Dresden Marathon 2026

Over 300 musicians will perform along the Dresden Marathon route, providing a soundtrack for runners as they pass through the city. This event, held annually since 1999 in Dresden’s historic old town, features a full marathon, half marathon, 10 km race, 4.2 km race, and a relay marathon. The course is a flat, fast road race centered on Pieschener Allee in the city center, with the marathon route featuring approximately 20 meters of elevation gain. The course primarily uses asphalt and bypasses intersections, making it suitable for runners aiming for a fast time. It goes past the Elbe River, Semperoper, the palace and cathedral area, Neustadt, the Großer Garten, the Elbe meadows, and Brühl’s Terrace. The half marathon and 10 km races attract the largest numbers of participants, with around 3,500 and 2,500 runners respectively. The broader race weekend draws participants from across Germany and about 70 countries. The event’s motto, “Baroque and nature as far as the feet can carry,” reflects the route, which combines historic Dresden architecture, parkland, and riverside running within the city.