The key facts
- On 7–8 November, Samarkand will host the Samarkand Marathon — the final event of the Samarkand Marathon Series 2026.
- 1,583 foreign participants from 63 countries have registered; registration is open until 30 October.
- All funds raised will go toward building children's sports playgrounds in the regions hosting the races.
Season finale
On 7–8 November, Samarkand will host the international charity marathon Samarkand Marathon — the season finale of the Samarkand Marathon Series 2026. This was announced by the press service of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. This year, international interest in the race has grown noticeably: 1,583 foreign runners from 63 countries have registered to participate, and registration is still ongoing. The start will be given on Registan Square, and the course will run through the historic city center past architectural monuments.
Format and distances
The race is open to participants of any age and fitness level — from the children's KIDS RUN to professional athletes competing for prize places in a separate Elite starting cluster. The competition is held under World Athletics rules, with results recorded by an electronic timing system. The program includes inclusive distances for participants with disabilities — the 5 km Inclusive and the children's KIDS RUN 60 Inclusive, with free participation.
Ecology and related events
The series implements the environmental program 'Avvalgidan tozaroq' ('Cleaner than before'), covering the entire organization process: reducing plastic, switching to reusable materials, separate waste collection and recycling, and environmental education through the eco-points program. On 7 November, the third plogging run with trash collection will take place in Samarkand. On 6–7 November, the Samarkand Marathon EXPO will be held, where participants receive starter packs and meet partners and sports brands; the Samarkand Marathon lecture, morning running tours, and an evening concert on 7 November are also planned.
Schedule and registration
On 6–7 November from 10:00 to 20:00 — EXPO and distribution of starter packs. On 7 November: KIDS RUN, 2 km, 2 km NW (Nordic walking), 5 km, 5 km Inclusive, plogging, and the concert. On 8 November: the 42.2 km distance (start at 08:00), 21.1 km (08:10), and 10 km (08:30). Registration is open until 30 October at events.samarkandmarathon.uz, reg.russiarunning.com, worldsmarathons.com and ahotu.com; it may close earlier if the participant limit for a distance is reached. Corporate registration for teams of 10 or more is available until 23 October.
About the series
Samarkand Marathon Series is an international charity race series founded in 2019. It includes Bukhara Night Race, Sky Camp Bo'stonliq, ZAAMIN ULTRA, ARAL ULTRA, and Samarkand Marathon. The series' goal is to create an accessible and inclusive environment through sport; all funds raised are directed toward building children's sports playgrounds in the regions hosting the races.
