30 Years of the Ljubljana Marathon: Record 22,509 Runners Registered
Ljubljana, 16 September, 2026 – The NLB Ljubljana Marathon is celebrating its 30th anniversary and marking record participation. By the close of registration, a total of 22,509 runners had signed up across all three race distances—an all-time record, with record numbers also in the 42 km and 21 km events. International participants from 84 countries account for 35% of the total. The growth in international registrations is the result of intensive promotion in foreign markets and at major running events. The NLB Ljubljana Marathon has evolved from a purely domestic event into an increasingly international phenomenon.
Saturday Becomes a Major Race Day
This year, for the first time, Saturday is being elevated to the same status as Sunday. The Garmin 10 km race is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at 4:30 PM; and will include European record-holder Klara Lukan, as well as Vid Botolin and Žan Rudolf, all running stars from Slovenia. The course is designed for fast finish times, with expectations for personal bests, national records, and perhaps even European records.
Lukan, Botolin, and Rudolf are members of the "Top Team," an initiative under the NLB Ljubljana Marathon umbrella that brings together Slovenia's best long-distance runners. In addition to the trio competing on Saturday, Primož Kobe and Jan Kokalj will run the marathon on Sunday, while Jakob Medved and Liza Šajn will compete in the half-marathon. Maruša Mišmaš will not be running this year due to injury.
Anniversary marked by an exhibition, a banknote, and a stamp
To mark the 30th anniversary, an exhibition is on display at the Jakopič Promenade in Tivoli Park, telling the story of the event’s three decades through photographs and statistics. Earlier this spring, NLB issued a commemorative banknote for the occasion, and on 26 September, Pošta Slovenije will release a special commemorative postage stamp.
A gift to Slovenian sports: a new fan anthem
At the initiative of the organizers, a special gift for Slovenian sports—a new fan anthem—is also being created to mark the anniversary. It is composed by Anže Zavrl—who last year set a Guinness World Record for running while playing the accordion on the marathon course—in collaboration with the bands Gadi and Rock Partyzani. Young percussionists from Livada Primary School, led by Hana Mačkovšek, will provide the "rhythm of the future." The anthem will be heard for the first time prior to the marathon.
The NLB Ljubljana Marathon will take place on 17 and 18 October. Organizers are encouraging the people of Ljubljana to show their full support for the runners—not only at the start and finish lines but especially along the course itself—as runners love returning to Ljubljana thanks to the exceptional support they receive from the crowds on the streets.
