Nearly 15,000 participants, thousands of personal success stories, outstanding athletic achievements, and a new participation record: The 26th DRESDEN-MARATHON on October 24 and 25, 2026, will stay with us for a long time. Despite rain, wind, and chilly autumn temperatures, Dresden transformed into a spectacular stage for running. What remains are countless emotional moments, wonderful people, and, above all, an enormous thank you to everyone who made this special weekend possible.

A New Participation Record: More Runners Than Ever Before in Dresden

What a weekend! With nearly 15,000 participants, the 26th DRESDEN-MARATHON set a new participation record. Never before have so many runners taken part in our event.

Whether in the 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, marathon relay, or our children’s races – the passion for running could be felt everywhere.

But there is so much more behind this record. Every single race bib tells its own story. A story of months of preparation, personal goals, overcoming doubts, and that incredible feeling of finally crossing the finish line.

For some, it was their very first race. For others, a new personal best or the fulfillment of a long-held dream. And these are exactly the stories that make the DRESDEN-MARATHON so special year after year.

Rain, Wind, and Incredible Determination

The weather forecast had already kept us busy in the days leading up to the event. Rain, wind, and low temperatures were predicted for race weekend. And indeed, autumn in Dresden didn’t exactly show its friendliest side.

But our runners refused to let that stop them.

On Saturday, the 5K runners and our youngest participants provided the first sporting highlights. Sunday brought the major races over 10K, the half marathon, the full marathon, and the marathon relay.

Despite the challenging conditions, the atmosphere along the course was fantastic. Thousands of runners pushed through Dresden, kilometer after kilometer, passing historic landmarks, running through the city center, crossing the Elbe River, and finally reaching the emotional finish line inside the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion.

There, joy and exhaustion often went hand in hand. Smiling faces, tears of happiness, hugs, and the overwhelming pride of reaching a personal goal made the finish line an unforgettable experience once again.

Everyone who took on the challenge in these conditions truly earned their finisher medal!

The True Heroes of a Marathon Don’t Always Wear a Race Bib

An event of this size is about much more than the runners themselves. Above all, it depends on the people working behind the scenes to turn an idea into an unforgettable experience.

Our many dedicated volunteers are the heart of the DRESDEN-MARATHON.

They help set everything up, distribute race bibs and registration materials, support the race office, manage bag drop, marshal the course, provide drinks and refreshments, welcome runners at the finish line, and help with the final cleanup.

Many of them spend countless hours on their feet, often starting long before the first race begins and continuing well after the last runner has crossed the finish line.

Especially this year, given the difficult weather conditions, their commitment was anything but something we could take for granted.

What impressed us most was the warmth, motivation, and enthusiasm our volunteers showed, even after spending hours in the rain, wind, and cold. A few encouraging words, a friendly smile, or a helping hand at just the right moment – sometimes it’s these small gestures that make the biggest difference to our runners.

The many positive messages we’ve received about our volunteers show just how much their dedication is appreciated. They also make us incredibly proud of everyone who contributes their time, energy, and passion to making our event a success.

To all our amazing volunteers: You are incredible! Without you, this event simply wouldn’t be possible. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

Making It Happen Together: Thank You to Our Sponsors, Partners, and Supporters

Behind an event weekend like the DRESDEN-MARATHON stands an enormous network of dedicated people, companies, institutions, clubs, and service providers.

We would therefore like to express our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors and partners who support us and believe in our event. Many of them have been part of the DRESDEN-MARATHON for years and play a vital role in helping us continuously develop and improve the event.

A special thank you also goes to everyone involved at BallsportARENA Dresden and Heinz-Steyer-Stadion for their support throughout the event weekend.

From the Marathon Expo to the organization of the start and finish areas and the support provided to participants, countless tasks and responsibilities have to come together seamlessly.

Our gratitude also goes to the emergency and rescue services, as well as all our other partners and contributors.

We would also like to thank the many musicians and bands along the course. Despite the weather, your music and enthusiasm created a fantastic atmosphere and gave our runners that extra boost of motivation.

Last but not least, we would like to thank the local residents and everyone in Dresden whose understanding, patience, and support helped transform our city into a celebration of running for an entire weekend. A very special thank you goes to the many spectators who braved the rain and wind to cheer on our runners, creating an incredible atmosphere and providing much-needed encouragement along the way.

An event of this scale is always a team effort. Having so many people working hand in hand is something we never take for granted.

Thank You to You – Our Runners!

Of course, a very special thank you also goes to you, our runners!

You brought the 26th DRESDEN-MARATHON to life with your passion, determination, and emotions.

You didn’t let the rain or wind defeat you. You encouraged one another, pushed beyond your limits, and helped us write another chapter in the history of the DRESDEN-MARATHON.

By taking part, you not only helped us set a new participation record but also demonstrated the incredible power of running to bring people together.

We are delighted by the many positive messages we have received since race weekend. At the same time, we take your feedback and suggestions for improvement very seriously. Our goal is to make the DRESDEN-MARATHON a little better every year, together with you.

The Next Marathon Is Already Calling: See You in 2027!

The 26th DRESDEN-MARATHON is now part of our history. What remains are countless memories, impressive achievements, and the excitement of everything still to come.

We look back on this weekend with enormous gratitude. Despite all the challenges, it reminded us once again why we organize this event with so much passion.

Thank you to nearly 15,000 participants. Thank you to our countless volunteers. Thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and supporters. And thank you to everyone who makes the DRESDEN-MARATHON what it is.

We are already looking forward to welcoming you back to Dresden on October 30 and 31, 2027, for the 27th DRESDEN-MARATHON!

Until then, we wish you many successful training kilometers, exciting new goals, and, above all, plenty of joy in running.