Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, is one of the country's most active running destinations. This guide covers every upcoming running event in Thessaloniki 2026 — trail races on Mount Chortiatis, road races along the coast, a half marathon in Thessaloniki, the iconic Alexander the Great Marathon, and the Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon in autumn. Whether you're looking for a 10km race in Thessaloniki, a challenging trail run, or a family-friendly 5km, there's a race for every level.

Upcoming Running Events in Thessaloniki (2026)

14th Chortiatis Trail Run – March 1, 2026

Location: Chortiatis Distances: 24km | 10km Entry fee: €20 (24km) / €10 (10km) Registration: smfsports.gr

The 14th Chortiatis Trail Run takes place on the slopes of Mount Chortiatis, the forested mountain that towers over Thessaloniki to the east. The 24km course covers serious terrain with significant elevation gain through pine forests, while the 10km option is a good entry point into trail running in the region. Chortiatis village sits at around 650 metres altitude with sweeping views over the city and the Thermaic Gulf.

3rd Platanakia Ecological Route – March 15, 2026

Location: Panorama, Thessaloniki Distance: 10.2km Trail Run Entry fee: €14

The 3rd Platanakia Ecological Route follows natural paths through the green belt above Panorama, the hilltop suburb east of Thessaloniki with some of the best views of the city. A scenic, accessible trail run in Thessaloniki just 15 minutes from the city centre.

Thermaikos Coastal Half Marathon & Road Races – March 29, 2026

Location: Thermaikos (coastal municipality south of Thessaloniki) Distances: Half Marathon 21.1km | Gold Run 10km | Fun Run 5km | Family Social Mile Registration: thermaikoshalfmarathon.org

A full programme of road races in Thessaloniki along the Thermaic Gulf. The flagship event is the 3rd Thermaikos Coastal Half Marathon – Antonis Matzaris, a flat coastal half marathon in Thessaloniki ideal for fast times, dedicated to the memory of local runner Antonis Matzaris. Alongside it: the Thermaikos Gold Run (10km), the Thermaikos Fun Run (5km), and the Thermaikos Family Social Mile.

Sougliani Trail 2026 – April 5, 2026

Location: Stavros, Thessaloniki Distances: Stratoniko Trail 50km | Sougliani Trail 25km | Sougliani Path 13km | Race 5km | Kids 1km (free) Registration: fosstavrou.gr/trail

The Sougliani Trail takes place near Stavros on the shore of the Strimonikos Gulf. The headline is the Stratoniko Trail Ultra at 50km, with options from 5km to 25km for all levels. Dense forest, mountain terrain, and a remote coastal setting — one of the standout trail races in the Thessaloniki region.

20th Alexander the Great International Marathon – April 26, 2026

Location: Start: Pella → Finish: Thessaloniki Distances: Marathon 42.195km | 10km | 5km | Children's 1km (free) Registration: atgm.gr

The Alexander the Great International Marathon celebrates its 20th edition in 2026 — the flagship marathon in Thessaloniki and one of the most established long-distance races in northern Greece. The point-to-point course starts in ancient Pella, birthplace of Alexander, and finishes in the heart of Thessaloniki. The event also fields a 10km race, a 5km, and a free children's 1km.

Sohos Mountain Games Season 2 – May 10, 2026

Location: Sohos, Thessaloniki Distances: 30km Trail | 10km Trail | 5km Fun Run | Kids 1 Mile Entry fees: €30 (30km) / €20 (10km) / €12 (5km) / Free (Kids) Registration: sohosmountaingames.gr

The Sohos Mountain Games return for their second season in the village of Sohos, high in the mountains northeast of Thessaloniki. Mid-May timing means fully green mountain meadows and forests. Sohos sits at over 800 metres altitude, surrounded by beech and oak forests. Four distances cover everyone from ultra-trail runners to children.

4th Axios Running Festival – May 17, 2026

Location: Koufalia, Thessaloniki Distances: Half Marathon 21.097km | 10km | 5km | 1 Mile Registration deadline: May 1, 2026 Registration: evest.gr Organizer: axiosrunningfestival.org

The 4th Axios Running Festival is an AIMS member international half marathon with World Athletics certified courses across all distances. Every race is point-to-point, all finishing at the Military Museum of the Balkan Wars (Topsin):

• Half Marathon (8:30): Koufalia Town Hall → Topsin, 21.097km
• 10km (9:00): Prochoma → Topsin, World Athletics certified
• 5km (10:30): Macedonian Tomb of Agios Athanasios → Topsin, World Athletics certified
• 1 Mile (12:00): Gefyra Municipal Athletic Center → Topsin, family health run

Organised by the Municipality of Chalkidona and the Vathylakkos Hephaestus Athletic Gymnastics Club, under the auspices of the Region of Central Macedonia. Registration closes May 1.

Thessaloniki Monuments Run! – June 14, 2026

Location: Thessaloniki city centre Distance: 5.6km Road Race

The Thessaloniki Monuments Run is a 5.6km road race through central Thessaloniki, connecting the city's most significant monuments — Byzantine churches, the Roman Rotunda, the White Tower. A shorter, accessible event ideal for those who want to experience Thessaloniki's history at a running pace.

Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon – October 17, 2026

Location: Thessaloniki waterfront Distances: Half Marathon 21.097km | 10km Power Walking | 5km Power Walking | 1 Mile Status: Details pending – date confirmed

The Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon 2026 is the city's iconic autumn race — a night half marathon in Thessaloniki along the illuminated waterfront with the White Tower as backdrop. One of the most atmospheric running events in Thessaloniki of the year. Power walking categories at 10km and 5km, plus a mile. Full details to be announced.

Trail Races Near Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki sits at the edge of some excellent mountain terrain. The top trail running events near Thessaloniki in 2026 are:

• Chortiatis Trail Run (March 1) — 24km and 10km on the mountain directly above the city, accessible for day runners and a great early-season race.
• Platanakia Ecological Route (March 15) — a 10.2km trail through the Panorama green belt, close to the city centre.
• Sougliani Trail (April 5) — the most technical and remote option, with a 50km ultra near Stavros in the Chalkidiki hinterland.
• Sohos Mountain Games (May 10) — 30km and 10km in the beech forests above Sohos, northeast of the city.

Spring conditions (March–May) are generally ideal: cooler temperatures, green forests, and lower trail traffic than summer.

Road & City Races in Thessaloniki

For road races in Thessaloniki, 2026 has strong options across all distances:

• Half marathon: Thermaikos Coastal Half Marathon (March, flat seafront), Axios Running Festival (May, AIMS/World Athletics certified), Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon (October, night race on the waterfront).
• 10km: Thermaikos Gold Run (March), Alexander the Great 10km (April), Axios 10km (May).
• 5km: Thermaikos Fun Run, Axios 5km, Thessaloniki Monuments Run (5.6km through the historic centre).
• Marathon: Alexander the Great Marathon (April), point-to-point from ancient Pella to Thessaloniki city centre, in its 20th year.

The Thermaikos coast and the Axios valley both offer flat, fast courses suited to personal records.

How to Plan Your Thessaloniki Running Season

The Thessaloniki running calendar 2026 runs from March through October. A few things worth knowing:

• Spring (March–May) is the busiest period, with seven events — ideal conditions with cooler temperatures than Athens and lush surroundings.
• Registration deadlines vary significantly. The Axios Running Festival closes May 1 — well before race day. Check individual event pages early.
• Mixed weekends: some events like the Thermaikos races and Axios offer multiple distances on the same day, making them good options for groups or families running at different levels.
• Autumn: the Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon in October stands alone as a single major event — a strong way to close the year.

Check each event page for full course details, start times, and current registration status.