The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 18 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Point-to-point (Stadio Euganeo to Prato della Valle) |
| Registration | Open, online (2,000 cap) |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Stadio Euganeo, Viale Nereo Rocco, 08:30 |
| Finish | Prato della Valle |
| Total finishers | To be Confirmed |
| Avg race-day temp | To be Confirmed |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours 30 minutes (road secured) |
| Free race-day transport | Yes, shuttles to the start and from the finish |
| Course certification | FIDAL Type A homologated; FIDAL national Silver (2026) |
History
The 2026 Padova Marathon, run on Sunday 26 April, was the 26th edition on FIDAL's count. The organiser's 2027 page says the present point-to-point course was introduced in 2016 and was changed again in 2023. The city's athletics association, Assindustria Sport, runs the race, which is listed with FIDAL under the reference PD140. The marathon is held with a half marathon that starts separately in Abano Terme. Padova is Padua in English.
The 2026 race was won by Victor Kwemboi of Uganda in 2:09:35, who had been second in 2025, and by Gladys Chemutai of Kenya in 2:32:23. The local press described the weekend as the one with the most participants in the event's history, with about 40,000 in the recreational city runs and more than 6,000 in the competitive races. Those are weekend figures and do not describe the marathon alone, which has a registration cap of 2,000.
The organiser lists the course records as Kenya's T. Kipchumba in 2:08:22 from 2024 and Ethiopia's W. A. Mekasha in 2:29:18 from 2018. The men's mark was set after the 2023 course change, and the women's before it, so the two do not necessarily describe the same alignment. FIDAL lists the 2026 race as a national Silver event on its Global Calendar with a Type A homologated course. Silver is the Italian federation's own grade, and no World Athletics Label has been established.
The course
The marathon starts at Stadio Euganeo, on the north-western edge of Padova, and finishes in Prato della Valle, the great oval square in the historic centre. It runs through five municipalities: Rubano, Selvazzano Dentro, Teolo, Abano Terme and Padova. The course loops out towards the foothills of the Colli Euganei, passes the spa town of Abano Terme, and returns by Mandria and Via Goito to the centre.
The organiser lists the final sequence through the city as Via Vescovado and Piazza del Duomo, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza della Frutta, Caffè Pedrocchi, the Palazzo del Bo of the university and the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, ending in Prato della Valle. The half marathon starts in Abano and joins the course around 30 km.
The surface is asphalt, with stone paving in parts of the historic centre. The organiser calls the profile favourable and publishes no elevation figure. The SRTM profile stays between 8 and 26 m above sea level.
Kilometre by kilometre
Kilometre positions are approximate to about a kilometre, from the route as run before and the organiser's text. The 2027 map has not been published.
Km 0 to 13: out from Euganeo. The gun fires at 08:30 at Stadio Euganeo, with runners asked to be at the start by 07:30. Bibs are grouped by a declared best time from the past two years. The course leaves the stadium by Viale Nereo Rocco, heads north and then west by Via Due Palazzi at 2 and 3 km, through Villaguattera at 4 and 5 km, Sarmeola at 6 to 8 km, Caselle at 9 and 10 km and Rubano at 11 and 12 km, with the first aid point and sponge station at 5 km. The terrain is flat at 9 to 15 m, open and exposed to wind.
Km 13 to 25: Selvazzano and the foothills. The course continues through Selvazzano Dentro at 14 km and Feriole at 15 to 18 km, then San Biagio at 19 km and the Via Euganea at Bresseo, where it reaches its westernmost point near 21 km, 12.3 km from the start in a straight line. The road to the Abbazia di Praglia leaves at 22 km, in the Teolo area. This is the furthest point from the centre and the quietest part of the course. The Colli Euganei are visible but not climbed.
Km 25 to 31: Abano Terme. The course turns east along Via Appia Monterosso at 25 and 26 km and reaches Abano Terme, the spa town, at 28 to 30 km on Viale delle Terme, Via Matteotti and Via San Pio X. The organiser lists the Kursaal and the Hotel dell'Orologio on the pedestrian section. Half-marathon runners, who start in Abano, join the course around 30 km, so the field gets denser and runners pass through more aid stations. Extra sponge stations are at 27.5 and 37.5 km.
Km 31 to 42.2: Mandria and the centre. The course returns through Giarre at 31 to 33 km and Mandria on Via Armistizio at 34 and 35 km, then Paltana at 36 and 37 km and Via Goito at 38 km, and enters the historic centre around 39 to 40 km by Via Cernaia and Via del Vescovado. Runners pass Piazza del Duomo, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza della Frutta and Caffè Pedrocchi around 40 to 41 km, then the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, with the finish in Prato della Valle. The streets here are narrower and the surface is less regular, so the last 3 km are slower than the opening. The profile rises about 17 m over 14 km between 27 km and 41 km, to its high point of 26 m near the Duomo.
Aid and sponging are every 5 km. The road is secured for a maximum of 6:30.
A flat, open start through Villaguattera, Sarmeola and Rubano, with wind as the main variable. Aid is every 5 km.
Selvazzano Dentro, Feriole and Bresseo, the quietest section and the furthest from the centre, with the Colli Euganei in view.
The pedestrian spa centre near 29 km. The half-marathon field joins around 30 km.
Mandria, Piazza del Duomo, Caffè Pedrocchi and the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, ending in Prato della Valle.
Course Map
The 2027 map has not been published. Tap a marker for the start, finish and shuttle pick-up and the places on the route, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
The 2027 FAQ lists marathon pacers for 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45 and 5:00. Meeting points and balloon details have not been published. Paces are computed from 42.195 km.
| Target time | Pace per km |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | 4:16 |
| 3:15 | 4:37 |
| 3:30 | 4:59 |
| 3:45 | 5:20 |
| 4:00 | 5:41 |
| 4:15 | 6:03 |
| 4:30 | 6:24 |
| 4:45 | 6:45 |
| 5:00 | 7:07 |
The marathon starts at Stadio Euganeo and finishes in Prato della Valle, 3.8 km apart in a straight line. The organiser runs free shuttles to the start from the station and from Prato della Valle, and moves your tagged bag to the finish. Be at the start by 07:30.
The half marathon starts separately in Abano Terme, and its runners join the marathon course around 30 km. The field becomes denser and the aid stations are busier from that point.
Mid-April in the Veneto can be cool and damp at 08:30 and warm in the sun by late morning, and rain is possible. With a start at 08:30 and bags delivered to the finish, plan for the finishing hours as much as the start.
A light singlet, a cap and sunscreen are right for a clear day, and a throwaway layer helps in the stadium before the gun. The course has long open stretches without shade between Rubano and Abano, and the historic streets at the end are narrow and slower. Take a dry top for the bag, which is waiting at Prato della Valle, and for the walk to the shuttle. Shoes with grip help on stone paving if it rains.
Entry
Entry is open and online, with a cap of 2,000 marathon registrations, and entry can close early. The organiser's 2027 fee bands rise with the calendar (table below). At about €1 to £0.858, the current €55 band is about £47 and the final €75 band about £64, before fees. The women's individual band stays at €65 from 21 December to 4 April. There is no race-day entry.
To run competitively you need a FIDAL card, a card from a recognised foreign athletics federation with a declaration, or a RunCard or RunCard-EPS with a competitive athletics medical certificate. The certificate must say Atletica Leggera and be valid on race day. A foreign resident abroad without any membership may choose non-competitive tourist participation with a liability waiver: you get a time but no ranking or prize. The organiser's page does not give an earlier upload deadline for documents.
The fee is not refundable. A written deferral to 2028 or a transfer to another eligible runner is allowed until 4 April 2027, with a €10 handling fee.
| Registration window | Marathon fee |
|---|---|
| 1 October to 20 December 2026 | €55 (about £47) |
| 21 December to 19 February | €65 (about £56) |
| 20 February to 4 April | €75 (about £64) |
| At the expo, only if bibs remain | €90 (about £77) |
Fast runner standards
There are no guaranteed-entry standards. Bibs are grouped by a declared best time from the past two years: bibs 1 to 100 are elite and under 2:30, 101 to 300 under 3:00, 301 to 1000 under 3:30, 1001 to 2000 under 4:00.
Padova Marathon: official site →Race Weekend
Expo and bib collection
Bibs are collected at the Fiera di Padova, Via Niccolò Tommaseo 59, Padiglione 15, on Thursday 15 April from 15:00 to 20:00, and on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 April from 10:00 to 20:00. Bibs are not given out on race day. Bring photo ID and the email with your bib number. Someone collecting for you needs a delegation and a copy of your ID.
The English FAQ places expo registration at Prato della Valle, which conflicts with the Italian page. Use the fair address from the 2027 Italian page and confirm any late on-site registration with the organiser.
The expo is for bib collection and sponsor stands. Collect on Thursday or Friday if you can, so that any problem with a certificate can be fixed before Saturday evening.
Getting to the start
The start is at Stadio Euganeo, outside the historic centre, and the finish is in Prato della Valle, so race morning needs a plan. The organiser provides a free shuttle to the stadium from the entrance of Padova railway station between 06:45 and 07:15, and from Prato della Valle (Santa Giustina) at 07:00. A parking pass for the stadium comes with the bib, though you must still follow road-closure and ZTL instructions. Be at the start by 07:30 for the 08:30 gun.
Bags are tagged and handed to the designated vehicle by 07:30, and they travel to Prato della Valle. Only compact clothing bags are accepted, not trolleys or luggage. Bibs are placed in pens by declared best time of the past two years; an elite pen takes sub-2:30 runners, then 3:00, 3:30, 4:00 and slower.
After the finish, the organiser says shuttles run about every 30 minutes from 12:00 to 16:30 via Via Manzoni to the stadium and the station, and from 12:00 to 16:00 towards Abano and the Guizza park. The English text says a.m. in that paragraph, which is a translation error, so confirm the times. Showers are at Stadio Appiani, near the finish.
The chip is disposable and does not need to be returned. Check the status of Sunday trains and any strike notice in race week.
Nutrition on course
The FAQ promises refreshment and sponging every 5 km and at the finish, with extra sponge stations at 27.5 and 37.5 km. The brand of the drink and gel, the position of the first station and the procedure for leaving your own drink have not been published.
With stations every 5 km on a flat course, the plan is simple. Use water at each station in April warmth, use the sponges at 27.5 and 37.5 km if the sun is out, and carry your own gels for the stretch between Abano and the centre, where the half-marathon runners join and the stations get crowded. Fuel you have used in training is safer than anything handed out on the day.
Spectating
The course runs through four towns before it reaches the city, so spectators have to choose. Three options exist: the stadium for the start, Abano Terme for the middle of the race, and the historic centre for the finish.
The stadium is the simplest place for the 08:30 start, using the same free shuttle as the runners from the railway station or Prato della Valle. After the start, a supporter can travel to the centre to wait for the field. The organiser also lists a 09:00 shuttle from Viale Nereo Rocco to the finish for accompanying relatives.
The finish area in Prato della Valle is the best place to watch, with the pasta party in the same square. The route passes the Duomo, Piazza dei Signori and Caffè Pedrocchi around 40 to 41 km, all within a walk of Prato della Valle. Do not try to follow the course by car through the towns without the annual road order.
- Take the free shuttle to Stadio Euganeo for the 08:30 start
- Return to Padova by the organiser's shuttle or on foot to the station
- Walk to Piazza dei Signori or Caffè Pedrocchi for runners at about 40 to 41 km
- Walk to Prato della Valle for the finish
Post-race food
The organiser's pasta party in Prato della Valle is the first meal, and it is a few steps from the finish. The Italian half-marathon FAQ gives 12:00 to 16:00 for 18 April, so confirm the marathon entitlement and timing when you collect your bib. Refreshments are also offered at the finish.
For something more, the old town around Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, a short walk from the finish, has the cafés and osterie of the city. Padovan dishes include bigoli pasta with duck sauce, and risotto with seasonal vegetables. Kitchens close in the afternoon on a Sunday, so book a table if you want a sit-down meal. A runner finishing near the 6:30 limit may reach the pasta party near its end.
Where to Stay
The start and finish are in different places, and the organiser runs free shuttles. Stay where the shuttles stop, or next to the finish.
Prato della Valle and the Basilica
Hotels around the Prato and the Basilica di Sant'Antonio put you at the finish and at the 07:00 shuttle from Santa Giustina. This is the most convenient base for a runner, and the area is flat and walkable. Streets around the basilica are busy on a Sunday with pilgrims.
Station and Fiera
Rooms near the railway station suit a rail arrival and the 06:45 to 07:15 shuttle. The expo at the Fiera is also close. The area is less attractive in the evening.
Euganeo area
Hotels near Stadio Euganeo bring the start close, but they are far from the finish and the old town, and you rely on the shuttle to come back.
Abano Terme
The spa town is where the half marathon starts, not the marathon. Hotels here suit a longer spa stay and are served by the post-race shuttle towards Abano, but confirm the timetable.
The organiser lists hotel partners in the hotel section of its website.
Recommended hotels
Listed as a hotel in front of the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, in the historic centre. Confirm the walk to Prato della Valle and the 07:00 shuttle stop.
Listed as a pilgrim guesthouse near the basilica. Confirm the rate and breakfast time.
Booking timeline
The marathon is capped at 2,000 entries, so rooms are not a problem in the way they are for a large race, but Padova is a pilgrimage and university city, and April is a busy month. Reserve a cancellable room near the Prato or the station as soon as your entry is confirmed.
The €49 entry band ended on 30 September 2026. The current band is €55 until 20 December, then €65, then €75 from 20 February, so entering early saves money. Settle any federation or medical question before the expo. A deferral or transfer must be requested by 4 April 2027.
Book flights to Venice Marco Polo or Treviso, with the train from Venice to Padova. In race week, check the shuttle times, Sunday trains and any strike notice.
See & Do
Distances are from Prato della Valle, the finish. The historic centre is compact and flat.
Prato della Valle
The elliptical square with a canal and statues is the finish. Flat and open, it is a good place to walk after the race.
Basilica di Sant'Antonio
The pilgrimage basilica on the course at about 41 to 42 km. Access during services on a Sunday is restricted, so check before a visit.
Caffè Pedrocchi and Palazzo del Bo
The historic café and the University of Padova's main building, both on the course in the last kilometres. Check opening and tour times.
Abano Terme
The spa town on the course near 29 km. Thermal hotels offer recovery treatments; book directly.
After the Race
The race is on a Sunday in April, so recovery days start on the Monday. Padova has direct trains to Vicenza, Verona and Venice, and a bus and train route to the Euganean Hills.
A medieval hill village where the poet Petrarca died, in the Euganean Hills south of Padova. A gentle walk, but the roads are steep and public transport is limited.
Palladio's city, with a flat historic centre of palaces, a Renaissance theatre and a basilica, an easy day on level ground.
A compact Roman and medieval city with a flat old town, an amphitheatre and a river walk. A simple overnight by train.
A flat city of bridges and canals with some steps, reached directly from Padova. Two nights give time to see it without rushing.