Zagreb Marathon 2026: 11 October, and the world masters come too

Zagreb runs its marathon on the second Sunday of October, and in 2026 that is the 11th. It is a city marathon in the literal sense: start and finish are on Ban Jelačić Square, the main square, and the course is a flat east-west loop along the wide boulevards, two laps for the marathon and one for the half. This year the race also hosts the World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship, which means the field will be older, larger and considerably faster than usual.

Distances and start times

What to know before you enter

• The time limit is generous: the last marathoner is expected in the finish at 14:30, which is five and a half hours from the gun.
• Refreshment stations carry water, isotonic drink and fruit, the first one water only. Every finisher gets the same three at the line.
• A pasta party follows the race, with beer, water and fruit. It is part of the entry, not an extra.
• October in Zagreb is the good running month: cool mornings, dry more often than not, and the plane trees along the boulevards are turning.

For everyone who is not running

The centre is closed to traffic on the Sunday morning and the trams are diverted, which is worth knowing whether you run or not. The best place to watch is the square itself, where the finish is, or the long straight boulevards where you see the field twice. From about two in the afternoon the city is back to normal and the rest of the day belongs to whoever wants it.

Where next

1. 11.10.The race entry with all the dates

   Date, place and what else is on that weekend in Zagreb.

2. 1 hZagreb in a day, on foot

   The upper town, the market, the museums and the promenade under the walls, for the day before or the day after.