The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 4 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop: two laps of a certified city-centre circuit for the marathon; the half marathon runs one lap |
| Registration | Online only via kosicemarathon.com; tiered pricing, first-come, no ballot |
| Ballot Opens | Not applicable: no ballot system |
| Total finishers | Approximately 1,500 in the marathon itself (the wider weekend, including half marathon and other disciplines, draws over 10,000 participants) |
| Avg race-day temp | Early October in Košice typically runs cool to mild, roughly 8-15°C at race time with rain a realistic possibility |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours |
| Free race-day transport | Not confirmed either way |
| Course certification | World Athletics (WA) Label road race; AIMS certified |
| Sleeper Train | Not accessible |
A Century-Old Course
Košice's real point of difference from most destination marathons is continuity rather than scale. It has run every year since 1941, through the collapse of Czechoslovakia and the birth of an independent Slovakia, without missing an October. That is a rarer claim than “biggest” or “fastest,” and it is worth foregrounding: runners are not just doing a marathon in a pretty central European city, they are joining a sequence that has not broken in over eighty years. The compact, walkable, two-loop nature of the course is a logistics gift for travelling runners, but the historical throughline is the story that sets Košice apart from comparably sized city marathons elsewhere in the region.
History
Košice held its first marathon on 28 October 1924, timed to mark the sixth anniversary of Czechoslovak independence. The idea came from the journalist and sportsman Vojtech Bukovský, who had watched marathon running at the Olympics and wanted to bring the event home. Eight runners started that first race. Karol Hála won it in 3:01:35, a time that would not trouble a club-night parkrun today but which set a marathon tradition in motion that has not stopped since.
It is not the oldest marathon anywhere: Boston got there first in 1897, Yonkers in 1907. But Košice can claim the oldest marathon in continental Europe, and, because it has been run every single year since 1941 without a gap, the oldest continuously staged marathon in the world. That continuity survived a world war, the fall of Czechoslovakia, and the creation of an independent Slovakia in 1993. The race carries World Athletics Label and AIMS certification, and in 2023 it marked its centenary. Field sizes have grown well beyond the original eight: the marathon itself draws around 1,500 finishers, with the wider weekend of half marathon, relay, and other disciplines pulling in well over 10,000 participants across all events.
The course
The Košice Peace Marathon runs on paved city roads on a two-loop course, with the half marathon covering a single lap of the same circuit. Start and finish sit in the same spot: Hlavná Street, between the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and the Dargov Shopping Mall. The route traces back to a course originally designed for the 1997 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and it has kept the characteristics that made it suitable for that event: few sharp turns and a notably flat profile. The official course notes put the difference between the lowest and highest point on the loop at 16.35 metres, with total climbing across the full marathon distance at 74 metres. This is a fast, technical-in-a-good-way course rather than a scenic mountain circuit.
Race morning in Košice has a compactness that a lot of bigger-city marathons cannot offer. Old Town and Hlavná Street sit close enough together that most runners staying centrally can walk to the start, which removes one of the more stressful variables of marathon morning: the transport gamble.
The two-loop structure changes the psychology of the race compared with a straight point-to-point course. Spectators get two chances to see their runner rather than one, which matters on a course without the crowd depth of London or Berlin. For runners, though, it means passing the same landmarks twice, so pacing discipline counts for more here: a fast first loop run on adrenaline will be recognisable and punishing on the second pass. The course’s low change-of-direction count, comparable, per the organiser’s own figures, to record-friendly courses like Berlin, keeps the running rhythm consistent rather than constantly resetting at corners.
The final kilometres bring runners back toward the historic centre, where the marathon’s near-century of continuous history is most visible in the surroundings: Gothic spires, café terraces, and a finish line that has seen this exact scene play out every October since 1941.
Flat start on Hlavná Street, low turn count, city-centre crowds thickest here.
Passing back near the start/finish area for the first time; half marathon finishers peel off here.
Familiar roads a second time; pacing discipline matters, as the novelty of the first loop is gone.
Return toward Hlavná Street and the finish; the course remains flat throughout, so fatigue rather than terrain is the main factor.
Pacers
No official pacer programme has been published for this race.
What to wear
October race-day temperatures in Košice are typically cool at the start and can warm modestly through the morning, with rain a genuine possibility this time of year. A throwaway layer for the start pens is sensible, and runners should be prepared for a damp morning rather than assume dry conditions.
Entry
Entry is online-only, through the official registration platform (registration.kosicemarathon.com), with payment required at the point of registration; an application without payment is treated as invalid. For the 2025 race, marathon and half marathon pricing ran in three tiers: entries and payment by 31 March at the lowest tier, rising for entries and payment by 31 July, and rising again from 1 August onward. Expect a similar tiered structure for 2026, though exact euro figures should be reconfirmed against the current registration page before publishing pricing.
There is no ballot. It is a first-come registration with no capacity lottery for the marathon or half marathon (the Inline discipline is capacity-limited and requires a qualifying code, which does not apply to marathon entrants).
Fast Runner / GFA Standards
Not applicable. No Good for Age or fast-entry route was found for this race. Entry is standard tiered-fee registration only.
Race Weekend
Expo
The race expo and bib/start-number collection take place at Kasárne Kulturpark, a cultural venue in Košice, running alongside the days immediately before the race. For the 2025 edition, pickup ran from 3-5 October, with hours of 10:00-19:00 on the first day and 09:00-19:00 on subsequent days. A separate Marathon Office at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel handled general participant queries over the same window. Expect a similar three-day pickup pattern in the days before 4 October 2026, but the exact 2026 dates and hours had not been published on the official site at the time of this research and must be confirmed nearer the event.
Race Morning
Start and finish share the same location on Hlavná Street, between the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Dargov Shopping Mall; runners staying centrally can expect to walk to the start. The 2025 start schedule had the marathon and relay starting at 9:00am, with the half marathon starting later at 10:30am to let the two-loop marathon field clear the shared road space; a similar staggered schedule is likely for 2026. The cutoff for the marathon is 6 hours. Bag storage is offered as part of the standard entry-fee benefits, though exact bag-drop logistics (location, cutoff time for drop-off) should be confirmed from the final runner guide closer to race day.
Logistics Map
The map below shows the two-loop route around Old Town and the northern and southern residential sections, plus the Kasárne Kulturpark expo venue and Košice’s main railway station. Tap any marker for details.
Nutrition on Course
Water is available at aid stations roughly every 5 km, with sports drink at some but not confirmed at every station. Specific gel and food provision have not been confirmed. Medical support and toilets are positioned around the course per official race information, though exact points are not itemised in available sources. Refreshments are also provided in the finish area as part of standard entry-fee benefits.
Spectating
Spectating Košice benefits from the same compactness that helps runners: the two-loop course means most vantage points near the centre offer two chances to see a runner pass, and the shared start/finish area means one central spot can cover both ends of the race.
Itinerary A:Base yourself near Hlavná Street for the 9:00am start, then find a position along the early loop section to catch runners on both the first and second pass. Old Town’s compact layout makes this realistic on foot without needing transport.
Itinerary B: Position along the point where the course briefly nears the centre a second time, allowing a mid-race sighting before moving toward the finish for the conclusion. Check exact street-level positioning against the current official course map.
Itinerary C: For those who prefer not to move during the race, the Hlavná Street finish area is the simplest and often safest option, particularly for family groups with children or those short on mobility.
Post-Race Food
Republika Východu, Med Malina, and Camelot are commonly cited as central Old Town options for a post-race meal, all within walking distance of the finish.
Where to Stay
Old Town, around Hlavná Street, is the best race-weekend base for most runners. Both start and finish sit here, so logistics are as simple as they get: walk to the start, walk back to the hotel after finishing. It gets busy with race-weekend crowds and noise, but the convenience trade-off is worth it for most visiting runners.
Košice station area
Good if arriving by train, with a short walk or taxi ride to the start/finish area. Less character than Old Town but practical for arrival day.
Moyzesova / west centre
A quieter edge of the centre, still walkable to both start and finish, suited to runners who want some distance from race-weekend noise without sacrificing convenience.
Aupark / south centre
Shopping-centre convenience with a walk or short taxi ride to the race. Less historic character but useful amenities.
Airport edge
Only worth considering for a very early departure the day after the race; taxis are required for both the start and the finish, and there is little to see or do within walking distance.
Recommended hotels
Sits directly by the start/finish area and hosts the official Marathon Office.
Comfortable, modern base close to the centre, though not directly on Hlavná Street.
Central character within Old Town; limited room count, books up early.
A smaller, quieter option at a lower price point, less full-service than a hotel.
Central and good value.
Booking timeline
Book refundable accommodation as soon as marathon entry is confirmed. Košice’s central hotel stock is smaller than in bigger European marathon cities, so options near Hlavná Street can sell out earlier than the entry-fee tiers might suggest. Prioritise proximity to the start/finish area first, then compare price.
See & Do
The finish sits on Hlavná Street, putting Old Town’s core sights within easy walking distance.
Hlavná Street
The pedestrianised heart of Košice and the race’s own start/finish street. Low-effort sightseeing that doubles as a course preview, good for tired legs before or after the race.
St Elisabeth Cathedral
The largest church in Slovakia, anchoring the southern end of Hlavná Street. Worth a look inside; skip any tower climb if legs are tired pre- or post-race.
East Slovak Museum
A central, indoor option for a recovery-day outing that doesn’t demand much walking.
Košice cafés
Old Town’s café culture makes for easy post-race wandering, though Sunday hours should be checked in advance.
After the Race
Košice Peace Marathon runs in October. These itineraries range from a same-day walk around Old Town to a three-night extension to Budapest.
For runners not extending their trip, the Old Town itself is worth a slow day of recovery walking. Everything of interest sits within a compact, mostly pedestrianised core.
A short regional extension into wine country. October timing lines up with harvest season, adding seasonal appeal.
A nature-focused extension involving real hiking, best suited to runners willing to be back on their feet fairly soon after the marathon. Less practical with heavy luggage.
A major European capital, offering good rail, bus and flight connections onward and an easy transition from a small historic city to a much bigger one.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay near the start or the finish?
They're the same place, Hlavná Street, so book anywhere walkable to central Košice.
How far in advance should I book a hotel?
As soon as your entry is confirmed. Central hotel stock in Košice is smaller than in bigger marathon cities.
Is public transport free on race day?
Not confirmed either way. Check the official race-week transport notice before assuming free travel.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in?
Old Town, around Hlavná Street, for the simplest race-weekend logistics.
When does the expo open, and what do I need to bring?
In 2025, bib pickup ran 3-5 October at Kasárne Kulturpark; 2026 dates were not yet published at the time of writing and should be reconfirmed closer to race day.
What is the weather typically like on race day?
Early October in Košice tends to be cool to mild, with rain a real possibility, pack for both.
How do I get from the airport to the city centre?
Košice's airport is a short taxi ride from the centre; the main rail station is also centrally located for those arriving by train.
Is there a bag drop at the race?
Storage is included in the standard entry-fee benefits; exact drop-off logistics should be confirmed from the final runner guide.
Should I bring a throwaway layer to the start?
Yes, mornings can be cool and rain is possible.
How do I get back to my hotel after finishing?
Most central hotels are walkable from the finish on Hlavná Street; use a taxi if crowds make walking impractical.