Marathons in Uzbekistan 2026–2027: Tashkent, Samarkand and Trail Races

Marathons in Uzbekistan have grown fast. The Tashkent International Marathon now carries a World Athletics Label and drew more than 23,000 participants in April 2026. The Samarkand Marathon starts and finishes on the Registan. In Bukhara a half marathon runs at night past the illuminated Kalyan Minaret, and trail races climb into the mountains of Zaamin and the Western Tian Shan. Entry fees are low by European standards, and race weekends make an easy excuse to see the Silk Road cities.

This guide sets out the race calendar for 2026–2027, what each race is like, how foreign runners register and pay, and how to plan the trip around race day. Dates for 2027 had not been announced by all organisers when we wrote this in November 2026; we give the 2026 dates and the usual timing, and you should always confirm on the organiser's site.

Uzbekistan race calendar 2026–2027 at a glance

These are the main road and trail races open to foreign runners. Dates in brackets are the 2026 editions.

• Tashkent International Marathon: early April (5 April 2026). Marathon, half marathon, 10 km, 5 km.
• Bukhara Night Race: April (18 April 2026). Half marathon, 10 km, 5 km after dark in the old town.
• Silk Road Uzbekistan series: spring to autumn, 5 km and 10 km races in several cities (Nukus, Samarkand, Tashkent, Kokand, Bukhara, ending in Khiva).
• Zaamin Ultra: June (13–14 June 2026). Mountain races from 2 km to 50 km.
• Sky Camp Bo'stonliq: August (22–23 August 2026). Vertical race and trail races from 5 to 55 km near Amirsoy.
• Tashkent International Half Marathon: September (6 September 2026).
• Aral Ultra: October (3–4 October 2026), new in 2026.
• Samarkand Marathon: November (7–8 November 2026). Marathon, half, 10 km, 5 km and shorter races from the Registan.
• GlobalLimits Uzbekistan, Footsteps of Alexander the Great: a multi-stage ultra from Samarkand to Nurata, next edition from 23 April 2027.

The Bukhara Night Race, Zaamin Ultra, Sky Camp Bo'stonliq, Aral Ultra and the Samarkand Marathon form one series, the Samarkand Marathon Series, run by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation as charity races. Registration for all of them is on one platform.

Tashkent International Marathon (April)

The biggest race in Central Asia by numbers. The 2026 edition, the eighth, took place on Sunday 5 April, on the Navruz holiday weekend, with more than 23,000 participants from about 30 countries. It carries a World Athletics Label and is organised by the ProRun club.

• Distances and 2026 start times: marathon 42.195 km (06:00), half marathon 21.097 km (07:30), City Ten 10 km (09:00), Mass Fun Run 5 km (11:00).
• Start and finish: Humo Arena, in the Afrosiyob street area of central Tashkent.
• Course: flat, through the wide central avenues, with aid stations every 5 km.
• Age limits in 2026: marathon 16–85, half 14–85, 10 km 12–85, 5 km 8–85.
• Registration: online through the organiser (prorun.uz) and international race platforms. In 2026 it opened on 23 February, late fees applied from 22 March, and it closed on 24 March or earlier if full.

Tashkent Marathon 2027 is expected in early April again, but at the time of writing the organisers had not announced the date. Watch for the announcement in January or February, and register as soon as entries open: the shorter distances fill up. Early April is also a lovely time to be in Uzbekistan, with Navruz celebrations, almond and apricot blossom, and comfortable temperatures for the rest of your trip.

Tashkent International Half Marathon (September)

The same organisers run a half marathon in late summer. The 2026 race took place on 6 September, with the 21.097 km starting at 06:30, a 5 km fun run at 06:00, and kids' races of 1 km and 400 m. The course is flat and goes through central Tashkent, with water and medical points every 5 km; about 24,500 people took part across all distances.

The early start matters: Tashkent in early September can still reach the mid-thirties by the afternoon, but the first hours of the morning are pleasant. The organisers present the half as a stepping stone to the next spring's marathon.

Samarkand Marathon (November)

If you run only one race in Uzbekistan, make it this one. The start and finish are on the Registan, and the course loops through the historic centre past the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble. It began in 2019 as an international charity race and has grown into a two-day festival: in 2025 more than 8,000 runners from nearly 40 countries took part, and by mid-October 2026 more than 1,500 foreign runners from 63 countries had registered.

The 2026 programme gives a good idea of the format:

• Saturday 7 November: 2 km, 2 km Nordic walking, 5 km, an inclusive 5 km, and children's races from 60 m to 1 km.
• Sunday 8 November: marathon 42.2 km (08:00), half marathon 21.1 km (08:10), 10 km (08:45).
• Expo and race-pack collection on the two days before, plus a guided morning running tour of the city.

Registration is on the series platform, events.samarkandmarathon.uz. In 2026 it closed at the end of October, and individual distances can close earlier when they fill. Proceeds go to building children's sports grounds in the regions.

The 2027 date was not announced at the time of writing; the race is usually held on the first or second weekend of November. Many people search for the Samarkand Half Marathon: it is the 21.1 km distance of this event, not a separate race. November in Samarkand means cool mornings of around 5–10 °C and mild afternoons, so bring a layer for the start.

Bukhara Night Race (April)

A race you will not find anywhere else: a half marathon after sunset through the old town of Bukhara, with the monuments lit up. The fifth edition took place on 18 April 2026, moved from autumn to spring for the weather. The start and finish are at the Ark, and the course passes Lyabi-Hauz, the Toki Telpak-Furushon and Tim Abdullakhan trading domes and the Poi-Kalyan ensemble.

• Distances: 21.1 km and 10 km (both certified by World Athletics and AIMS), 5 km, 2 km Nordic walking and children's runs.
• 2026 participation: more than 3,500 runners and guests from 26 countries, aged 3 to 79.
• The fields at the front are fast: the 2026 10 km was won in 28:42.

Running at night solves the heat problem, and the old-town paving and the narrow passages under the domes make it feel nothing like a city road race. Spend a day or two in Bukhara before or after; our Bukhara travel guide has the details.

Trail races and ultras in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's mountain races are young but growing, and they are a good way to reach landscapes most visitors never see.

• Zaamin Ultra (June): mountain races in Zaamin National Park, from 2 km to 50 km, between juniper forests and high pastures. June is hot in the plains but pleasant in the mountains.
• Sky Camp Bo'stonliq (August): a two-day festival in the Amirsoy area, about 65 km from Tashkent. In 2026 it offered a vertical race (4.09 km with about 666 m of climbing), and trail races of 5, 10, 20 and 55 km, the longest starting at 06:00. Its 20 km course was the first in Uzbekistan to award ITRA points.
• Aral Ultra (October): added to the series in 2026, in the Aral Sea region of Karakalpakstan. Expect desert terrain and a long trip to the start.
• GlobalLimits Uzbekistan, Footsteps of Alexander the Great: a multi-stage race of six stages and about 230 km, with about 4,800 m of climbing, from Samarkand through mountain valleys, lakeshores and desert to the fortress at Nurata, with nights in villages, yurt camps and mountain camps. The next edition is listed from 23 April 2027.

Smaller trail races appear and disappear each year around Chimgan; one planned for April 2026 was cancelled. Always check that a race is confirmed before you book flights. For training runs in the same mountains, see our guides to hiking in Uzbekistan and to Chimgan and Charvak.

Which race in Uzbekistan should you choose?

It depends on what you want from the trip as much as on your running.

• First visit, city sightseeing: the Samarkand Marathon. The start on the Registan is unforgettable, the 10 km and half marathon suit most runners, and November is a calm, uncrowded month to see Samarkand and Bukhara afterwards.
• A fast, big-city race: the Tashkent International Marathon in April. The course is flat, the field is large and the World Athletics Label means proper organisation and timing. Combine it with Navruz and a week on the Silk Road.
• Something unusual: the Bukhara Night Race. A half marathon or 10 km through a medieval old town after dark is a story you will tell for years, and April evenings in Bukhara are mild.
• Mountains: Sky Camp Bo'stonliq in August, an hour or so from Tashkent, or the Zaamin Ultra in June. Both let you escape the summer heat of the plains.
• Expedition-style adventure: the GlobalLimits multi-stage race from Samarkand to Nurata, for experienced ultra runners who want a week of villages, yurt camps and desert.
• Travelling with a non-runner or children: the Samarkand and Bukhara race weekends have 2 km, 5 km and children's races, so the whole family can take part.

If you can only travel in spring, note that in 2026 the Tashkent Marathon and the Bukhara Night Race were just under two weeks apart, close enough to run one and watch, or even run, the other.

How to register for a race in Uzbekistan as a foreigner

Registering is simple and done online.

• Where: the Tashkent Marathon and Half Marathon register through the organiser, ProRun, and international platforms such as Hopasports. The Samarkand Marathon Series races (Samarkand, Bukhara, Zaamin, Sky Camp, Aral) use events.samarkandmarathon.uz.
• Fees: low by international standards. The 2026 Samarkand Marathon Series charged 150,000–350,000 som depending on distance (very roughly US$12–28). Tashkent fees vary by distance and rise for late entries. Some international platforms show prices in euros or dollars with a service charge.
• Documents: you will need your passport at race-pack collection. Check whether the organiser asks for a medical certificate or a signed health declaration for longer distances, and bring a copy if required.
• Deadlines: registration often closes three to five weeks before race day, earlier if a distance fills. Do not plan to sign up on arrival.
• Visa: citizens of many countries, including most of the EU and the UK, can enter Uzbekistan visa-free, and others can apply for an e-visa; see our visa guide for the current rules.
• Insurance: check that your travel insurance covers running races.

Courses have water stations and medical points; the race guide published before each event shows where they are.

Planning a race trip: getting there, where to stay and race-day weather

Most international flights arrive in Tashkent, and Samarkand also has a growing number of direct international flights. From Tashkent, the Afrosiyob high-speed train reaches Samarkand in about 2 hours 10 minutes and Bukhara in about 4 hours; book tickets early on race weekends, when trains fill up.

• Where to stay: for the Samarkand Marathon and the Bukhara Night Race, stay within walking distance of the start (the Registan or the Ark) so you can walk to the start without depending on closed roads. Hotels near the start fill up first and raise prices on race weekend.
• Arrive early: at least two nights before a marathon, to recover from the flight and collect your race pack without stress.
• Weather: in early April and November expect cool mornings of 5–12 °C and mild days. In Bukhara in April the evening race is usually comfortable. In June and August the mountain races are the right choice; the plains are too hot for racing.
• Food: plov the day before is the local carb load, and is served at lunch. For dinner on race eve, lagman noodles or steamed manti are lighter.
• Sightseeing: keep it short and flat before the race and save the long walking days for afterwards. The Registan madrasahs, Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir are all within a short walk of each other.

After the race, a traditional hammam in Bukhara or a massage in Samarkand is the best way to loosen the legs before more sightseeing.

Race and travel with TourEast

We can plan your race weekend from arrival to finish: train tickets, a hotel near the start, help with registration and race-pack collection, a shake-out run with a guide and a massage afterwards, plus sightseeing at an easy pace. If you would rather run without a start number, our eight-day running tour links sunrise runs in Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand with a mountain trail day.