Next race
Sunday, 11 October 2026
9:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Flat · 50 m gain
50 m climbing
Race profile
The WIZZ AIR Sofia Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each October on a flat two-lap urban road through central Sofia, Bulgaria. The course starts and finishes at the National Art Gallery and passes landmark squares and boulevards beneath the Vitosha skyline.
Sofia Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 2,000 finishers
Course & terrain
The WIZZ AIR Sofia Marathon is a World Athletics–certified two-lap urban road course starting and finishing in front of the National Art Gallery on Knyaz Alexander I Square. The route runs Sofia's major boulevards and historic centre (Alexander Nevsky Square, Vasil Levski Monument, Lion's Bridge, Todor Alexandrov / Tsaritsa Yoanna toward Lyulin) before returning to the square. Organiser FAQ lists about 50 m elevation gain; asphalt with a short cobbled section and gentle bridge climbs.
The Sofia Marathon course is 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.
Registration
The WIZZ AIR Sofia Marathon uses open online registration at sofiamarathon.bg with no ballot or qualifying time. 2026 early-bird opens in February, regular entry runs through late September, and late online entry may continue to 30 September if numbers remain. Places are first-come, first-served within limited quotas.
Getting there
Sofia Airport (SOF)
8 km / 5 mi
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 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, 3 October 2027
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. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
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. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
When a flat course helps your time, when hills are worth the view, and how to pick terrain that fits your training and goals.
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.
