- Course passing through Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge under review, connecting urban and coastal landscapes -

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that “Incheon Marathon 2026,” co-hosted with the Korea Association of Athletics Federations and co-organized by the Incheon Metropolitan City Sports Council and the Incheon Athletics Federation, will be held on November 22. The city plans to further enhance the event’s competitiveness by introducing a unique course that connects urban and marine environments, including a route incorporating the Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge.

Now in its second year, the Incheon Marathon demonstrated its potential to become a leading international marathon in the metropolitan area following the successful inaugural event last year. This year, the race will return with further improvements, enhancing both participant convenience and course competitiveness.

To ensure systematic safety management and operational efficiency in handling large crowds, the gathering venue has been relocated to the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. The event will feature three categories: full marathon (42.195 km), 10 km, and 5 km.

In particular, the city is reviewing a one-way full marathon course that passes through the Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge, one of Incheon’s key landmarks. If finalized, participants will be able to experience a unique race that combines the dynamism of the city with the scenic beauty of the West Sea coastline.

In line with its status as Incheon’s only full-course marathon, the scale of the event will also be expanded. A total of 20,000 participants are expected, with the number of full marathon runners increasing from 6,000 last year to approximately 8,000 to meet growing demand from amateur runners.

Support measures will also be strengthened to enhance the quality of the event and athletic performance. To boost morale among domestic elite athletes, the total prize money for the domestic division will be increased from KRW 67 million to KRW 86 million. Meanwhile, the first-place prize will be raised from KRW 12 million to KRW 15 million to attract top-tier runners and encourage competition.

Park Hyeok, Head of the Incheon Sports Promotion Division, stated, “As the Incheon Marathon enters its second year, we are preparing a range of improvements based on last year’s operational experience to establish it as a must-attend event for runners nationwide. We will announce the details, including the finalized course, through a step-by-step procedure after confirmation.”