An Exceptional Achievement for the 34th Zagreb Powerade Marathon

Zagreb has officially been confirmed as the host of this year’s World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship, which will take place as part of the 34th Zagreb Powerade Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026. This is one of the most significant global athletics events for masters athletes, which will attract competitors from numerous countries to the Croatian capital. The World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship is organized by World Masters Athletics, an international organization that has been managing masters athletics and promoting competitions for athletes for more than 35 years.

“We are proud that Zagreb will host the World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship this year. This is a recognition of our long-standing tradition and work in developing athletics, as well as an opportunity to present our city and athletics community to the global masters scene. We believe that this race will become another international symbol of sporting spirit and togetherness,” said Marko Jakopović, President of the Zagreb Athletics Association, adding that Zagreb proudly promotes an active lifestyle and the development of sport, and that hosting this championship confirms such orientation, while the arrival of athletes from around the world with their families is an opportunity to present Zagreb as a welcoming city.

The Zagreb Marathon has a long and impressive history. Since the first race held in 1992 with only a few dozen participants, over the years the marathon has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable sporting events in Croatia. Today, marathons are more than just sporting events, and almost all major world cities, from New York and Berlin to London and Tokyo, have marathons that are part of their identity and recognizability.

This year, the international positioning and vision of the Zagreb Athletics Association will be further strengthened by hosting the World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship. All runners born on October 11, 1991 or earlier can apply to participate in the Championship by registering on the website wmamc2026.com by September 1 this year.

There are no qualifying time standards for participation; the only requirement is membership in a national masters athletics organization, which in Croatia is the Croatian Masters Athletics Association (HAVU). This makes participation in the Championship an opportunity for runners to represent their country, stand alongside the world’s best masters athletes, and demonstrate that passion, discipline, and top form know no age limits. It is an event that brings together experienced athletes from all over the world and confirms that dedication and love for running grow stronger with age, with each performance becoming part of a larger, global sporting story.

All information about the World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship is available on the Zagreb Marathon and World Masters Athletics websites. As registrations for the 34th Zagreb Powerade Marathon are also open, it is important that runners carefully read which application form they need to complete, depending on which competition they plan to participate in.