Leipzig Marathon

A Traditional Sporting Event

The Leipzig Marathon has been held since 1977, making it one of the oldest marathon events in Germany. The organizer is the traditional SC DHfK Leipzig, which organizes the run every April. The 48th edition in 2026 marks another chapter in the long history of this East German classic.

The Distances

The program offers competitions for every level:

• Marathon (42.195 km) — two laps through Leipzig's city center
• Half Marathon (21.1 km)
• 10 km Run/Walk
• 4 km Run/Walk
• Youth and Children's Races by age group

All kilometer markers for the marathon, half marathon, and 10 km courses are signposted.

The Course: A Tour Through Historic Leipzig

Start and finish are in the city center. The route passes central sights: Augustusplatz with the Gewandhaus and Opera House, St. Nicholas Church (symbol of the Peaceful Revolution), St. Thomas Church (Bach's place of work), the inner-city ring road, and – on the extended route – the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. For the marathon, two laps are run, making the course easy to signpost and navigate.

Leipzig: Sport and Running Culture

Leipzig has an unusually dense sports culture. The Deutsche Hochschule für Körperkultur (German University of Sports Science) was a training ground for elite athletes during GDR times; today, Leipzig is home to RB Leipzig (football) and SC DHfK (handball), among others. Marathon day transforms the city into a sports-loving festival ground – thousands of runners, spectators along the route, cheering families. In the state of Saxony, the Leipzig Marathon is the most important city run.