Trg Ajdovščina and finishes at Kongresni trg (Congress Square), following inner-city streets and the Ljubljanica River past Ljubljana Castle hill, Tivoli Park, and the Plecnik embankments. The riverside miles are easiest because they stay mostly flat, the minor rises toward the castle hill and tighter old-town turns are tougher, and spectator support is strongest at the finish in Congress Square, along the embankments, and around Tivoli Park.
The Ljubljana 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.
Rolling · 100 m gain — approx. 295 m above sea level
↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m
Download the Ljubljana 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
For the Ljubljana Marathon, the race is held on the third Sunday of October. Registration is at https://ljubljanskimaraton.si/en/.
Getting there
Zgornji Brnik (LJU)
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport
20 km / 12 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Ljubljana.
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. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 1 August 2027
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
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
