Only a few days left until the Samarkand Marathon

The international Samarkand Marathon 2026 will take place in Samarkand on November 7-8.

Combining sport, culture, and charity, the event has been held annually since 2019 by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation in cooperation with the Tourism Committee and the Samarkand Regional Administration. Launched as a half-marathon, the event has since expanded to include the full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers, making it a traditional autumn sporting event in the region.

All funds raised are allocated to social and charitable projects. While proceeds from the early editions were used to create an inclusive environment for visually impaired people in cultural institutions, this year’s contributions will support the construction of children’s sports grounds in regions across the country.

The organizers aim to raise public awareness of the need to make sports and cultural facilities accessible to people with disabilities. As in previous years, separate races will be held for athletes with disabilities.

The event also seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle, develop sports tourism and strengthen Samarkand’s status as one of Central Asia’s leading marathon destinations.

World Athletics and AIMS have officially certified the race course, allowing participants to qualify for the World Marathon Majors series.

This year’s program includes races over distances of 2, 5, 10, 21.1 and 42.2 kilometers, children’s and inclusive races, as well as environmental initiatives.

Last year, the marathon brought together more than 8,000 athletes from over 50 countries, while runners from 60 countries are expected to participate this year.

G. Khasanov, UzA