The Ljubljana Marathon, the capital's big autumn race

When the Ljubljana Marathon is: the 2026 race

The 30th edition was run over the weekend of 17 and 18 October 2026. The runners’ expo opened from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, the Gospodarsko razstavišče, where bibs were collected. On Saturday morning the children ran, with 200-metre races from 9.30am, and the 10 km set off at 4.30pm. On Sunday, the main day, the marathon (42,195 m) and half marathon (21,098 m) started together at 9am. The Tourist Board’s calendar listed it as the 29th, from 15 to 18 October; I’m going with the organisers. The rest of the autumn is in Slovenia events.

Where it starts and where it goes

All races start on Slovenska cesta, near the junction with Trg Ajdovščina, in pens A to E according to the time you declared on entry. The organisers ask you to be in position 45 minutes beforehand. The courses run through the centre and nearby districts and, according to the organisers, are certified by World Athletics and AIMS. Marathon pacers cover finishing times from 3:00 to 5:00 in fifteen-minute steps. Roads on the course are closed during the race and the Kongresni trg car park shuts entirely, so a car that weekend is more hindrance than help.

Marathon time limits and the 20 km cut-off

The marathon has a six-hour limit, the half four hours and the 10 km two. There’s one detail worth knowing. Marathon runners who haven’t completed the first 20 km lap by 11.45am are diverted to the finish, and their result goes into the half marathon standings. If your training is on the light side, I’d bear that in mind when choosing a distance.

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How entry works and what it cost

Entries work in price bands that climb with the calendar. In 2026 the marathon started at €55 (€49 if you’d run the previous edition) and finished at €75 in the first half of September; the half went from €50 to €70 and the 10 km from €45 to €55. Entries closed on 15 September, with no race-day registration and no refunds, though you could roll your entry over to the following year for an extra €5. The 2027 dates and fees hadn’t been published as of 17 October 2026.

Getting about and sleeping on race weekend

With your bib or the QR code from your registration, city buses are free on race Saturday and Sunday, according to the organisers. As central Ljubljana is closed to traffic and the start is early, I’d stay within walking distance of Slovenska cesta. How the city buses work, without cash, is explained in getting around Ljubljana, and areas to stay are in where to stay in Ljubljana.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Ljubljana and pick one that fits your day.

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