Wachau-Marathon 2026 to feature live broadcast and record contenders

The 26th Wachau-Marathon is scheduled for September 13, 2026, in Austria. The event expects approximately 8,000 participants across three distances: a full marathon starting in Emmersdorf, a half-marathon in Spitz, and an 11-kilometer quarter-marathon in Achleiten. All races will conclude in Krems.

For the first time, the Austrian broadcaster ORF will provide live coverage of the event on ORF 1 and via its online stream. The course follows the Danube through the Wachau UNESCO World Heritage region, offering a flat profile conducive to fast times.

Defending course record holder Mkulia Kipkandie is set to return to the half-marathon, where he previously set a record of 59:48. The women's half-marathon record is currently held by Cynthia Chepkwony with a time of 1:08:33. Due to the closure of the Mauterner Bridge, the route through the Krems city area will feature a slightly modified course to accommodate traffic.