21st Europamarathon Görlitz-Zgorzelec

A Marathon Through Two Countries

The Europamarathon Görlitz-Zgorzelec is one of the rare running events worldwide that traverses two countries simultaneously. The 21st edition will take place on June 7, 2026: the start and finish are in Görlitz city center on Elisabethstraße — the course leads across the historic Old Town Bridge to Zgorzelec on the Polish side of the Neisse River, runs through the sister city, and returns to Görlitz via another bridge. Until 1945, Görlitz and Zgorzelec were one city, divided by the Polish-German border along the Neisse. Today, both cities function closely together as a 'European City' — the marathon is one of the most visible symbols of this connection in the state of Saxony, district of Görlitz.

Four Distances and Relays

The program includes classic distances: Marathon (42.2 km) with three loops across the Old Town Bridge, Half Marathon (21.1 km) with two loops, 10 km, and 5 km as shorter routes, plus Nordic Walking. For teams, there are relay competitions: Half Marathon 2 × 10.5 km and Marathon 4 × 10.5 km. All distances start on Sunday at 9:00 AM on Elisabethstraße. The last runners in the marathon have about 6 hours. The event is organized by Europamarathon Görlitz-Zgorzelec e.V., which also runs school runs and sports inclusion projects.

Historic Old Town as a Backdrop

Görlitz is Germany's easternmost city and boasts one of Europe's best-preserved Renaissance and Baroque old towns. Over 4,000 monuments are protected — hence the nickname 'Görliwood,' as film productions like 'Inglourious Basterds,' 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' 'The Zero Theorem,' and 'The True Story of Jesse James' chose the city as a filming location. The marathon route passes the Schönhof Renaissance Palace, St. Nicholas' Church, the historic Old Town Bridge, and through the medieval buildings of the Untermarkt area. On the Polish side, runners pass through the neoclassical Theaterplatz of Zgorzelec and residential areas along the Neisse. An exceptionally attractive marathon course with constantly changing impressions.

International Participation

The Europamarathon attracts runners from Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and other countries — around 3,000 participants across all distances combined. The atmosphere in Görlitz city center is captivating: live music at several points along the route, refreshment stops with regional specialties, and cheering from residents of both countries. For many participants, the run is not only a sporting event but also a political symbol — a cross-border event in a region shaped by history and borders.