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The 48th Warsaw Marathon, part of the European Marathon Classics journey, has revealed its 2026 course once again confirming its reputation as one of Europe’s fastest and most balanced urban marathons. Built on last year’s highly praised design, the route remains largely unchanged, offering runners a familiar, proven setting to chase personal bests while experiencing the city together.

In line with the EMC philosophy, Warsaw Marathon is not just about performance, it is about connection. The course leads through some of the Polish capital’s most iconic locations, including the National Stadium, the Royal Castle, the Presidential Palace, the Warsaw Citadel and the Palace of Culture and Science. It is a route that blends history, modernity, and everyday city life turning the race into a shared experience for runners, supporters, and the city itself.

A shared experience through the city

The race traditionally starts in the center of Warsaw on Świętokrzyska Street, immediately guiding runners along wide, flowing avenues toward the Vistula River. The early kilometers are designed for rhythm and comfort, allowing participants to settle into their pace and enjoy the collective energy of the race.

Crossing into the eastern districts, the course passes through the areas around the National Stadium and Skaryszewski Park before returning to the left bank.

The only noticeable elevation change appears around the 16-kilometer mark: a gradual 500-meter incline with a mild 1.6% gradient. Beyond this point, the course flattens again, allowing runners to maintain consistency and focus, an essential element of both performance and balance.

Designed for balance and performance

The second half of the marathon leads through the northern districts of Żoliborz, Bielany, and Bemowo. These sections are defined by long, straight roads and open spaces that support steady pacing, while also offering opportunities for strong crowd engagement.

Importantly, the course avoids accumulating difficulty in the later stages. There are no significant climbs after the 30-kilometer mark. The final kilometres bring runners back into the heart of the city, along Krakowskie Przedmieście and other representative streets filled with spectators. The finish line, located near the Palace of Culture and Science, delivers a powerful sense of achievement, both individual and shared.

One of Europe’s fastest marathon profiles

With a total elevation gain of just 84 meters and a start and finish at the same altitude (113 meters above sea level), Warsaw ranks among the flattest marathon courses in Europe. The evenly distributed elevation profile supports consistent pacing and strong results.

In comparison, Berlin features approximately 73 meters of elevation gain, Chicago 74 meters, Rotterdam 75 meters, and Valencia 67 meters, placing Warsaw firmly within the group of the world’s fastest marathon courses.

The European journey continues

The 48th Warsaw Marathon will take place on September 27, with the start scheduled for 9:00 AM. The certified course, approved by both the Polish Athletics Association and World Athletics, will welcome up to 14,000 runners.

It will be the sixth EMC event of the 2026 season and the first marathon where runners will receive the European Marathon Classics medal. Runners earn the medal after completing five different EMC marathons.

Previous finishes from all eight EMC races in Rome, Vienna, Madrid, London, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Lisbon and Frankfurt can also be verified and count towards the challenge, allowing runners to bring their past achievements into their EMC journey.

To verify historical results, runners need to log in to their EMC account, go to “My Journey” and select “Results”, then choose the race and year and click “Search for my results”.