Košice Peace Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Košice Peace Marathon (Medzinárodný maratón mieru) is the oldest marathon in Europe, run in the Slovak city of Košice since 1924 and held on a Sunday in early October. The 2026 race, on 4 October, was the 103rd, and the 2027 date has not yet been announced. The marathon is two laps of a half-marathon circuit that starts and finishes on Hlavná ulica in the middle of the city, running through the Old Town and through residential areas in the northern and southern parts of the city. The course is certified and closed to traffic, with a low point and a high point only about 16 m apart. The first race was organised by Vojtech Bukovský, inspired by the 1924 Paris Olympics, and began beneath the ruins of Turňa Castle. It has been run every year since 1941, after a seven-year break in the Second World War period. A half marathon, a relay and a handbike race are held on the same day. The course records are 2:06:47 for men (Moses Kemei, 2025) and 2:21:08 for women (Rebecca Tanui, 2024).