Debrecen4U March 5, 2026

Entries Are Still Being Accepted for the Debrecen Marathon

Sports and running enthusiasts will be welcomed to the Debrecen Marathon on 29 March, with five different race distances across nine categories. The organisational problems that had arisen have been resolved, and another team will now manage the event. The number of entrants has already exceeded 1,200, and the organisers expect more than two thousand competitors to take part.

Laci Lukács sent word from the Budapest–Bamako Rally that he will be lining up at the start of the first Debrecen Marathon. He won’t be the only well‑known face: Loki legend Tibor Dombi is also set to run. The race was originally planned as a single‑lap course, but the number of restrictions required would have been disproportionately high and even jeopardised the event itself. The newly formed organising committee has therefore revised the route. Participants can now enter a quarter marathon, half marathon, or full marathon, each taking runners through some of the city’s most prominent areas.

“These distances can be completed individually, in pairs, or in teams of four. We will also offer a 5‑kilometre and a 1.7‑kilometre race, so the range of options is very broad. Essentially, the shorter distances will be concentrated around the Great Forest (Nagyerdő) area, while the longer ones will head into the city centre and return via University Avenue,” Tamás Dékán, Managing Director of the Hungarian Sport and Lifestyle Development Cluster, highlighted.

At the University of Debrecen, the development of sport and health is a key strategic priority, and the idea of the Debrecen Marathon was conceived in this spirit by the institution’s experts. Chancellor Zoltán Bács recalled that the university successfully organised the European University Games held two years ago in Miskolc and Debrecen, providing a strong foundation for launching the marathon as well. “The new organising committee, established just ten days ago, will certainly need all of its expertise, but on 29 March we will deliver a successful event. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,200 people had already registered, and we hope that over two thousand competitive runners will take part,” he said.

The programme will also include a range of accompanying events designed to highlight the importance of environmental protection. The Debrecen Marathon has a dual mission: to offer runners an unforgettable experience while also setting a benchmark for sustainable urban event organisation in Hungary. “It is not only important to work in a city, but also to enjoy living here. The essence of this is having community programmes where we can come together with our fellow citizens of Debrecen and enjoy each other’s company. A running race is exactly such an event,” Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa explained .

Registration is available online at debrecenmaraton.hu, where interested participants can also find all the essential information.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu