2026 Ljubljana Marathon - Oct 18 Race Completed

Q: How do I register for the 2026 Ljubljana Marathon?

Online entry closed on September 15, 2026, and the official race page is explicit that nothing reopens: "Any and all registrations after this date will be no longer possible, nor will they be possible during the event." There is no waitlist and no race-day desk, and the marathon distances have already come off the registration portal. Entry was first-come, with no lottery and no qualifying time at any point — only the price moved, on a six-step ladder: EUR49 for returning 29th-edition runners (Oct-Nov 2025), then EUR55, EUR60, EUR65, EUR70 through June-August and EUR75 for the final fortnight. For 2027, booking in the first window is the entire saving.

Q: Is the Ljubljana Marathon course flat and fast?

Yes. With only 159m of total elevation gain across the full 42.195km, it is one of the flattest major marathons in Europe. The route is a single circular loop on closed roads with no meaningful climbs, which is why it consistently produces personal bests and fast finishing times.

Q: Is the Ljubljana Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course holds a World Athletics Gold Label and is AIMS-certified, so a qualifying time run here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. The flat profile makes it a smart choice for runners chasing a BQ, but Boston has no automatic spots, so you must still beat the cutoff in the registration window.

Q: What is the time limit for the Ljubljana Marathon?

The overall finish limit is 6 hours. There is also an intermediate cutoff: runners who have not completed the first lap (20km) within 2 hours 45 minutes (gross time) are redirected to the finish. That pace requirement is comfortable for most marathoners but rules out very slow walkers.

Q: When is the Ljubljana Marathon and what time does it start?

The 30th edition is on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with a 9:00 local start (CEST). The Garmin 10km is held the day before on Saturday, October 17. The full and half marathons run on Sunday morning from the city center.

Race Completed

This marathon has finished. Check back for next year's edition.

Finished this one? Turn your result into a keepsake:
Finisher certificate · Virtual race bib · Achievement card

See entry dates for other marathons →

Race Information

Race	2026 Ljubljana Marathon - Oct 18
City	Ljubljana
Date	2026-10-18 at 09:00
Field Size	~2,869 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Course speed	Fast course Speed index 0.92 — median of the last 5 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
Timezone	Europe/Ljubljana
Official Site	Municipality of Ljubljana / Timing Ljubljana Association

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	9.5°C / 49°F
Humidity	86%
Peak Wind	8.5 km/h
Rain Chance	33%
Typical Conditions	Mid-October in Ljubljana is cool, damp, and ideal for PRs: highs near 16°C (61°F), morning lows around 7°C (45°F) at the 9:00 start, with 83% humidity and light winds under 10 km/h.

What to Prepare: Dress for a 7°C start that warms to mid-teens by the finish. Pack a throwaway top layer for the corral, run in shorts and a singlet or light long-sleeve, and bring a rain shell since October is one of Ljubljana's wettest months (35% chance of showers on race day).

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Winds peaking around 8.5 km/h — the typical daily maximum for this date — can affect your pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer in exposed stretches. Headwinds slow you down exponentially: a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	4.8°C	9.7°C	14.3°C
Dew point	0.8°C	7.2°C	12.2°C

Wet-day chance: 33% Runnability: 75/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Flat circular loop
Elevation Gain	159m
Terrain	Smooth tarmac on closed city streets, weaving through Ljubljana's car-free old town, riverside embankments along the Ljubljanica, and tree-lined boulevards past Tivoli Park before the cobble-free finish at Congress Square.
Profile	One of Europe's flattest big-city marathons with only 159m of total elevation gain. The single loop starts on Slovenska cesta near Trg Ajdovscina and finishes ~500m away at Kongresni trg, with no significant climbs to break your rhythm, making it a genuine PR and Boston-qualifying course.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Ljubljana Marathon - Oct 18

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the 2026 Ljubljana Marathon?

Online entry closed on September 15, 2026, and the official race page is explicit that nothing reopens: "Any and all registrations after this date will be no longer possible, nor will they be possible during the event." There is no waitlist and no race-day desk, and the marathon distances have already come off the registration portal. Entry was first-come, with no lottery and no qualifying time at any point — only the price moved, on a six-step ladder: EUR49 for returning 29th-edition runners (Oct-Nov 2025), then EUR55, EUR60, EUR65, EUR70 through June-August and EUR75 for the final fortnight. For 2027, booking in the first window is the entire saving.

Is the Ljubljana Marathon course flat and fast?

Yes. With only 159m of total elevation gain across the full 42.195km, it is one of the flattest major marathons in Europe. The route is a single circular loop on closed roads with no meaningful climbs, which is why it consistently produces personal bests and fast finishing times.

Is the Ljubljana Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course holds a World Athletics Gold Label and is AIMS-certified, so a qualifying time run here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. The flat profile makes it a smart choice for runners chasing a BQ, but Boston has no automatic spots, so you must still beat the cutoff in the registration window.

What is the time limit for the Ljubljana Marathon?

The overall finish limit is 6 hours. There is also an intermediate cutoff: runners who have not completed the first lap (20km) within 2 hours 45 minutes (gross time) are redirected to the finish. That pace requirement is comfortable for most marathoners but rules out very slow walkers.

What should I wear for the Ljubljana Marathon?

Expect a cool, damp morning: the 9:00 start is typically around 7°C (45°F), warming to the mid-teens (about 16°C / 61°F) by midday. Shorts with a singlet or light long-sleeve work well; bring a throwaway layer for the corral and a packable rain shell, since October is one of Ljubljana's wettest months.

How big is the Ljubljana Marathon?

The full marathon is a relatively intimate field of roughly 2,800-2,900 finishers (about 2,869 in 2025). The weekend as a whole is far larger, drawing around 16,800 participants across all distances (10km, half, and marathon) in its record 2025 edition, so race-day energy is big-event without the full-marathon crowding.

When is the Ljubljana Marathon and what time does it start?

The 30th edition is on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with a 9:00 local start (CEST). The Garmin 10km is held the day before on Saturday, October 17. The full and half marathons run on Sunday morning from the city center.

Where can I find the Ljubljana Marathon results?

Live tracking and official results are published on the event website (ljubljanskimaraton.si) and via the timing partner. As a World Athletics Gold Label race with chip timing, splits and certificates are posted online within hours of finishing.