Kathmandu Marathon
The Lowdown
The Kathmandu Marathon is Nepal's biggest city marathon, starting and finishing at Dasarath Rangashala (Dasarath Stadium) in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. First held in 2007, the 2026 edition is the 18th running and is organized by NRS Sports Foundation Pvt. Ltd. as a full AIMS-member event, held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with a 5:30 AM start (5:00 AM reporting). The full marathon course loops through central Kathmandu, passing Bode and Maharajgunj before finishing near Bhadrakali, while the half marathon follows a similar but notably flatter route. Alongside the 42.195 km marathon, runners can choose a half marathon (21.0975 km), 10K, 5K Open, 5K College, 3K Open, 3K School, or a non-competitive 3K Family Run, with separate age-group Masters (40+, 50+, 60+) categories in the longer distances. The event has drawn tens of thousands of runners from roughly 20 countries in recent editions. Bib and race-kit collection runs October 2-3, 2026, ahead of race day, and every finisher receives an e-certificate and finisher's medal. Registration is open now through official race partners and the organizer's Runner Portal; marathon entry currently costs NPR 1,500 for Nepali runners (rising to NPR 2,500 in the final week, September 1-7) and USD 100 for international entrants (USD 120 in the final week), with a discounted SAARC/Expat tier also available. The event has carried a bank title sponsor in recent years (branded the Siddhartha Bank Kathmandu Marathon), a sponsorship that has varied, so this record uses the event's consistent neutral name.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Major marathon
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Dasarath Rangashala / Dasarath Stadium (start/finish)
Tripureshwor
Bode
Maharajgunj
Bhadrakali
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Dasarath Rangashala (Dasarath Stadium), Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal
NP
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Open category: age 18+
- Masters categories: 40+, 50+, 60+
Required Documents
- Valid government ID or passport with date of birth
Entry Methods
- Online via the official Runner Portal (kathmandumarathon.com.np/member-login)
- Official race partners
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Registration fees are generally non-refundable and non-transferable per standard South Asian city-marathon organizer policy; no explicit cancellation/refund clause was published on the official site (llm_estimate, needs browser fetch of Terms and Conditions page).
First held in 2007; 2026 is the 18th edition.
Organized by NRS Sports Foundation Pvt. Ltd., based in Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Full AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) member event.
Recent editions have carried the title sponsor Siddhartha Bank (branded 'Siddhartha Bank Kathmandu Marathon'), a sponsorship that has varied year to year.
Every finisher receives an e-certificate and finisher's medal.
October falls in Nepal's dry post-monsoon season with clear skies, cool mornings, and possible morning mist or urban dust.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

