A record number of more than 2,500 runners have registered to take part in the DZI Burgas Marathon on Sunday, 15 November, the organisers said on Tuesday.
Interest in the event, which has quickly become one of the city’s signature sporting occasions, is exceptionally high, with the number of prospective participants doubling in just two years. Following the successful inaugural Burgas Half Marathon in 2024, a full marathon was held a year later. This autumn, the event returns on an even larger scale.
Under the motto “Run to the Pulse of Burgas”, Burgas Municipality and the Sport in Leisure Time Association are organizing the marathon, offering participants not only a well-established course but also competitive races over four distances: a mass 5 km run, alongside races over 10.5 km, the 21 km half marathon and the classic marathon distance of 42.195 km. The programme also includes the DECATHLON Fun Run, a 1 km family event. With these challenges and a wider range of opportunities, the 2026 DZI Burgas Marathon will offer runners of all abilities – from beginners to experienced athletes – the chance to take part.
Substantial prize incentives will be on offer at Sunday’s event. The organisers will present special cash prizes to the best Bulgarian athletes in the classic 42.195 km race, continuing the tradition of encouraging participation and rewarding the achievements of the country’s elite runners. The total prize fund for the DZI Burgas Marathon exceeds 13,000 euros. Prizes will be awarded to the first six finishers in the 42.195 km race, as well as to the medallists in the 21 km and 10.5 km events. Additional incentives will be provided for the podium finishers in the veterans’ categories over 10.5 km, 21 km and 42.195 km.
Once again this autumn, the Burgas Marathon is attracting athletes from some of the world’s leading long-distance running nations. The final list of elite competitors is still being confirmed, but preliminary entries indicate that 15 African runners, representing Kenya, Morocco, Ethiopia and other countries, will be seeking to break the course records.
The fastest times in Burgas are currently held by Kenyan athletes. At the inaugural full marathon last autumn, Derrick Njoroge won the men’s race in 2:19:07, while Dorcas Kitome took gold in the women’s event in 2:49:08. Both performances are now recognized as the Burgas course records, as the programme two years ago featured only 10 km and half-marathon races.
The start and finish area will be located in the pedestrianized section at the junction of Aleksandrovska and Aleko Bogoridi streets, in front of the Municipality building. From there, the route will pass through the heart of the city, taking in some of its most impressive landmarks and locations, including the Clock Tower, a symbol of Burgas; the Compass; Troika Square; the Sea Garden; the Eternal Flame Pantheon; the Salt Pans Promenade; the Seafront Promenade; the iconic Pier; and the Archaeological Museum, among others. The full course map is available at: https://burgasmarathon.bg/za-maraton-burgas/course/
The first runners to set off on Sunday will be those taking part in the 5 km race, with the start scheduled for exactly 9:00 am. An hour later, at 10:00 am, the marathon and half-marathon competitors will start together. The 10.5 km race will begin at 10:30 am, while participants in the 1,000-metre DECATHLON Fun Run will set off at 9:05 am.
The organisers are urging participants to arrive in the start and finish area at least 30 minutes before the start of their respective races.
One lap of the course is approximately 10 km, meaning that runners in the full marathon will complete four laps. Two refreshment stations will be positioned along the route, at the 5 km and 8 km marks, to provide runners with the necessary support.
The course is officially certified by World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), making it one of the few in Bulgaria to hold international recognition.
The deadline for online registration was 31 October. Late registration is now available, including on-site entry, subject to the availability of race numbers. However, places in the 10.5 km and 21 km events have already sold out. Further information is available on the marathon’s website: https://burgasmarathon.bg/.
This autumn, registration has also been made more flexible with the introduction of a team entry option, allowing groups of at least five people to register together.
Tents for the storage of personal belongings will be set up near the start area, with separate facilities allocated to each race distance. This will provide runners with convenient and easy access to their belongings before and after the competition.
Every runner who crosses the finish line will receive a commemorative medal in a designated area arranged by the organisers.

Record Number of More than 2,500 Runners Sign Up for Burgas Marathon THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-10 01:40:00

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