International running series of eight iconic marathons launches with a kick-off event at Schönbrunn Palace
On Wednesday, 25 February, in the historic setting of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the European Marathon Classics (EMC) series was officially unveiled. The continent-wide initiative brings together eight iconic marathons from across Europe into one incredible challenge designed to bring people together, strengthen communities and celebrate Europe’s shared spirit.
Spanning Mediterranean Rome and Madrid, Atlantic Lisbon and London, to the heart of Europe in Vienna, Warsaw and Frankfurt, and reaching north to Copenhagen – European Marathon Classics offers a journey across borders and cultures.
One distance. Eight cities. Many cultures. One shared European identity.
At its core, European Marathon Classics is about more than running. It is a movement that encourages health and wellbeing, inspires people to stretch beyond their limits, and fosters a deep sense of belonging among runners and the communities that support them. The series champions responsible participation in sport and respect for the environment - values shared across the eight events.
Eight classic marathons
The European Marathon Classics series consists of eight races held between March and October: Acea Run Rome The Marathon, Vienna City Marathon, TCS London Marathon, Zurich Rock’n’Roll Running Series Madrid, Copenhagen Marathon, Warsaw Marathon, EDP Lisbon Marathon and Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.
“European Marathon Classics embodies our ambition to explore Europe together while pushing boundaries- both geographically and philosophically. I’m confident this series will show that across Europe we are better together than we are apart and that we are more similar than we are different. I hope it will inspire participants from around the world to experience Europe’s great marathons, cities and communities,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon and one of the driving forces behind the creation of European Marathon Classics.
To earn the title of “European Marathon Classics Finisher” and receive a commemorative medal, participants must complete at least five different marathons from the list, each in a different city. There is no time limit for completing the five races.
Vienna City Marathons celebrates as the host for the launch
“We are proud to be a co-founder of the European Marathon Classics. We are especially delighted that we were able to host the launch of this series in Vienna,” says Kathrin Widu, Managing Director of the VCM Group. “The collaboration of major European marathons creates an inspiring challenge for the running community and is designed to encourage even more people to take up running. We are united by shared values: a passion for sport, community spirit, health, and sustainability. With a common vision, a willingness to learn from one another, and cross-border cooperation, we have created something that no single event could have achieved on its own.”
“The European Marathon Classics take our strategic direction to a new level. We are now part of a strong international project that extends far beyond Austria,” emphasizes Dominik Konrad, Managing Director of the VCM Group. “This creates a platform for running enthusiasts that will generate positive momentum for the community, the economy, and tourism in both the short and long term. The INEOS 1:59 Challenge with Eliud Kipchoge in Vienna in 2019 already demonstrated the potential of international collaboration. This is what we are building on. Running is experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity, especially among young people. The European Marathon Classics combine tradition with the energy of a new generation. Now is the moment to bring this energy to the streets and connect Europe through running.”
Support messages by Van der Bellen and Kipchoge
In an opening message to the guests, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen stated, that many of the greatest and most important inventions originated in Europe: “Liberal democracy, the printing press, penicillin, the Internet. The marathon is also a classic European idea that inspires millions of people around the world.”
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge congratulated the European Marathon Classics on this initiative.
“It is wonderful that eight cities are working together on this exciting project. It means a great deal to me that this announcement is being made in Vienna, where I ran the marathon distance in under two hours and showed that ‘No human is limited.’ I wish them and the eight events of the European Marathon Classics great success.”
Medal and collectible magnetic coins
During the Vienna inauguration, the European Marathon Classics medal was unveiled, which embodies the series’ values of unity and shared experience. It will be awarded to participants upon completion of their fifth race in the series.
The medal design features a distinctive concentric structure, with space to add magnetic collectible badges from the races completed. As runners complete the marathons, they build a personalized medal reflecting their journey.
The series features a modern visual identity built around colorful, dynamic circles. Each circle symbolizes a marathon held in a different European city. The logo contains ten such elements, while the series currently launches with eight races leaving room for future expansion.
Historical results will count
One of the key principles of the project is a commitment to recognising both future achievements and historic marathon results, dating back to the earliest editions of each event – from Madrid’s inaugural 1978 race to Lisbon’s beginnings in 1986.
Through a partnership with LetsDoThis.com, runners will be able to add verified past race results to their EMC profiles, with the feature expected to launch in the second half of 2026.
Organizers aim to enable participants to add past race results to their profiles starting in the second half of 2026.
“We value everyone who has ever completed the marathon distance at our races, whether this year or forty years ago. It is a major operational undertaking and a significant organizational challenge, but we will make it possible to recognize results dating back to the very first editions. We see this as a sign of respect for marathon history and for the people who created it,” emphasized Marek Tronina, Race Director of the Warsaw Marathon.
Registration for European Marathon Classics is now open at https://europeanmarathonclassics.eu/
Joining the series is free of charge. Entry fees apply for participation in individual races in accordance with each event’s regulations.
About European Marathon Classics
European Marathon Classics (EMC) is a European series uniting eight prestigious marathons in cities across Europe — from Rome and Madrid, through Lisbon, London, Copenhagen, Vienna and Warsaw, to Frankfurt.
The initiative combines sport, tourism and culture, encourages regular physical activity, promotes responsible participation, and supports integration among runners from around the world.
Participants who complete at least five marathons in five different cities earn the title of “European Marathon Classics Finisher” and receive a special collectible medal that can be personalized by collecting unique badges corresponding to each race.
More information and registration:
https://europeanmarathonclassics.eu/
