Istanbul Marathon 2027: Date, Route, Bridge Closures

Short answer: The 2027 Istanbul Marathon, expected to be the 49th, has no date yet (checked 3 November 2026). The last four races were on the first Sunday of November: 5 November 2023, 3 November 2024, 2 November 2025 and 1 November 2026. If the pattern holds, that would be 7 November 2027, but it is a pattern, not an announcement. The 42K starts on the Asian side at the 15 July Martyrs (Bosphorus) Bridge, crosses to Europe and finishes in Sultanahmet Square. In 2026, 45,679 people from 143 countries registered and 42,301 took part; the bridge was closed to traffic from 03:00 until the afternoon. By yacht, the day is about crossing the water while the roads are shut, then a daytime cruise after the run.

Istanbul Marathon 2027 at a glance

What happened at the 2026 race

The 48th Istanbul Marathon ran on Sunday 1 November 2026: wheelchair race 08:45, 42K 09:00, 15.5K in three waves from 09:19, corporate run 10:32, public run 12:14 (NTV). The corporate run had the most registrations: 17,471.

According to NTV, Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba of Kenya won the men’s 42K in a course record of 2:08:44, and Kasanesh Ayenew Baze of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:24:40. First held in 1979, the race is a World Athletics Gold Label road race, and the press calls it the only marathon in the world run across two continents.

Route and bridge closures on race morning

In 2026 the 42K crossed the bridge from the Asian side, ran down through Beşiktaş and along the shore to Karaköy, crossed the Galata Bridge, followed Kennedy Caddesi out to Bakırköy and came back along the coast to Sultanahmet Square (NTV; bianet; Kısa Dalga).

Closures in 2026 (İstanbul Emniyet Müdürlüğü, the city police, via CNN Türk):

• From 03:00: the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and its connecting roads.
• From 06:00: the Eurasia Tunnel, the Galata Bridge in both directions and the course streets, including Kennedy Caddesi, Çırağan and Dolmabahçe, and Beşiktaş and Karaköy squares; on the Asian side Kısıklı and Abdullahağa streets towards Beylerbeyi.
• Planned reopening: the bridge at 14:00 in the police schedule (İETT’s notice gave 15:00), the tunnel at 15:00, the whole course at 15:30.
• Alternatives: the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim bridges.

Public transport in 2026 (İETT and Şehir Hatları notices, via CNBC-e): no metrobüs between Zincirlikuyu and Söğütlüçeşme while the bridge was closed; the T1 tram only between Bağcılar and Beyazıt from 07:00 to 17:00; some Şehir Hatları ferry trips cancelled on four lines, including Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü and Kadıköy–Beşiktaş. Ferries took 42K and 15.5K runners from Kabataş and Eminönü to the Asian-side start between 06:45 and 07:45 (CNN Türk). Runners and staff rode free from 06:00 to 17:00 with their bib or staff card. The authorities will announce the 2027 plan.

Race day by yacht

Crossing the strait. With the bridge and tunnel shut to cars, a private yacht can take supporters and company teams between the shores. Which piers work on race morning is not known in advance: in 2026 Karaköy and Beşiktaş squares, the Galata Bridge and the shore road were all closed. The piers (Karaköy, or another on request), the time and the route are agreed in the written quote once that year’s closures are published. We do not promise an arrival time, a pier near a finish area or a view of the runners.

A daytime cruise after the run. An afternoon cruise suits a team lunch or celebration once the running is done. In 2026 the course was due to reopen to traffic only at 15:30, so the pier and boarding time go in the written quote. For larger teams, see corporate events on a yacht (up to 200 guests with our partner fleet).

Watching the bridge from the water is possible only where the maritime authorities allow it; we never promise it.

Prices. Priced per yacht, not per seat: from €150 per hour (1 November–31 March: from €125), two-hour minimum. Up to 12 guests are included; each guest above 12 adds €25, once per charter. A team of 20 for three hours is €450 + €200 = €650, or €375 + €200 = €575 from 1 November to 31 March. Soft drinks are included; catering is quoted separately. Boarding is at Karaköy; other piers (Kuruçeşme, Bebek, Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Kadıköy) carry a distance-based surcharge. The written quote comes the same day, and a deposit of at least 30% confirms the date. Marathon day is a fixed-date event, so the cancellation terms are stated in the written quote.

Planning a marathon weekend

Early November 2027 is in the November section of our events calendar; for late October, including Republic Day on Friday 29 October (public holidays 2027), see Istanbul in October 2027. On a rest day, the shared sunset group tour runs for about two hours from Karaköy with an English-speaking live guide: €34 per person from 1 April to 31 October, €26 from 1 November to 31 March. Agencies: yacht charter for travel agents.

Every other 2027 date is in our Istanbul events calendar 2027.

Constantine Yachts is an independent yacht charter company, not affiliated with the Istanbul Marathon, Spor İstanbul, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) or Türkiye İş Bankası.

Page last updated 3 November 2026. Race facts checked against NTV, CNN Türk, CNBC-e, bianet and Kısa Dalga.

Istanbul Marathon 2027: Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Istanbul Marathon 2027?

Not announced yet (checked 3 November 2026). The 2023 to 2026 editions were all on the first Sunday of November; the 2026 race was on Sunday 1 November.

When does registration for the 2027 Istanbul Marathon open?

Not announced yet (checked 3 November 2026). In 2026 the 42K and 15.5K early-bird rate ended on 31 July and the standard rate ran to 13 October; the corporate run opened on 4 August and the free public run on 21 October (Evrensel; Fanatik). We do not handle race entries.

Where does the Istanbul Marathon start and finish?

The 42K starts on the Asian side at the 15 July Martyrs (Bosphorus) Bridge and finishes in Sultanahmet Square. In 2026 the 15.5K finished at Yenikapı and the 6.5K corporate and public runs at Dolmabahçe.

Which roads close on marathon day?

In 2026, according to İstanbul Emniyet Müdürlüğü, the bridge closed from 03:00, and the Eurasia Tunnel, the Galata Bridge and the course streets from 06:00. The bridge was due to reopen in the afternoon and the whole course at 15:30. The 2027 plan is not published yet.

How do you cross between Asia and Europe on marathon morning?

In 2026 drivers were sent to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim bridges, and some ferry trips were cancelled. A private yacht between the shores is available on request; the piers and time depend on that year’s closures and are agreed in the written quote.

Can we watch the runners on the bridge from a yacht?

Only where the maritime authorities allow it, and we never promise it. A daytime cruise after the run is the simpler plan.

How much is a private yacht on marathon weekend?

From €150 per hour for the whole yacht (1 November–31 March: from €125), two-hour minimum. Up to 12 guests are included; each extra guest adds €25, once per charter. Cancellation terms for marathon day are stated in the written quote.