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The next Generali Cologne Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Registration for the 28th edition of the event is now open.

Races & Start Times (Tentative)

The event offers various distances for different age groups and abilities:

Half Marathon (21.1 km): Start at 8:30 a.m. at Ottoplatz in Deutz.

Marathon (42.195 km): Start at 10:30 a.m. (together with the relay and school marathons) at Ottoplatz.

Relay Marathon: A team of four runners shares the marathon distance.

School Marathon: Relay race for school groups.

Kids' Run: Special race for younger participants.

Course & Highlights

Start & Finish: The race traditionally starts in Cologne-Deutz (Ottoplatz/Deutz train station). The finish line is on Komödienstraße, directly next to Cologne Cathedral.

Neighborhood Tour: The flat and fast course leads through popular Cologne neighborhoods such as Rodenkirchen, Sülz, Lindenthal, Ehrenfeld, and Nippes.

Atmosphere: Known for its carnival-like atmosphere with around 300,000 spectators and numerous parties along the route.

Entry Fees & Registration (as of 2026)

Prices vary depending on the registration date and availability:

Marathon: Currently around €130.00.

Half Marathon: Currently around €95.00 (Often sells out very early!).

Relay Marathon: Approximately €199.00 per team.

Important Information for Runners

Race Packets: Collection is at the Running.EXPO in MOTORWORLD Cologne on the Friday and Saturday before the race.

Travel: Participants generally receive a VRS ticket for free travel to and from the event weekend.

Records: In 2025, new course records were set: Barnaba Kipkoech (Marathon Men: 2:06:54) and Esther Pfeiffer (Half Marathon Women: 1:07:28).