Košice Peace Marathon 2026

The Košice Peace Marathon is a road race held in Košice, Slovakia, typically on the first Sunday of October. Established in 1924, following Vojtech Bukovský's inspiration from the Paris Olympics, it stands as Europe’s oldest marathon and the world's third-oldest. The marathon has been contested annually since 1941, presenting a strong case for the world's oldest continuously operated marathon. The current route is a two-lap, flat, traffic-free asphalt course through the historic city center, featuring 74 meters of elevation gain. The race has maintained the full 42.195 km marathon distance since its inception, with participants originally starting near the Turňa Castle ruins. Women were included in 1980, and the event now attracts international runners, club athletes, and local participants, with over two thousand finishers in recent years. Maratónsky klub Košice organizes the event, which holds AIMS certification and World Athletics Silver Label status.