Wörthersee Marathon
Where
Klagenfurt, Austria
Date
27 September 2026
Distances
Registration cost
€50–100
What runners say
Running with the turquoise lake on your left and the Carinthian mountains on the horizon is one of those experiences you don't expect. You thought you were running a marathon — and instead you did something much more beautiful.
Why it's special
A full loop around Lake Wörthersee: 42 km with turquoise water always beside you, part of the World Athletics Global Calendar. Unique in Europe.
What's around
The Wörthersee Marathon takes place on 27 September around Carinthia's most famous lake in Austria: 42 km that completely circumnavigate the Wörthersee, with turquoise water always beside you and the Alps in the background. The first 21 km along the south shore to Velden are hilly and scenic; the second half is flat and fast. The format is open to everyone: full marathon, half (The Wild Beauty – 21K), and the Walk the Lake option for those who want to go around the lake on foot, with the finish line open until 18:00. Nobody is excluded. The race is part of the World Athletics Global Calendar — an official recognition that few European marathons can claim. Yet outside Austria and Germany it's almost unknown. The Wörthersee in September is something rare: summer is still in the air, the lake is still swimmable, and the autumn colours are just beginning to arrive.