It’s official: the jubilee 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival has set a historic record

A total of 40,219 people have registered for one of the weekend’s distances, and organizers have announced a full house for Sunday. At this scale, the event will be the largest mass-participation sports event ever held in Hungary.

Marathon sold out!

Registration for Sunday’s races at the 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival is now closed; only the Saturday festival distances can still be entered on site. The enormous interest in the two-day event on October 11–12 sets a new benchmark for mass participation sport in Hungary. While the previous record was 33,500 participants, today’s 40,000+ pre-entry figure opens a whole new dimension.

“We are indescribably proud and happy. When pre-registration closed and we saw the final number, a dream of a decade came true. ‘40,000 at the 40th’ is more than a slogan; it’s a shared success we achieved together with the Hungarian running community. This historic record is the result of their trust and enthusiasm over many years. Our thanks go to every single entrant, to the Capital, to our partners and to our title sponsor SPAR, who have supported the event for 17 years. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone in sports history together as one huge community this weekend,”
said Árpád Kocsis, Managing Director of the organizing Budapest Sport Office (BSI).

The 40,000-strong entry figure is more than a statistic; it also reflects a positive social trend. In recent years, running has become one of the most important tools of a health-conscious lifestyle in Hungary, with BSI’s long-standing events playing a key role in this process. The record participation shows that more and more people are recognizing the benefits of regular exercise, and that large community events have become true celebrations where tens of thousands can experience the euphoria of sporting achievement together.

“Over forty years, the SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival has become one of the most important symbols of Hungarian mass-participation sport. We are proud that SPAR Hungary has been part of this story for seventeen years and can actively contribute to helping more and more people discover the joy of running and a mindful lifestyle. We will continue to work to make health-conscious choices natural for as many people as possible—whether in sport or in nutrition,”
said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary.

Across the two days, the organizers have something for all ages and fitness levels: from shorter family runs to the 10 km and the classic marathon, everyone can find their ideal challenge. The event center, start and finish will—as tradition dictates—be located on Pázmány Péter sétány by the ELTE Lágymányosi Campus, and runners will once again discover the most beautiful parts of Budapest on a stunning route that also takes in UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Budapest Sport Office warmly welcomes everyone this weekend who wants to be part of this historic sporting event—whether as a runner or a supporter. Let’s celebrate the joy of movement together at Hungary’s largest running festival to date!