48th Istanbul Marathon

Istanbul will bring runners from Asia to Europe on November 1, 2026, as the Türkiye İş Bankası 48th Istanbul Marathon returns with one of the most iconic routes in world road running. Starting near the 15 July Martyrs Bridge on the Asian side and finishing at Sultanahmet Square in the Historic Peninsula, the marathon will turn the city’s geography, history, and energy into a race experience unlike any other.

The program will feature the 42K marathon, 15.5K race, public run, corporate runs, and charity-focused participation, making the event open to elite runners, amateur athletes, companies, families, and first-time participants. For marathon runners, the course will offer more than distance. It will begin with the rare feeling of crossing continents on foot, then carry athletes through Istanbul’s layered urban rhythm toward one of the city’s most historic finish areas.

What makes the Istanbul Marathon special is the way sport and city identity meet on the same road. Runners will experience the Bosphorus, bridge views, crowd energy, and the historic atmosphere of Sultanahmet in a single morning. Visitors can turn the weekend into a full Istanbul journey with the Historic Peninsula, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar, ferry rides, Turkish coffee, street food, and Bosphorus evenings. Even if you are not running, you will still want to be here—because the Istanbul Marathon will turn a race day into a cross-continental city story where endurance, history, charity, crowds, and the rhythm of Istanbul all move together.