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As winter gives way to spring in the heart of the Indian capital, the streets of New Delhi will once again pulse with the rhythm of thousands of footsteps — from elite athletes chasing personal bests to everyday runners embracing the thrill of the road.
On 22 February 2026, the Cognizant New Delhi Marathon returns for its 11th edition, reaffirming its status as one of South Asia’s most anticipated long-distance running events.
Under its new title sponsorship from global technology leader Cognizant, the New Delhi Marathon has seen a reinvigorated identity, elevating its prestige and outreach within the running community. Cognizant’s partnership with NEB Sports, the marathon’s organiser, underscores a shared commitment to fitness, inclusivity, and community engagement — values that resonate well beyond the starting line.
Certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the event meets international standards for course accuracy and event management, making it a respected fixture on the global running calendar.
The 2026 event caters to runners of all ambitions and abilities, offering multiple competitive options across Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K distances.
With ~30,000 participants expected, the Cognizant New Delhi Marathon unites runners from across India and abroad — from elite competitors chasing fast times to corporate teams and community groups celebrating wellness through movement.
The race unfolds through New Delhi’s broad avenues, past iconic heritage landmarks that marry India’s rich history with the modern spirit of sport. Historically the route typically starts and finishes at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, looping through iconic landmarks like Lodhi Garden, Khan Market, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, and Kartavya Path (Rajpath) offering both inspirational scenery and logistical familiarity for spectators and athletes alike.
Organisers emphasise runner support with pacers, hydration stations, and post-race comforts – including a well-deserved hot breakfast – fostering camaraderie and achievement for every finisher.
Historically, the New Delhi Marathon has attracted India’s finest distance runners. In past editions, athletes like Gopi Thonakal and Ashwini Madan Jadhav have triumphed in the full marathon category, delivering performances that reflect both competitive depth and the potential of Indian long-distance talent.
The event continues to be a national championship highlight — a proving ground where elite ambitions meet universal human determination.
Beyond competition, the Cognizant New Delhi Marathon embodies a broader ethos: community, health, and social impact. Through partnerships with NGOs and sustainable initiatives, the event extends its influence off the pavement, inviting runners and supporters alike to champion wellbeing and collective achievement.
For distance running lovers seeking an iconic and meaningful marathon experience in Asia, the Cognizant New Delhi Marathon represents not just a 42.195 km challenge — but a journey woven into the cultural and athletic tapestry of India’s capital.
At the end of the holidays comes the message you were waiting for – we are opening registration for year 103 of the International Peace Marathon!
We do not change the entry fee – plus you will be able to pay via Google Pay & Apple Pay.
Have you completed more than 10 marathon starts? Take advantage of the program “Thinking of the Faithful”.
Mini marathon – we’ll wait a little longer
Simultaneously launching registration at Košice Peace Half Marathon (9. may)
We are preserving the favorite programs My First Marathon, Run with Heart, Diamond Club and discount for insurers Dôvera
New functionalities for moving starts
Connection with the Slovak Athletic Association for verification of applications for the Slovak Championships (this year in half-marathon)
We will keep you informed about everything else.
What never changes? The determination of organizers and fans to shower you with another dose of positive energy and help everyone overcome 103. the year of the oldest marathon in Europe.
Give it a try once. Fall in love forever.
The Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon (EGY) will take place on Sat 28 November 2026, not Sat 21 November 2026 as previously published.
The Lumbini Peace Marathon (NEP) will take place on Tue 3 March 2026, not Mon 2 March 2026 as previously published.
The Neujahrsmarathon Zurich once again impressively demonstrated why it holds a special place on the international running calendar as the world’s first marathon of the year.
In biting cold temperatures of –8 degrees Celsius and in front of sold-out crowds, 1,091 runners from 50 nations delivered outstanding performances, emotional moments and several course records.
The atmospheric opening took place on 31 December at 10:00 p.m. with the Kids Run, where 25 enthusiastic children aged between 3 and 14 completed their laps to the applause of the spectators, marking a sporty start to the new year.
Exactly at midnight, the starting gun was fired for the main races. Despite the icy conditions, the athletes presented themselves in impressive form. In particular, French middle-distance runner Tom Sanfilippo defied the cold in remarkable fashion: he dominated the quarter marathon from the very beginning and celebrated a convincing start-to-finish victory in 34:05 minutes. With this performance, he shattered the previous course record by an impressive 54 seconds. Behind him, a strong five-man chase group formed featuring Marco Fasel, Manuel Hügli, Miro Mülli (all SUI), Eric Muthomi Riungu (KEN) and Vitaliy Shafar (UKR). Fasel and Hügli eventually secured second and third place respectively.
Another highlight followed courtesy of Miro Mülli, who also set a new course record in the half marathon, winning in 1:11:15 hours, narrowly ahead of Eric Muthomi Riungu. Matthias Schmidig (SUI) completed the podium. Ukrainian marathon specialist Vitaliy Shafar, a former Olympic athlete and winner of the Jungfrau Marathon in 2023 and 2024, paid the price for his extremely fast early pace and the cold conditions, and was forced to retire after around 25 kilometres.
The women’s races were equally high-class and emotional. In the women’s quarter marathon, teenagers Lynn Schneeberger (15) and Avania Schwarz (14) battled it out in a thrilling head- to-head duel together with Céline Cébe. In the end, Schneeberger edged out Schwarz by a narrow margin, while Cébe completed the podium in third place.
In the women’s half marathon, Laurine Freitag (GER) narrowly missed the course record but claimed a clear victory in a strong 1:23:05 hours, finishing well ahead of her compatriot Lea Sabrina Kaufmann and France’s Clotilde Boffy.
On the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres, it initially looked like a comfortable victory for Vitaliy Shafar, who ran at course-record pace for more than 20 kilometres before being forced to abandon the race just beyond halfway due to the extreme conditions. This opened the door for the experienced Philipp Arnold (SUI), who once again ignored the competition and ran his own race. Despite muscular problems, he managed to defend a lead of just over one minute to the finish line, celebrating his fifth victory at the Neujahrsmarathon Zurich. Dario Widmer (SUI) finished second, while Timo Böhl (GER) claimed third place after a strong second half of the race.
Equally impressive was the performance of Astrid Roberts Feyer. The Swiss runner, who lives in Australia, won the Neujahrsmarathon Zurich for the second time after her victory in 2020. The 50-year-old left the younger competition no chance, ran at course-record pace for a long time and eventually triumphed in 3:02:14 hours. Astrid Faganel (ITA) finished second, closely followed by Sara van Oordt (SUI) in third place.
With sold-out races, international top-level performances and a unique New Year’s atmosphere, the Neujahrsmarathon Zurich 2026 once again confirmed its special status as a sporting highlight to kick off the new year.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all participants who braved the cold and made the 21st edition of the Neujahrsmarathon Zurich unforgettable, as well as to the tireless volunteers, without whom this success would not have been possible, and to our sponsors.
| 1 | Philipp | ARNOLD | SUI | 2:44:05 |
| 2 | Dario | WIDMER | SUI | 2:45:32 |
| 3 | Timo | BÖHL | GER | 2:47:24 |
| 4 | Jim | GOLDIE | GBR | 2:48:49 |
| 5 | Thierry | ROCH | SUI | 2:56:33 |
| 1 | Astrid Feyer | ROBERTS | SUI | 3:02:14 |
| 2 | Astrid | FAGANEL | ITA | 3:17:37 |
| 3 | Sara | VAN OORDT | SUI | 3:18:48 |
| 4 | Susanna | SCHMITZ | SUI | 3:25:38 |
| 5 | Rena | SCHMUCKI | SUI | 3:39:56 |
| 1 | Miro | MÜLLI | SUI | 1:11:15 |
| 2 | Eric Muthomi | RIUNGU | SUI | 1:11:40 |
| 3 | Matthias | SCHMIDIG | SUI | 1:20:09 |
| 4 | Basile | RIDEL | FRA | 1:22:05 |
| 5 | Alexander | HOHL | GER | 1:22:39 |
| 1 | Laurine | FREITAG | GER | 1:23:05 |
| 2 | Lea Sabrina | KAUFMANN | GER | 1:32:24 |
| 3 | Clotilde | BOFFY | FRA | 1:37:02 |
| 4 | Lucienne | CHRÉTIEN | SUI | 1:37:08 |
| 5 | Solène | CHAPUIS | FRA | 1:43:03 |
| 1 | Tom | SANFILIPPO | FRA | 34:05 |
| 2 | Marco | FASEL | SUI | 35:06 |
| 3 | Manuel | HÜGLI | SUI | 35:07 |
| 4 | Lars | RYFFEL | SUI | 37:12 |
| 5 | Liam | DUNCAN | AUS | 37:42 |
| 1 | Lynn | SCHNEEBERGER | SUI | 42:57 |
| 2 | Avania | SCHWARZ | SUI | 43:19 |
| 3 | Céline | CÉBE | SUI | 43:35 |
| 4 | Debora | DUBACH | SUI | 47:17 |
| 5 | Lucy | ROSTETTER | SUI | 47:49 |