Łódź to be the capital of the Polish marathon in 2026!
14. The DOZ Łódź Marathon will host the Polish Championships and is part of the World Athletics Rankings.
By decision of the Polish Athletics Association (PZLA), this year’s men’s and women’s championships will be held as part of the 14th DOZ Łódź Marathon, so Poland’s top marathoners will return to Łódź on April 12, 2026, to compete for medals at the Polish Championships in the marathon.
The elite at the starting line and the trust of the Polish Athletic Association
The organizers of the Polish Championships in Łódź guarantee an exceptionally strong field of competitors. The current Polish champion, Emilia Mazek, and the winner of last year’s Łódź Marathon, Mateusz Kaczor, have already confirmed their participation.
“The Executive Board of the Polish Athletics Association has once again placed its trust in us by entrusting us with the organization of the Polish Championships. This is a tremendous honor for us and a testament to the quality of our work. This decision has been very well received by athletes and coaches. We are all looking forward to exciting competition for medals and record-breaking performances during the 14th edition of the DOZ Łódź Marathon,” the organizers emphasize.
The prestige of the World Athletics Rankings and a route through the heart of the city
The Łódź Marathon is also gaining prominence on the international stage. The event has been officially included in the World Athletics Rankings Competition. This means that a time achieved on the Łódź course allows any participant to qualify for the prestigious races in the World Marathon Majors series.
The marathon route has been announced. Compared to last year, some changes have been made, but the layout remains similar to that of the successful 13th edition. The race will start, as usual, on Bandurskiego Street, near Atlas Arena. Participants will run past iconic landmarks in Łódź, such as Piotrkowska Street, the EC1 complex, and the Łódź Fabryczna Train Station. Spectators will be able to cheer along the entire route, including around Poniatowski Park, Piłsudski Park, and at the Fala Aquapark. We’ll welcome the finishing runners at a spectacular, multimedia finish line inside Atlas Arena.
Side events, attendance, and logistics
The DOZ Łódź Marathon will be held for the 14th time. The event consists of several races. In addition to the full marathon, participants will compete in the 2-person Half&Half relays and the 6-person Ekiden relays. There will also be a 10-km run and a race for the youngest participants, the Kids Run.
At 9:00 a.m., along with the marathon runners, the relay participants (heading west) and the 10-kilometer runners (heading toward the city center) will set off on the course.
At this point, there are already over 5,000 runners from Poland and abroad on the entry lists. Registration is still open, and the organizers hope that attendance will be close to 10,000 participants.
“We invite more than just runners to Łódź. We’ve prepared activities for the whole family, a two-day picnic, and an Expo fair. Everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, will find a place to enjoy sports here,” the organizers say.
For runners who want to spend the entire weekend in Łódź, there is a wide range of hotel options available specifically for this event. Each hotel offers discounts exclusively for participants of the DOZ Łódź Marathon. Accommodation options can be found at www.lodzmaraton.pl.
Please note that registration is still open, and participation fees depend on when you register.
Registration – payment deadlines:
• deadline (by February 15, 2026): 209 PLN
• Date (February 16–March 15, 2026): 239 PLN
• Dates (March 16–April 6, 2026): 259 PLN
• Date (April 10–11, 2026): 300 PLN
Organizers and Partners: DOZ S.A. has been the title sponsor of the DOZ Łódź Marathon since its first edition. The City of Łódź is the strategic partner, the Polish Athletics Association is the sports partner, and the event is organized by the “Dbam o Zdrowie” Marathon Association. For more information: www.lodzmaraton.pl
