A ceremonial press conference was held on the occasion of the 39th Powerade Belgrade Marathon.

For the first time in its history, the Belgrade Marathon will take place over two days, on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. A ceremonial press conference was held at the Belgrade City Assembly on the occasion of the largest sporting event in Serbia.

The half marathon is scheduled to start on Saturday at 9:00 AM, while the 10 km race will take place the same day at 6:00 PM. The main event, the 42.195 km marathon race, will begin on Sunday at 8:00 AM. Approximately 14,500 participants from 79 countries are expected to take part.

This year’s 39th Powerade Belgrade Marathon serves as an introduction to the jubilee 40th edition, as well as to the European Running Championships over 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km, which will be held in the capital of Serbia in 2027. year. Additionally, this year the Belgrade Marathon will mark the beginning of the “Belgrade Family Days” event.

The Director of the Belgrade Marathon, Darko Habuš, stated that this is an event that is much more than a sporting competition—one that has been shaping the identity of our city for nearly four decades, bringing people together and sending a strong message about values such as health, unity, and perseverance.

“The Belgrade Marathon is one of the most important international events in Serbia. Every year, it brings together thousands of participants from more than 70 countries, but what makes it truly special is the energy of our citizens—that is the image of Belgrade we want to present to the world.”

Habuš also spoke about the economic significance of the Belgrade Marathon, presenting concrete data through a study that clearly demonstrates the real contribution of this sporting event to the economy of the city and the country.

“The study was conducted by professors from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Belgrade, and according to the data based on last year’s event, around €7.5 million is added to the city budget during the marathon weekend alone. This clearly shows that the event is not only a sporting occasion, but also a strong developmental and tourism asset for Belgrade.”

He particularly emphasized that organizing an event of this scale requires enormous dedication, coordination, and understanding from all stakeholders involved in the system:

“In that process, we often encounter challenges that slow us down, but at the same time motivate us even more to demonstrate how strongly we believe in the importance of this event. When you have an event that brings together tens of thousands of people, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and delivers tangible benefits to the city, it is clear that its development should be a shared goal for all of us.
That is why today we are not announcing just another race, but an event that belongs to this city and its people—an event that grows together with Belgrade and has rightfully been recognized as an event of exceptional importance for the City of Belgrade, as well as one of national significance.
Precisely for this reason, we believe that through the joint efforts of all of us—institutions, partners, and organizers—we can elevate it to an even higher level,” Habuš stated, thanking everyone who contributes through their work to making Belgrade each year the center of one of the most beautiful sporting events in this part of Europe.

Nikola Nikodijević, President of the Belgrade City Assembly, wished all participants of the marathon in the capital the best of luck.

“The Belgrade Marathon is one of the longest-running events in Serbia. It is of great importance for the city’s image. A large number of visitors from abroad will come, and this is not only a sporting event, but also an entertaining one that sends the most beautiful image of our city to the world,” said Nikodijević.

Darko Glavaš, City Secretary for Defense Affairs, Emergency Situations, and Coordination, spoke about the technical details related to the organization.

“The Belgrade Marathon is a massive logistical undertaking for us. Months of joint work are behind us, and the organization is the result of the synergy between city and state authorities. Around 2,500 people from all municipal services will be involved, taking care of everything.”

Glavaš pointed out that public transport routes will be modified.

“As many as 104 public transport lines will be rerouted, and 400 traffic police officers will be deployed at 100 intersections. There will also be 1,200 stewards ensuring that everything runs smoothly. We will install 2,500 traffic signs, and 100 vehicles will be positioned along the marathon route.
We have established 11 time cut-off points. The half marathon can last up to three hours, and the marathon up to six hours. A van will follow behind the last participant, and once it passes, normal city traffic will be restored.
We have created a system that benefits the organizers, promotes the capital, and above all serves our fellow citizens. I kindly ask the citizens of Belgrade to follow the rules, come out, and support the organization of the 39th Belgrade Marathon,” emphasized Glavaš.

Marko Kešelj, State Secretary for Sport, emphasized that the Belgrade Marathon symbolizes all the values that the Ministry of Sport stands for.

“We always recognize the importance of such events. Belgrade will once again be the capital of European and world sport. I wish that everyone who comes to our city and country takes home wonderful memories. I invite the citizens of Belgrade to take a walk during the two marathon days and help make this weekend even more special.”

All participants of the Belgrade Marathon will be able to visit museums in Belgrade free of charge, including: Princess Ljubica’s Residence, the Ivo Andrić Museum, the Belgrade City Museum Salon, the Zemun Homeland Museum, the Jovan Cvijić Museum, and the National Museum.

Support for the Belgrade Marathon was also provided by Nikola Penić, City Secretary for Sport; Jelena Medaković, City Secretary for Culture; and Isidora Lukić, organizer of the “Belgrade Family Days” event.