The 48th Istanbul Marathon to Be Run in 5 Categories Tomorrow

The 48th Istanbul Marathon, organized by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, will be run tomorrow in five categories: the 42-kilometer race, the 15.5-kilometer race, the corporate run, the public run and the wheelchair race. The organization is the only marathon in the world that is run across two continents. A total of 45,679 people from 143 countries have registered.

A total of 43 elite athletes, 27 men and 16 women, will compete on the 42-kilometer course. Dejene Debela, Amdework Walelegn and Sufaro Woliyi among the men, and Bizuager Aderra, Judith Korir and Veronicah Maina among the women, are the standout names. The marathon holds the "Gold Label" category of World Athletics.

The Turkish Athletics Federation has accepted the event as the 2026 Şevki Koru Turkey Marathon Championship. Domestic athletes will also compete for the Turkish championship title.

The races will start from the Anatolian side entrance of the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge. The wheelchair race will start at 08.45, and the 42-kilometer main race at 09.00. The 15.5-kilometer race will start in three groups at 09.19, 09.38 and 10.05, the corporate run at 10.32, and the public run at 12.14.

The main race will finish at Sultanahmet Square. Athletes will cross the bridge to the European side, pass through Beşiktaş and the Galata Bridge to reach the historic peninsula, follow Kennedy Avenue to Bakırköy and turn back, then continue along the coastal road to Gülhane Park. The 15.5-kilometer race will finish in Yenikapı, while the corporate run and public run will finish in Dolmabahçe.