Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
The Sofia Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each October on an urban road in Sofia, Bulgaria. Views toward Vitosha Mountain define the marathon's skyline. The route passes wide boulevards, landmark squares, and mountain-backed city roads beneath Vitosha. Wide boulevards, landmark squares, and mountain-backed city roads beneath Vitosha define October's Bulgarian capital marathon with skyline views and minimal climbing.
Sofia Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Sofia Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 4 October 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 in central Sofia. The route passes wide boulevards, landmark squares, and mountain-backed city roads beneath Vitosha. Mostly flat with gentle undulations. Very flat throughout.
The Sofia 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 Sofia Marathon uses open online registration at sofiamarathon.bg with no ballot or qualifying time for the general field. Sign-up for the October 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 Sofia.
The Skopje Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each October on an urban road in Skopje, North Macedonia. It is one of the Balkans' major international marathon weekends. The course passes the Vardar River, large city squares, and broad roads on the Macedonian plain. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 4 October 2026
The Alexander the Great Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each April on a point-to-point road in Thessaloniki, Greece. The finish on Thessaloniki's waterfront is the marathon's signature moment. The route passes Macedonian plain roads and ends beside the Thermaic Gulf promenade. Macedonian plain roads carry April's point-to-point race toward Thessaloniki's waterfront finish beside the Thermaic Gulf promenade, the marathon's signature moment.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
The Cluj-Napoca Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each April on an urban road in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. It is one of Romania's best-known full marathons outside Bucharest. The course passes Somes River roads, city-center boulevards, and Transylvanian urban hills. Somes River roads and cathedral-city boulevards climb through Transylvanian urban hills on one of Romania's best-known full marathons outside Bucharest.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
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