There is only a week left until the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival. Hungary’s biggest and oldest running event is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year as the first mass marathon in Budapest was organised 40 years ago in 1984. There will be close to 30 000 participants from 107 countries competing in one of the categories running along the most scenic sights of the capital on the 12th and 13th of October 2024. The organisers will also welcome those who opt to do shorter or longer city tours. 

A celebration of movement – a name well-deserved as the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival is not only an opportunity for marathon runners to beat the 42-kilometre distance as well as themselves, but also a chance for everyone who wants to signal to the world, by either running a shorter distance or even walking one, how important sport and exercising are to them, and to send the whole country a message that regular exercise makes life better and happier.

Runners can choose from a total of 18 distances during the 2-day event with the shortest being the 1000-metre NESTLÉ Family Run and the longest the classic 42 km marathon. As it has become tradition in recent years, participants can also walk or do one of the SPAR City Tours, or the 2.3-kilometre Gondosóra Walk joined by the Breast Cancer Info Association this year.

Based on the entry data it can be confirmed already that the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival will set a record. There has never been this many foreigners in our country attending a leisure sporting event. About 6 000 foreign runners from 107 countries have applied already which breaks the previous record set before the pandemic with 5400 foreigners. Together with their companions there will be about 10 000-12 000 runner tourists visiting Hungary because of the event.

As an example, in the 42 km distance every second participant will be an international guest, most of them British, Italian, French, citizens from the neighbouring countries or the Visegrád region.

“The SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival now has a four-decade-history and offers a spectacular sport experience for all participants and supporters every year. This year is a significant milestone as the 40-year jubilee symbolises the perseverance, stamina, and the power of community. Today Budapest is without a doubt one of the sport capitals of Europe. The breathtaking cityscape offers an exceptional background while the city’s love for sports provides the perfect atmosphere for this unforgettable event. “We are proud that after having organised the world’s most prestigious sport events, we can host such an international competition again this year which is not only celebrating the joy of exercise but the power of community for the 39th time,” said Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs, patron of the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival.

The Celebration of Movement is putting the whole country into motion, not only foreigners. There have been entries from 1000 towns and villages so far and they are still expecting further applicants in the coming days (except for the half marathon which has already reached the maximum entry limit). The organisers are expecting about 30 000 participants in total which will make the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival the biggest and most significant leisure sport event in Hungary since the pandemic, making the whole city of Budapest very proud.

• “Regular exercise is a chance for a good, long, and healthy life and Budapest is a city that welcomes community sports and events that promote healthy lifestyle with open arms. The first Budapest Marathon was organised 40 years ago. Back then there were 700 participants from 18 countries attending the first running competition in the history of the Hungarian capital where amateurs were allowed to compete. The competition has become a community building event since then where everyone can find the challenge that best suits their level of fitness. I respect every participant who achieves the goal they set out for themselves. Let us celebrate community life, sport, and Budapest!,”  said Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest, main patron of the 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival.

Budapest has one of the world’s most beautiful marathon routes which explains the high number of international participants.  The festival centre will be located on the Pázmány Péter promenade. The short distance routes will be marked around the start and finish areas, but the long-distance runners will be able to admire the most beautiful sights of the city.

The marathon runners will run across the embankments on both sides of the Danube, by Parliament, under Buda Castle, over the Chain Bridge and across Liberty Bridge, enter Margaret Island, reach a section of Andrassy Avenue, see Saint Stephen’s Basilica and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences building from close by.

The 30 000 participants will include enthusiastic amateurs, record holder marathon runners with hundreds of successful competitions behind them, diplomats, actors, media personalities, equal opportunity ambassadors, old and young, families and the representatives of different professions to promote the joy of running and sport.

• “Running is the most popular sport in Hungary with a large group of supporters. The SPAR Budapest Maraton^® Festival is the biggest celebration of this form of sport. We are proud that the event has been carrying SPAR’s name for 16 years and we gladly support it because our goal is mutual; get as many people as possible to love exercising, to look after their health through their lifestyle and quality diet. This year we set up stands between the start and finish line areas with activities to involve and motivate all generations to move in a playful way. Based on the ideas of our Gen Z colleagues we will await visitors with a special reflex game and an obstacle course. The lucky players can win our own-brand, health-conscious products. We will try to motivate our colleagues – who will enter for free yet again – with a good cause. For each colleague who competes we will donate 2000 forints to support the work of the Utcáról Lakásba! (From the Streets to a Home Association),” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The organiser Budapest Sports Office (Budapest Sportiroda) asks the locals of Budapest to show up to support the runners of the international caravan along the routes with applause or a few nice words. Runners will have access to refreshment stations and music spots.

“The 39th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival has a special place in our hearts. The first marathon in Budapest took place 40 years ago, in 1984, and we would like to celebrate this jubilee in style this year. The world and the Hungarian capital have changed a lot in the last 40 years, however the joy of reaching the finish line will never change. I wish every participant, whether they will walk the shortest distance or run the marathon at the speed of professionals, that they reach the goal they set for themselves, have fun, enjoy every moment of the festival, and keep moving and exercising regularly going forward because it will make their lives better and happier,” said Árpád Kocsis, director of the Budapest Sports Office.

BACKGROUND – milestones from the history of the 40-year-old Budapest Marathon

1984. The first mass marathon in Budapest has participants from 18 countries, 25 women and 625 men reach the finish line of the 42-km distance
1985. The first time when the number of participants reached 10 000 (11 700 entries)
1986. There were then different distance categories, the event earned the Day of Running title
1987. SPAR became the main sponsor of the Budapest Marathon
1988. The first year when the number of participants reached over 15 000 (16 500)

The first year when street musicians supported runners along the route

Charity work began which has raised 209 million forints by 2023

2013. The first time when the number of entries reached over 20 000 (21 302)

2015. More than 7000 individuals entered the marathon, a record which has not been broken since

First FODISZ equal opportunities race was organised

2017. The first time the festival became a 2-day event

The first time the number of participants reached over 30 000 (32 000)

The first time when more than 5 000 foreigners entered

2018. A new record was set with 34 000 entries

2023. The event returned after the pandemic

The first City Tours took place