When the starting gun goes off on the Reichsbrücke on Sunday, April 19, Vienna will once again be in a state of absolute emergency. Thousands of people will push their way through the city’s neighborhoods over 42.195 kilometers, while half of the city center is simply shut down to regular traffic.
The route and who’s running this year
The course is a grueling marathon classic and starts right on Wagramer Straße. From the wide Reichsbrücke, the route takes the nearly 50,000 registered participants first into the shady Prater Hauptallee. From there, they turn onto the Ringstraße, run out to the Gloriette in Schönbrunn, and battle their way back into the city along Mariahilfer Straße.
It’s not just ambitious amateur athletes who will cross the finish line at Rathausplatz. This year, elite runners from Kenya and Ethiopia will once again be at the starting line. From a local perspective, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the local pros, such as Austria’s record holder Julia Mayer.
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These international pros are competing for the win
Alongside the thousands of amateur runners, top international athletes will also be at the starting line on Sunday. While you’re still leisurely sipping your coffee at a café in the morning, these pros will already be setting a brisk pace on the course.
In the women’s race, the battle for the top spots is shaping up to be a real close one. Betty Chepkemoi, the winner of the last Vienna City Marathon in 2025, is traveling from Kenya and will have to hold her own against strong competition such as Haftamnesh Tesfaye and Tigist Gezahagn from Ethiopia. American runner Lindsay Flanagan is also set to be a major contender in the lead pack this year.
In the men’s race, too, several top contenders have signed up to lead the pack. Top runner Oqbe Kibrom from Eritrea is guaranteed to engage in a fierce duel with the two Kenyans, Stanley Kurgat and Micah Cheserek. Which of the three will be the first to cross the finish line at Rathausplatz will only be decided in the final kilometers.
Road Closures and Public Transportation Schedule
Anyone who has to drive across Vienna by car on Sunday is literally out of luck. The Ringstraße is closed almost all day, as are the Franz-Josefs-Kai and large parts of the Prater.
Your only salvation on this day will be the subways, as many trams and buses will be running on shortened routes or not at all. Wiener Linien is increasing service frequency so you don’t get completely stuck at the station.
All side events for the Vienna Marathon
There’s plenty happening in the city even before Sunday. Pick up your race numbers at the Marx Halle at Vienna Sports World on Friday and Saturday, or check out the new running gear. On Saturday, the Inclusion Run will also take place, where all barriers truly come down.
On April 18 at 11 a.m., before the main marathon, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert featuring a collaboration with marathon runners. Everyone will come together to make music in a joint performance.
By the way, once everyone has finished the marathon, there’s an after-party at the Praterdome for anyone who still has the energy to celebrate.
On Sunday, several cheering zones will spur the runners onward. Pulsating DJ beats, samba bands, and really loud bass can be found especially at the State Opera and at Praterstern, where the atmosphere is absolutely amazing.
The marathon is so well organized and even has its own app. You can easily download the VCM app. It provides all the information about the marathon and great features for you.
For anyone just watching, we recommend downloading the ivie app. With the official municipal digital city guide, you can check out all the events surrounding the marathon and stay up to date.
