‘Running enthusiasm has reached a new level’
The 43rd Vienna City Marathon (VCM) on Sunday, 19 April 2026, is fully booked earlier than ever before. More than six months before Austria's largest active sports event, registration for the three most popular running events – the marathon (42.195 kilometres), the Wiener Städtische Half Marathon* and the Powerade Relay Marathon – has already closed. Last year, this did not happen until 23 December.
Thank you to everyone who is taking part and making this success possible.
We are really looking forward to the VCM 2026!
Registration for the Saturday events is still open.
"The enthusiasm for running has reached a new level and continues to grow. We are looking forward to an emotional and inclusive running festival. The VCM is attracting more and more young people in particular. Running in the community and at a major event is a personal highlight that brings added benefits for physical and mental health. Running is a lasting success story. Events throughout Austria and Europe are reporting record participation. For the city of Vienna, the success of the Vienna City Marathon has a significant impact on tourism and the economy," say Kathrin Widu and Dominik Konrad, managing directors of the VCM Group.
Young, female, running
(Preliminary facts about the Vienna City Marathon 2026)
A total of around 37,500 registrations will be accepted for the events on Sunday, 19 April 2026 – including around 13,000 for the full marathon distance. The final number will be confirmed once all reserved tickets from companies, charity organisations and travel agencies have been redeemed, waiting list places have been allocated and the elite field has been assembled.
The 25 to 29-year-olds are the largest age group in the marathon and half marathon, followed by the 30 to 34-year-olds. In recent years, the peak of the age distribution has shifted significantly towards younger runners.
For the first time, the Wiener Städtische Half Marathon has achieved a balanced gender ratio of 50:50. At the VCM 2025, the proportion of women in this competition was 44 per cent, compared to 34 per cent in 2021.
The proportion of women in the marathon is also growing steadily: 27 per cent of registrations are female – up from 25 per cent in 2025 and 20 per cent in 2021.
Focus on young people: VCM Saturday grows
Registration is still open for the VCM competitions on Saturday, 18 April 2026 – the Vienna 5K and the children's races The Daily Mile 800 and 1600. The Coca-Cola Inclusion Run and a race for the little ones (3–6 years) will also take place.
The VCM Group attaches particular importance to promoting exercise among children and young people. The extension of the schedule on Saturday means that more young people than ever before can take part in the atmospheric runs on the Ringstrasse in the Burgtheater and Rathausplatz area.
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You can currently still get starting places for these competitions via the following channels – as of 15 October 2025, while stocks last:
Waiting list for marathon & half marathon
We have set up a marathon & half marathon waiting list, which will be processed from 15 November. Depending on availability, if any reserved starting places are returned, there is still a chance to participate.
There is no charge to join the waiting list. However, this does not guarantee registration and does not entitle you to participate. If starting places become available by 9 March 2026 at the latest, the people on the waiting list will be moved up.
If a starting place is allocated, the final registration confirmation will be sent and the registration fee will be debited automatically. If no starting place is allocated, no payment will be taken and no registration confirmation will be sent.
Thank you! We are really looking forward to the VCM 2026!
* Registration for the half marathon closed on 1 October 2025.
