The MANN‑FILTER Zaragoza Marathon 2026 already has a date and promises to be a historic edition. On 12 April 2026 the Aragonese capital will be turned into a huge city circuit with the start and finish in Plaza del Pilar. The nineteenth edition of this race, certified by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), renews its route to be faster, more attractive and more accessible, with the declared goal of exceeding 8,000 participants between the marathon and the 10 K. Below you will find a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about entries, the course, schedules, training tips and tourist details so you can fully enjoy this running festival.
History and growth of the Zaragoza Marathon
The Zaragoza Marathon was born in 2004 as a small event organised by the club Corre en Zaragoza. With support from the city council and sponsors such as MANN‑FILTER it has grown into the most important athletic event in Aragon. In the 2025 edition more than 8,000 runners took part across the 42 km and 10 km distances, with victories for Laura Méndez and Peter Kariuki. The organisers have listened to athletes’ feedback and for 2026 present a revamped course designed to break records and offer the best possible experience, as noted in the official RFEA information on the new circuit (consult the RFEA information here).
Date, schedules and categories
The nineteenth edition of the marathon will take place on Sunday 12 April 2026. The marathon start is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. from Plaza del Pilar, while the 10 K will start at 9:00 a.m. from Paseo Echegaray y Caballero, as indicated in the official rules (see the complete rules here). The finish for both distances is located in the same Plaza del Pilar.
- Distances: marathon (42.195 km) and 10 K race.
- Categories: men’s and women’s open; masters M35, M40, M45, M50, M55 and above in five-year increments; prizes go to the top three overall.
- Cut‑off time: 5 hours for the marathon. Checkpoints are at the half marathon (11:00 a.m.), km 30 (12:05 p.m.) and km 35 (12:40 p.m.).
- Aid stations: every 5 km and at the finish; from km 20 there will also be solid food stations.
- Prize money: €2,100 for the men’s and women’s winners, €1,400 for second place and €1,000 for third; there is also a €1,000 bonus for breaking the course record (2:11:39 for men and 2:26:40 for women).
Entries and prices
Entries for the MANN‑FILTER Zaragoza Marathon are managed exclusively online via the official race website. The organisers have set a limit of 3,000 bibs for the marathon and 7,000 for the 10 K, so it’s wise to sign up early to secure your place and benefit from the lowest prices. The bib fee includes a disposable chip, technical T‑shirt, insurance, goody bag and physiotherapy services at the finish.
- Marathon: €35 (+5 % handling fee) for the first 200 entries, €40 until 2 November, €45 from 3 November to 14 December, €50 from 15 December to 15 March and €60 from 16 March until bibs run out (consult official prices).
- 10 K: €14 for the first 1,000 bibs, €16 until 15 December, €20 until entries close.
- Bib collection: will take place on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 April at a location in the city yet to be confirmed; no bibs will be delivered on race day.
- Cancellations: the entry fee is non‑refundable, although you can purchase cancellation insurance at the time of registration.
If you plan to run, take advantage of early registration. In the 2025 edition bibs sold out several weeks in advance, and the organisers expect to exceed that mark thanks to the course improvements, as highlighted on the specialised site Carreras de Montaña (read Mayayo’s analysis here).
Redesigned course: faster and more spectacular
The main innovation for the 2026 edition is a completely redesigned course that is faster and less demanding without losing the charm of the city. According to the RFEA, the organisers have moved the toughest section – the climb from Tenor Fleta to the Canal Imperial – from km 32 to km 17 so runners tackle it with fresher legs. In addition, new landmarks such as the Third Millennium Bridge, the Stone Bridge, the Bullring and Paseo de la Constitución have been included. To improve flow, the bike lane along the Canal Imperial and the underpass beneath the Puente de la Almozara have been removed.
- Start and finish: Plaza del Pilar, with a spectacular atmosphere.
- Kilometre 17: new location of the steepest climb, overlooking the Canal Imperial.
- New icons: Third Millennium Bridge, Stone Bridge, Bullring and Paseo de la Constitución.
- Removed sections: bike lane along the Canal Imperial and the underpass under the Puente de la Almozara.
- Still included: the run along the banks of the River Ebro and its bridges, the Expo Zone, Roman Walls, Central Market, Plaza de España, Paseo de Independencia, Plaza Aragón and the final straight along Don Jaime I before arriving at Plaza del Pilar.
This redesign makes the Zaragoza route one of the fastest in Spain and a journey through the city’s history. The organisers aim to place it in the national top 5, attract more than 2,000 marathoners and help many participants achieve personal bests, as emphasised by the RFEA in its presentation of the event.