The Istanbul Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, 1 November. If you are coming to run, support someone or explore Istanbul that weekend, the biggest planning decision is how to reach your race area while roads are closed. Your hotel, airport transfer and sightseeing plans should work around that journey.
Updated 15 October 2026. The featured photograph shows an earlier edition of the race.
Istanbul Marathon 2026: the essentials
| Question | Planning information |
|---|---|
| When is the race? | Sunday, 1 November 2026 — Türkiye İş Bankası 48th Istanbul Marathon. |
| What are the main timed distances? | The 42.195 km marathon and the 15.5 km race. Check each category’s own entry rules. |
| Where does the marathon finish? | The 42K finishes in the Sultanahmet / At Meydanı area. |
| Where does the 15.5K finish? | Yenikapı Coast. It has a different finish from the marathon. |
| When is race-kit collection? | 29–31 October at Dr. Mimar Kadir Topbaş Gösteri ve Sanat Merkezi. |
Confirm your category using the organiser’s 42K information, 15.5K information and official course maps. The Istanbul Half Marathon is a separate event; do not assume a 21.1 km entry belongs to this race weekend.
Can you still register for the 2026 Istanbul Marathon?
The published registration periods for both timed races end on 13 October 2026. That date has passed as of this update. If you do not already have a confirmed entry, check directly with the organiser for any subsequent announcement before booking travel around participation. An available flight or hotel does not mean a race entry is available.
Use the Spor İstanbul event portal for your entry account and the organiser’s website for eligibility and instructions. Keep your entry confirmation separate from hotel and transfer confirmations. Tours to Turkey can help with travel arrangements; a travel booking with us does not provide or guarantee a race place.
Already registered? Check these before you fly
- Confirm your selected distance, entry status and participant details.
- Read the latest collection instructions and bring the documents specified by the organiser.
- Allow time to collect your kit before race day. The published collection hours are 10:00–19:00 on 29–30 October and 10:00–18:00 on 31 October.
- Save your current start instructions, assigned wave and transport information on your phone.
Getting to the start: plan the crossing first
The races start on the Asian side and cross the 15 July Martyrs Bridge into Europe. For the 42K, the organiser lists Üsküdar–Beylerbeyi runner shuttles from 07:00 to 08:00 and warns that there are no direct athlete buses from Taksim or Sultanahmet to the start. Marmaray is chargeable. Read the current runner transport instructions before choosing your connection.
The organiser’s race-day programme currently lists a 09:00 start for the 42K and separate starting waves for the 15.5K. It also lists runner ferries from Kabataş and Eminönü, extensive course closures and restrictions affecting the bridge and Eurasia Tunnel. Recheck the final programme and your own participant instructions shortly before travelling.
Do not plan a last-minute taxi ride across the race bridge. Work backwards from the time you need to reach your category’s start area, then choose a connection from the published runner services. Ask your hotel about the walk to the relevant station or pier rather than relying only on a driving-time estimate.
Airport arrivals and departures on race Sunday
If your flight is on 1 November, tell your transfer provider your airport, flight time, hotel street and race plans. Road access can matter as much as the distance shown on a map. A hotel near the course may require a different pickup location or additional walking.
Compare airports with our IST vs SAW guide. For an Istanbul airport transfer, request a plan that accounts for the race-day restrictions. Pickup and journey times need confirmation for your particular flight and address.
Where to stay for the Istanbul Marathon
Choose your base by considering both the start journey and the finish. A room beside a finish area can be convenient afterwards, but you still need a practical route to the Asian-side start.
- Sultanahmet and Sirkeci: useful areas to consider if your trip combines Old City sightseeing with the 42K finish. Check access to your chosen runner transport and any street restrictions around the hotel.
- Karaköy and the Kabataş side of the waterfront: consider the walk or public-transport connection to a published runner ferry. A neighbourhood name alone does not tell you how easy that walk will be.
- Üsküdar: worth comparing if you prefer an Asian-side base and a connection towards Beylerbeyi. Plan how you will return from your own finish area.
Before reserving, ask about check-in time, luggage storage, your expected return to the hotel and whether late checkout can actually be confirmed. If you are travelling with supporters, agree on a meeting point that everyone can reach without crossing restricted race areas.
A practical marathon-weekend sightseeing plan
Before race day: leave room for collection and changes
Keep your arrival day flexible. Collect your kit within the official collection window, then choose nearby activities according to the time and energy you have available. Avoid an itinerary that depends on a tight airport-to-expo connection.
If you want a guided introduction to the historic centre, our half-day Istanbul guided walk covers the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome and Gülhane. It is a guiding-only service; admissions, meals and transport are separate. Confirm a suitable date and meeting time when arranging it.
Race Sunday: keep sightseeing flexible
Supporters should use the current official course map to choose a public viewing area and follow steward instructions. Do not assume that the race bridge or a controlled finish area is open to spectators. The 42K and 15.5K have different finishes, so agree on the correct location before separating.
Leave the rest of Sunday unstructured. Restaurant reservations, transfers and activities with strict departure times can be difficult to combine with an uncertain finish and changing road access.
After the race weekend: explore at your own pace
An extra day gives you more freedom to explore the Old City or spend time by the Bosphorus without fitting everything around race logistics. Browse our Istanbul experiences or use the Turkey Trip Planner if you want to continue to Cappadocia, Ephesus or Pamukkale.
Frequently asked questions
What date is the Istanbul Marathon in 2026?
Sunday, 1 November 2026. Check the organiser’s website again before travelling for final participant announcements.
Is the shorter race 15 km or 15.5 km?
The current 2026 organiser information calls it the 15.5K. Use that category’s instructions rather than an old 15 km guide.
Do all runners finish in Sultanahmet?
No. The 42K finishes in the Sultanahmet / At Meydanı area, while the 15.5K finishes at Yenikapı Coast.
Does booking a hotel or tour include marathon entry?
No. Your race entry must be confirmed separately through the official organiser. We can help arrange the travel part of your visit.
Can I book an airport transfer on race day?
You can request one, but the pickup location, route and timing must account for the published restrictions. Send your flight details and hotel address when asking for a quote.
Plan your Istanbul race-weekend stay
Tell our Istanbul team your dates, airport, hotel area and which race you are attending. We can help you organise transfers and sightseeing around your plans.
