Italy
Venice Marathon 2026
Sunday 25 October 2026 · confirmed date
2 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 25 October 2026
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 09:40
- local time
- Course
- Mostly flat · Point to point
- Villa Pisani, Stra to Riva dei Sette Martiri, Venice
- Course record, men
- 2:07:40
- Solomon Mutai, 2023
- Course record, women
- 2:23:37
- Helena Kirop, 2011
- Finishers
- 5,551
- in 2025
- Time limit
- 6h00
- First held
- 1986
The race
About the Venice Marathon
The Venice Marathon has been run since 1986 and is one of Europe's most distinctive point-to-point marathons. It starts at Villa Pisani in Stra, follows the Riviera del Brenta and its Venetian villas, crosses the lagoon on the Ponte della Libertà and finishes on the waterfront of Venice itself.
The last few kilometres are what people remember: bridges fitted with wooden ramps, the Giudecca canal, a temporary pontoon bridge across the Grand Canal and, when the tide allows, Piazza San Marco. The records are respectable, but most runners come for the journey into the city. It suits anyone looking for an autumn destination marathon.
Course
The Venice Marathon course
The race starts at Villa Pisani in Stra, about 25 km west of Venice, and follows the Riviera del Brenta past historic villas. It then passes through Marghera and Mestre and San Giuliano Park before the almost 4 km straight across the Ponte della Libertà to the city.
Once in Venice, the route goes through the port area and along the Giudecca canal, crosses the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge built for the race, and passes Piazza San Marco, high tide permitting, to finish at Riva dei Sette Martiri. The course is flat and fast, with three or four short slopes between 25 and 35 km, and the final 3 km bring 14 small bridges with ramps.
Race-day weather
Late-October mornings around Venice are usually mild to cool, around 10–17°C and often damp, with a chance of fog or wind on the lagoon.
Train
Training for the Venice Marathon 2027
Under twelve weeks to go is short for a marathon block, so these dates count down to the edition after, on Sunday 31 October 2027.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 17 May 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 14 June 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 12 July 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 9 August 2027 |
For this course
Venice is a late-October race, so you build through late summer and early autumn. The course is flat until the end, so centre the plan on marathon-pace long runs, but prepare your legs for the 14 bridges in the final 3 km with uphill strides and a few short, sharp climbs late in long runs. The Ponte della Libertà is long and open to the lagoon, so practise holding pace into a headwind. The start, around 9:40, is later than at many marathons, so rehearse breakfast and fuelling timing for it.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Venice Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Registration is online through the official website, and in 2026 the marathon, half marathon and 10 km all sold out. Charity partners also offer places.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Venicemarathon S.S.D. a r.l.
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Venice Marathon 2026?
The Venice Marathon 2026 is on Sunday 25 October 2026. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Venice Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 12 July 2027, a 20-week plan on 14 June 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Venice Marathon course flat?
Mostly. There are three or four short slopes between 25 and 35 km, and 14 small bridges with wooden ramps in the last 3 km.
What is the time limit for the Venice Marathon?
Six hours, with intermediate cut-offs at 10 km and 30 km; runners outside them are withdrawn from the race.
Does the Venice Marathon go through Piazza San Marco?
Yes, when the tide allows. The route crosses the Grand Canal on a temporary pontoon bridge and passes Piazza San Marco before finishing at Riva dei Sette Martiri.
More marathons nearby
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