Samarkand Marathon 2026 to take place on 7–8 November: start on Registan Square, participants from 63 countries

Dates, distances and programme

Samarkand will host the Samarkand Marathon Series 2026 on 7–8 November, the press service of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation reported (based on Gazeta). The event will open with the Samarkand Marathon Expo; the next day will feature 2 km and 5 km runs, a 2 km distance with Nordic walking, an inclusive run and a children's Kids Run. The main marathon is 42.2 km, the half marathon is 21.1 km, and a 10 km run is also planned. The start will be given on Registan Square, with the route passing through landmark locations of the historic city.

Ecology and charity

As part of the series, the organisers are launching the environmental programme 'Avvalgidan tozaroq' ('Cleaner than before'): they plan to reduce plastic consumption, switch to reusable materials, introduce waste sorting and recycling, and educate participants through an eco-points system. One of the directions is plogging, where running is combined with litter collection; such an event is being held for the third time. The marathon is, by tradition, charitable: the funds raised will go towards building children's playgrounds in the regions where the series' races are held. During the competition days, a Samarkand Marathon lecture hall, morning running tours of the city and an evening concert are also planned.

International interest and place in the series

According to Mirhan Sagitov, head of the marathon implementation department and curator of the series, interest in the event from abroad has grown this year: more than one and a half thousand participants from 63 countries have registered. 'For us, this is confirmation that the marathon is becoming increasingly recognisable outside Uzbekistan and attracting runners who want not only to take part in the competition but also to get to know Samarkand's rich cultural heritage,' he noted. The organisers state their goal of developing the Samarkand Marathon as an international event and making Samarkand the leading marathon destination in Central Asia. The series unites the marathon of the same name, the Bukhara Night Race, Sky Camp Bo'stonliq, the Zaamin Ultra and the Aral Ultra — meaning the Samarkand race is the concluding and main event of the year within this line-up of races.