16 October 2026, 12pm UTC
Gulf Bank 642 Marathon
Sat 28 November 2026
Bratislava is running – and running strong! A quarter of a century ago, the Slovak capital was quiet on the running front, but it has steadily hit its stride. The result? Over 40,000 runners embraced the incredible atmosphere across running events organized by Be Cool agency in 2026.
Nearly 17,000 of them laced up for the traditional April Bratislava running weekend in 2026. The next edition – the 22nd in the event’s history – will take place on April 10–11, and starting this Monday, runners can register for any of the 10 disciplines at the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon 2027. As always, the Bratislava running weekend will offer a wide range of running categories for all levels, alongside an engaging side program.
Organizers opened registration for all disciplines this week. You can sign up using this link: https://events.hakuapp.com/events/e5caefaf5fba00e69be2/registration_options
As of October 15, 2,420 runners had already signed up for the 22nd edition of the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon. 1,440 runners took advantage of pre-registration, and another almost 1,000 joined once regular registration opened on Monday, October 12. The marathon saw the strongest interest with 570 entries, while 1,432 runners have registered for the half marathon so far, against an overall capacity limit of 2,000 for marathon and 6,000 for half-marathon.
Jozef Pukalovič, Director of the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon 2027, said: “With six months to go until race day, we will be diving deeper into the finer details of event preparations every single day. It is very likely that the location of the ‘marathon village’ will change, which will also require adjustments to individual course routes. There is plenty of work ahead, but the overwhelming interest right from the launch of registration is our greatest motivation. This edition will also be truly special as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our partnership with ČSOB—a uniquely long-lasting collaboration between an organizer and a partner across major sporting, cultural, and social events in Slovakia. We are rightfully proud of this milestone, though it also represents a significant commitment to our partner and to the runners themselves. The ČSOB Bratislava Marathon holds a World Athletics Road Label and stands alongside prestigious marathons globally; our annual goal remains elevating the quality of an event that builds a great reputation abroad for both our city and our country. This Friday, October 16, we are also opening registration for the popular ČSOB Winter Series, once again featuring several new additions and improvements.”
ČSOB will serve as the headline partner of the Bratislava running weekend for a milestone 20th time. The bank has backed the event continuously since 2008, even helping guide it through the pandemic year of 2020 when the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon was held exclusively in a virtual format.
“I am proud that, as general partner, we can once again connect the ČSOB name with Slovakia’s premier running celebration and kick off preparations for the next edition of the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon. For all of us at ČSOB, marathon weekend represents far more than just a sports event. We see it as a symbol of endurance, determination, and the ability of every runner to push past their personal limits. It brings people together regardless of age, performance level, or where their running journey began. I am confident that the upcoming edition will once again surpass expectations, deliver a fantastic atmosphere, and inspire even more people to get moving,” said Daniel Kollár, CEO of ČSOB and 365.bank.
Through the end of 2026, organizers are offering early-bird entry fees: EUR 55 (USD 62) for the marathon, EUR 50 for the half marathon, EUR110 for both relay options (half marathon and marathon relay combined for all four team members), EUR20 for the 10K, EUR16 for the mini-marathon and Senior Run & Walk, and EUR 8 for all children’s races. Registration for the toddler crawling contest is completely free of charge.
These rates remain valid until December 31, 2026. Prices will rise slightly starting January 1, 2027, with an additional price increase scheduled for March 1, 2027—contingent on discipline capacities not selling out beforehand. Returning participants, ČSOB clients, and policyholders of event partner Dôvera health insurance can continue to take advantage of several dedicated benefits. Runners can also donate during the registration process to support various charitable organizations affiliated with the event. Funds raised during the 21st edition exceeded €40,000 and were distributed among 10 organizations and initiatives.
The 22nd Bratislava running weekend will once again be a celebration of fitness, healthy living, community solidarity through charity, personal triumphs, and elite athletic performance. Simply put – there is something for everyone.
Over its two decades of existence, the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon has transformed from a small local race into a respected running event with substantial international participation. This year, foreign runners accounted for roughly 15 percent of the nearly 17,000 total participants, with the largest contingents hailing from the Czech Republic, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain.
Women made up an impressive 43 percent of all ČSOB Bratislava Marathon 2026 participants—a truly remarkable share that, alongside a record-breaking field of nearly 12,000 runners at September’s women-only race, demonstrates just how much women and girls love running in Bratislava.
And what does the schedule for the 22nd edition of the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon look like?
On Sunday, April 11, 2027 (Race Day), the main competitive races will take place: the marathon (42.195 km), half marathon (21.0975 km), marathon relay (4 runners), and half marathon relay (4 runners).
On Saturday, April 10 (Hobby Day), the schedule features the 10K (10 km), mini-marathon (4.2 km), Senior Run & Walk (4.2 km), the Bratislava Mile (1,600 m), children’s races (300 m, 600 m, 800 m), alongside the popular toddler crawling contest.
For more information about the 22nd edition of the ČSOB Bratislava Marathon, visit: www.bratislavamarathon.sk/en