The Venice Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers on a historic urban road in Venice, Italy. The course starts in Stra on the mainland and finishes in St Mark's Square. Flat on the mainland; the pontoon bridge and narrow Venetian streets are the main course challenges.
Venice Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Venice Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 25 October 2026 with a 9:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 40 m of climbing on a hilly with notable climbs layout.
The Venice Marathon is a point-to-point course from Stra on the mainland to a finish in St Mark's Square, crossing the lagoon on a pontoon bridge in the final kilometres and passing through Piazza San Marco. The mainland miles are the easiest because they stay mostly flat and wide, while the pontoon bridge and narrow final approach are the toughest late-race features. Spectators gather most densely in St Mark's Square and along the closing lagoon crossing.
The Venice Marathon course is hilly with notable climbs over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 40 metres of climbing and 40 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
The Venice Marathon uses open online registration at venicemarathon.it/en for the late-October race. The field of roughly 2,000 finishers is allocated first-come, first-served with tiered pricing — no ballot or qualifying time required. International entries use the same portal; early registration secures lower fees before the Stra-to-Venice course sells out.
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 Venice.
The Maratona di Ferrara draws approximately 1,500 finishers each March on a historic city road in Ferrara, Italy. Ferrara's flat terrain makes it a logical PR candidate within historic northern Italy. The route passes Renaissance walls, broad flat streets, and roads across the Po plain. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027
The Maratona di Ravenna runs through the former Byzantine capital of Italy, passing UNESCO-listed early Christian mosaics and Adriatic seafront sections. About 3,500 finishers each November experience a flat course linking Ravenna's ancient heritage with the Po delta lowlands. It is one of Italy's most culturally distinctive regional marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 1 November 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 Lake Garda Marathon attracts approximately 1,800 finishers each April along Italy's largest lake beneath the Dolomite foothills. The course passes Riva del Garda's medieval harbour, the lemon groves of Limone, and the lakeside SS45bis road with alpine panorama views. April's spring weather on the Riviera of the Alps makes it one of Italy's most scenic lake marathons.
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