Samarkand Marathon 2026 Held with World Athletics Elite Label for the First Time
Uzbekistan
Samarkand Marathon 2026 took place in Samarkand on 7–8 November, becoming the first edition to carry World Athletics Elite Label status and the final event of the Samarkand Marathon Series season. A total of 10,496 people registered, including 2,103 international runners. Participants represented 67 countries. The start and finish were located at Registan Square, and the course ran through the city’s historic centre.
The marathon received Elite Label status in October 2026. Results achieved by professional athletes at events of this level count towards the World Athletics global rankings. The elite field in Samarkand comprised 16 runners — eight men and eight women. Uzbekistan was represented by three Olympians: Shokhrukh Davlatov, the national marathon record holder and winner of Samarkand Marathon 2025, with a personal best of 02:07:02 and a place at the Paris 2024 Games; and Andrey Petrov and Ekaterina Tunguskova, both participants in the Rio 2016 Olympics. Other elite competitors included Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton, silver medallist at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships; Britain’s Henry Hart, a team world champion over 50 km; and Ethiopia’s Zinash Mekonen, whose 02:24:55 personal best was the fastest among the women in the elite field.
Sir Mo Farah gave the marathon its start on 8 November. A four-time Olympic champion, he has also won six world titles and nine European titles. Born in Somaliland and raised in the United Kingdom, Farah was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. After ending his professional career in 2023, he has pursued business activities. On 7 November, he opened registration for Samarkand Marathon 2027, scheduled for 13–14 November.
Women accounted for 35% of registered participants and men for 65%. Some 66% of runners were aged 20–39, while the largest age group was 20–24, with 2,201 participants. KIDS RUN welcomed 545 children, and 112 people took part in inclusive races. The largest national groups came from Uzbekistan (8,393), Russia (955), Kazakhstan (488), Tajikistan (109) and Estonia (59).
In the 42.2 km race, Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton won the men’s event in 02:15:44. Uzbekistan’s Andrey Petrov finished second in 02:16:02, followed by Ethiopia’s Mamo Mengistu in 02:16:13. Shokhrukh Davlatov placed sixth. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Abdeta Obse won in 02:39:25, ahead of Kenya’s Daisy Rutto (02:39:28) and Gladys Chemutai (02:39:30). Ekaterina Tunguskova finished sixth in 02:43:13. The half-marathon winners were Hasan Mirsoatov (01:06:22) and Marzhona Akhmadalieva (01:16:46). Jobir Kakhkhorov (00:30:22) and Sadafbonu Nusratilloeva (00:35:18) won the 10 km races, while Yevgeny Fadeev (00:15:04) and Shokhsanam Khurramova (00:17:41) took the 5 km titles. Kakhkhorov improved the men’s 10 km course record by 22 seconds, and Khurramova lowered the women’s 5 km record by 24 seconds.
The Samarkand Marathon EXPO operated on 6–7 November, distributing race packs and introducing participants to the series’ partners, sports brands and running community. The 7 November programme included KIDS RUN, 2 km, 2 km Nordic Walking, 5 km and 5 km Inclusive races, lectures and running tours. DJs GEO and MAQOM performed in the evening, followed by a light show at Registan Square. On 8 November, the marathon started at 08:00, the half-marathon at 08:10 and the 10 km race at 08:45. The 5 km Inclusive and KIDS RUN 60 Inclusive events were free for participants with disabilities.
The series’ environmental programme, “Avvalgidan tozaroq” (“Cleaner than Before”), promotes waste sorting, plogging and reduced use of single-use plastic. On 7 November, 200 people joined Samarkand’s third plogging event, led by Erik Ahlström, founder of Plogga and the series’ eco-ambassador. Collected waste was sorted and sent for recycling. In 2026, the organisers introduced eco-points for actions such as using event transfers, recycling plastic, taking part in plogging and volunteering.
The event also welcomed Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES. The series received the initiative’s accreditation in May 2025. In Samarkand, Power joined an EXPO panel discussion, led a women’s run with Rassvet Running and completed the 42.2 km marathon in 03:33:59. SheRACES works to improve conditions for women runners, including pregnancy-related deferrals, equal prizes and visibility for women’s results. The launch of a dedicated Central Asia initiative was also announced during her visit.
The 2026 series comprised five events: Bukhara Night Race, Sky Camp Bo’stonliq, ZAAMIN ULTRA, ARAL ULTRA — the first 100 km ultramarathon in Uzbekistan’s history — and Samarkand Marathon. Bukhara Night Race and ZAAMIN ULTRA received recognition through World Athletics’ Athletics for a Better World programme. Samarkand Marathon is organised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. All funds raised go towards building children’s sports grounds in the regions where the series’ events take place. Mirhan Sagitov, head of the marathon implementation department and series curator, described Elite Label status as an important milestone. The next event, Bukhara Night Race, is scheduled for March 2027, while Samarkand Marathon 2027 will take place on 13–14 November. Registration is open at events.samarkandmarathon.uz.
Sir Mo Farah gave the marathon its start on 8 November. A four-time Olympic champion, he has also won six world titles and nine European titles. Born in Somaliland and raised in the United Kingdom, Farah was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. After ending his professional career in 2023, he has pursued business activities. On 7 November, he opened registration for Samarkand Marathon 2027, scheduled for 13–14 November.
Women accounted for 35% of registered participants and men for 65%. Some 66% of runners were aged 20–39, while the largest age group was 20–24, with 2,201 participants. KIDS RUN welcomed 545 children, and 112 people took part in inclusive races. The largest national groups came from Uzbekistan (8,393), Russia (955), Kazakhstan (488), Tajikistan (109) and Estonia (59).
In the 42.2 km race, Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton won the men’s event in 02:15:44. Uzbekistan’s Andrey Petrov finished second in 02:16:02, followed by Ethiopia’s Mamo Mengistu in 02:16:13. Shokhrukh Davlatov placed sixth. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Abdeta Obse won in 02:39:25, ahead of Kenya’s Daisy Rutto (02:39:28) and Gladys Chemutai (02:39:30). Ekaterina Tunguskova finished sixth in 02:43:13. The half-marathon winners were Hasan Mirsoatov (01:06:22) and Marzhona Akhmadalieva (01:16:46). Jobir Kakhkhorov (00:30:22) and Sadafbonu Nusratilloeva (00:35:18) won the 10 km races, while Yevgeny Fadeev (00:15:04) and Shokhsanam Khurramova (00:17:41) took the 5 km titles. Kakhkhorov improved the men’s 10 km course record by 22 seconds, and Khurramova lowered the women’s 5 km record by 24 seconds.
The Samarkand Marathon EXPO operated on 6–7 November, distributing race packs and introducing participants to the series’ partners, sports brands and running community. The 7 November programme included KIDS RUN, 2 km, 2 km Nordic Walking, 5 km and 5 km Inclusive races, lectures and running tours. DJs GEO and MAQOM performed in the evening, followed by a light show at Registan Square. On 8 November, the marathon started at 08:00, the half-marathon at 08:10 and the 10 km race at 08:45. The 5 km Inclusive and KIDS RUN 60 Inclusive events were free for participants with disabilities.
The series’ environmental programme, “Avvalgidan tozaroq” (“Cleaner than Before”), promotes waste sorting, plogging and reduced use of single-use plastic. On 7 November, 200 people joined Samarkand’s third plogging event, led by Erik Ahlström, founder of Plogga and the series’ eco-ambassador. Collected waste was sorted and sent for recycling. In 2026, the organisers introduced eco-points for actions such as using event transfers, recycling plastic, taking part in plogging and volunteering.
The event also welcomed Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES. The series received the initiative’s accreditation in May 2025. In Samarkand, Power joined an EXPO panel discussion, led a women’s run with Rassvet Running and completed the 42.2 km marathon in 03:33:59. SheRACES works to improve conditions for women runners, including pregnancy-related deferrals, equal prizes and visibility for women’s results. The launch of a dedicated Central Asia initiative was also announced during her visit.
The 2026 series comprised five events: Bukhara Night Race, Sky Camp Bo’stonliq, ZAAMIN ULTRA, ARAL ULTRA — the first 100 km ultramarathon in Uzbekistan’s history — and Samarkand Marathon. Bukhara Night Race and ZAAMIN ULTRA received recognition through World Athletics’ Athletics for a Better World programme. Samarkand Marathon is organised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. All funds raised go towards building children’s sports grounds in the regions where the series’ events take place. Mirhan Sagitov, head of the marathon implementation department and series curator, described Elite Label status as an important milestone. The next event, Bukhara Night Race, is scheduled for March 2027, while Samarkand Marathon 2027 will take place on 13–14 November. Registration is open at events.samarkandmarathon.uz.
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