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International Marathon of Charleroi 2026

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Photo credits: christophe vandercam
Road Running
🏘️ In the city🏙 Capitals / Major Cities📰 Culture & History🗽 Exceptional Monuments👨‍🦽 Handisport
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The event in a few words

Finally a bit of freshness! 💇‍♀️ Straight from Belgium, in Charleroi, right in the heart of Wallonia, the International Marathon of Charleroi Metropole! Between us, you can just call it the Charleroi Marathon. On the program, four distances: a legendary marathon of 42 km, conforming and appealing, and a half-marathon, always there to accompany its twin 😉, a 10 km and a 5 km 🌱.

This third edition 🥉 promises to be historic for Charleroi: the city is blowing out its 360 candles! 💪 It's simple, the organizers have gone all out by highlighting local actors 👩‍🌾 and the rich and vast heritage 🏤. The watchword: an accessible and as non-monotonous as possible course! 🏃‍♂️ For this, they have organized a route on the paths of Wrave 🌳 and Halage 🛶 with entertainment 🤪 all along as well as complete refreshment points. Yum! 🍌 Besides passing through the heart of the city, you will also be invited to discover the surroundings, more rural and unique! The start is in the Bois de Cazier in commemoration of the miners lost in the disaster 🕯️. So quickly get your race number to honor the city and those who made its history 🎽.

When we know that Charleroi, the largest metropolis in Wallonia, is also the greenest city ☘️, it makes you want to visit! If you didn't know, there are still 17 parks and 37 km of hedgerows! 🌿 It's understandable that it's surprising when you learn its nickname is "Black Country"! But it has nothing to do with the scenery, it's simply because of the former coal mines 🔦 which began to disappear in the 1960s. Even if you won't risk venturing into an old mine, you'll have things to admire. If Belgians can boast about their renowned comic books 📓, many pencil virtuosos are from Charleroi 👨‍🎨. Their iconic characters adorn the city through statues. Plus, in June, you're rather lucky, the temperatures are mild ☀️. Especially if you're going to run a great marathon... 🌬️

To add another layer, Charleroi is a festive city 🌈. There's always something to celebrate, between the "Festival of Love" 💌, the "Seagull Festival" 🐦, "Greetings from the Pedal"... 🚴‍♀️ The International Marathon of Charleroi won't bore you! 👯‍♀️

5 reasons to join this race

The third edition 👏
Yes, it’s the third for the Charleroi Marathon, the first in the city's history! 🏃‍➡️ This year, it's also Charleroi's anniversary: 360 years, that's something! 🎂 So come blow out the city's candles and enjoy a special edition with t-shirts and medals made for this occasion 😎.
A city full of things to see 👀
We've told you already, you'll surely see statues of Marsupilami, Spirou and Fantasio, or Boule and Bill! 🧸 But you will also see Art Deco, classic and neo-classic architecture, you won't be bored in the largest metropolis of Wallonia. You don't need to be an art lover to appreciate it 😻.
City and greenery 🌿
Who doesn't love wonderful green spaces in the city? These places always bring some freshness to the concrete and asphalt. Charleroi, as the greenest city in Wallonia, has all the potential to appeal to nature lovers and those who love to run there 🍃.
Going to the Guindaille 🎆
A little Belgian expression simply meaning: "party time"! In Belgium, we know how to party, so get ready for a colorful weekend! ⚡
For the memory ✨
This event commemorates the miners lost in the Bois de Cazier disaster 🌳. A good reason to run for the memory of others 🧠.

Message from the organizer:

"The International Marathon of Charleroi is about effort, sharing... And above all, celebration! In Charleroi, we know how to run, we know how to thrill, but most importantly, we know how to celebrate together! That's the true wealth of our city."

A distance for every taste

Marathon

Road RunningThe most popular
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Road Running🏘️ In the city🏙 Capitals / Major Cities📰 Culture & History🗽 Exceptional Monuments👨‍🦽 Handisport
  • Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
  • Elevation gain : 260mD+
  • 1 loopx42.195 km

A few more words

The marathon will follow the same course as the half-marathon up to the commune of Goutroux 🏘️. You will pass by the old station 🚉 and then cross the Bois de la Charbonnière 🌲. You will head to the "ASH Monceau" Football field and will go to the commune of Wespes. Then you'll have to hold on because the "wall of the 30" will appear at the small commune of Aulne, lost in the middle of nature! 🌿 The return will be mostly smooth as you will run along the quays of Sambre to the finish line right in the center of Charleroi! 🏁

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

  • For registrations made before March 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM, personalized race numbers can be picked up from April 8 to April 22, 2026, at Trakks or Decathlon Charleroi stores.

  • For all registrations made after March 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM, personalized race numbers will be available at the marathon village on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 4 PM to 8 PM, or on Sunday starting at 6 AM.

  • On Saturday, April 25, 2026, there will be a booth at the marathon village from 4 PM to 8 PM (Place Verte). On the day of the event, race numbers can be picked up at the marathon village starting at 6 AM.

  • For the Charleroi Marathon: 9 AM

  • For the Charleroi Half Marathon: 9:30 AM

  • For the 10 km: 10:30 AM

  • For the 5 km: 10 AM

No, it's not required, but you must present a PPS certificate dated less than three months before the race date.

For the marathon and half marathon, participants must be at least 18 years old on the day of the event. Minors can participate with parental consent.

  • For the marathon: 6 hours 

  • For the half marathon: 3 hours

  • For the 10 km: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • For the 5 km: 45 minutes

There will be refreshment points every 5 km. Personal refreshments are also allowed. 

Marathon:

  • from 01/09/25 to 30/11/25: 60€

  • from 01/12/25 to 28/02/2026: 65€

  • from 01/03/26 to 23/04/26: 70€

Half marathon:

  • from 01/09/25 to 30/11/25: 30€

  • from 01/12/25 to 28/02/2026: 35€

  • from 01/03/26 to 23/04/26: 40€

10 km:

  • from 01/09/25 to 30/11/25: 10€

  • from 01/12/25 to 28/02/2026: 12€

  • from 01/03/26 to 23/04/26: 15€

5 km:

  • from 01/09/25 to 30/11/25: 8€

  • from 01/12/25 to 28/02/2026: 10€

  • from 01/03/26 to 23/04/26: 12€

Options:

  • Medal engraving: 8€

  • T-shirt: 25€

  • Cancellation insurance: 10€

  • Shuttle to the start: 2€

You can check the race rules here

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