Onlykashmir.in News Desk
SRINAGAR: The third edition of the Kashmir Marathon will be held in Srinagar on October 25, 2026. The race has become the centrepiece of the Union Territory’s effort to diversify its tourism beyond the traditional summer and pilgrimage seasons. Organised by the Department of Tourism, J&K, and listed on the calendar of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the event offers a full marathon of 42 km and a half marathon of 21 km. Both are open to runners aged 18 and above.
Registration closes today. The organisers have said there will be no extension beyond October 10, 2026. Registration is online at kashmirmarathon.jk.gov.in. Runners sign up with a mobile number or email, pay the fee and wait for a confirmation message. The fee is ₹2,200 for the full marathon and ₹1,800 for the half marathon, and it is non-refundable. Entries are grouped by age as 18 to 35, 36 to 49 and 50 and above. The cut-off is seven hours for the full marathon and three hours for the half.
The route is a large part of the appeal. Runners pass Dal Lake, the Zabarwan range, the Mughal Gardens, Nishat Garden, Shankaracharya Temple, Pari Mahal and Lal Chowk. The course mixes flat and hilly stretches, with an elevation gain of about 960 metres. The marathon works as a moving showcase of the Valley’s scenery and heritage, which is why officials treat it as a tourism asset as much as a sporting one.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the marathon is part of a plan to increase tourism in Jammu and Kashmir alongside skiing, the gondola, white-water rafting and fishing. He has said the event carries a message that Kashmir is safe and welcoming, and he wants it to reach the stature of the Ladakh Marathon. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani used the Travel and Tourism Fair in Hyderabad this week to invite runners and travel operators from southern India.
The event has grown quickly. The first edition in 2024 drew more than 1,700 runners from across India and 12 foreign countries. The 2025 edition drew about 1,500 runners, including 77 foreign athletes from 11 countries, with Kenyan and Ethiopian runners taking the top full marathon places. It also came after a sharp fall in tourist arrivals following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. Tourism trade representatives said then that they hoped the race would build interest in winter travel. This year, more than 1,400 registrations had been received by October 7.
For local runners and youth, the 2026 edition adds a dedicated J&K Local category with an extra ₹25 lakh in prizes, meant to reward homegrown talent. The total prize purse is ₹3.17 crore, including ₹2.11 crore for the full marathon and ₹1.06 crore for the half. The full marathon winner receives ₹25 lakh. Officials have also proposed an untimed 5K Fun Run for non-competitive participants.
A three-day Marathon Expo from October 22 to 24 at the Sports Council Ground, Poloview, will handle bib distribution and fitness activities. It will also showcase J&K handicrafts, handlooms, horticulture and cultural heritage. Visiting runners, their families and support teams fill hotels, houseboats, restaurants and transport, and the expo gives local artisans and growers a direct route to those buyers. Official economic-impact figures for the marathon have not been published.
