Belgrade Marathon to span two days for the first time

The half marathon is scheduled for Saturday morning, April 18, followed by the 10km race at 6 pm the same day. The full marathon will take place on Sunday morning.

“This is not the only innovation this year. We have also prepared a new route, with both the start and finish lines located at Republic Square,” said Belgrade Marathon Director Darko Habus.

Habus noted that over 15,000 runners are expected, which would set a new participation record. The marathon will also serve as the Balkan Championship and the Serbian National 42km Championship.

“This new concept was developed in cooperation with European Athletics as part of our preparations for the 2027 European Running Championships (10km, 21km, and 42km), which Belgrade will host. It is the perfect way to mark a major milestone - the 40th anniversary of the Belgrade Marathon,” Habus added.

The 39th Belgrade Marathon is envisioned as both a sporting event and a major tourism and entertainment festival. Habus announced that the Sports Forum will return this year, alongside a Running Expo at Hall 4 of the Belgrade Fair. An entertainment and music program is also scheduled for the evening of April 18. Furthermore, many Belgrade museums will offer free admission to marathon participants throughout the weekend, Habus said.

“I particularly want to highlight that, for the first time, the Chicago Marathon will have its own music and cheering station along the route, making the Belgrade Marathon unique in the world. We are also proud to host numerous marathon organizers from across Europe alongside officials from European Athletics,” Habus said.