site.btaOver 10,000 Runners Expected to Participate in Sofia Marathon 2026

Since the registration for the 43rd Wizz Air Sofia Marathon opened on the marathon's official website on February 10, over 500 people have already registered to take part in the biggest road race in Bulgaria. The leading event in Sofia's sports calendar will take place on October 10 and 11, 2026 starting in the capital's Alexander I Battenberg Square. 

This year, the organizers from the Leisure Time Sports Association expect the event to attract over 10,000 participants from Bulgaria and abroad.  

Sofia Marathon is an event with an established international reputation, iconic routes through the central part of the city, and a variety of distances suitable for professional athletes, amateurs, and beginner runners alike. 

Participants can choose between the 5 km FIB Mass Run and the 10 km Run, which will take place on October 10, as well as the Address Run Half Marathon (21 km) and the classic marathon (42 km), both scheduled for October 11 In 2026.

Details of the programme will be announced later, as this year's marathon is expected to offer an even richer cultural and entertainment programme, accompanying events, and an even more diverse expo zone, the organizers said.

In 2025, nearly 8,000 people from 66 countries, including BTA staffers, took part in the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon. Kenyan runners Abraham Kiplimo and Chelangat Sangwon won the men’s and women's titles, respectively, in the classic marathon. Kenyan athletes also triumphed in the half marathon (21 km): Kennedy Kipkemoi was the fastest in the men's race and Jacinta Kavindu Paul, in the women's race. In the 10 km distance, Bulgarian runners Ivo Balabanov and Devora Avramova (33:52) were the winners for the third consecutive year.