The 2026 Dead Sea Land Marathon reaches capacity, hosting 8,000 runners across six distances
Registration for the Dead Sea Land Marathon, scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2026, has closed after all 8,000 places were filled approximately two months ahead of race day, according to organisers. The seventh edition of the race will include the Israeli Ultra-Marathon Championship for the 50 km distance and is expected to draw participants across six race categories.
The race will start at 6:15 a.m., with the starting area located between the northern and southern hotel zones of Ein Bokek. Organisers said the start point has been revised compared with previous years due to tourism development in the area. The course includes a section along salt embankments associated with the Dead Sea Works infrastructure in the southern Dead Sea, an area that organisers said is accessible to runners during the event.
Six distances are scheduled for the 2026 edition: 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 21.1 km (half marathon), 42.2 km (marathon), and 50 km. The half-marathon is dedicated to the memory of Tomer and Giora Ron of blessed memory, sons of Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Cash prizes will be awarded to the overall winners in the three longest races. Organisers also stated that military, security, police, and reserve service running groups are expected to participate.
The Race is organised by the Tamar Regional Council, with support from Dead Sea Works (ICL), the Israel Ministry of Tourism, and execution by the Dead Sea Government Company and the Dead Sea Drainage Authority. The event evolved out of the historic Ein Gedi Race, which organisers said hosted runners for more than 30 years and was a regular fixture on Israel’s annual race calendar.
The race has previously been ranked first among the “9 Most Unique Races in the World” by the international running magazine The Running Week. Due to high demand, organisers said a waiting list has been opened via the marathon’s official website.
Nir Wenger, Head of Tamar Regional Council, said, “The Dead Sea Land Marathon, now in its seventh year, has become an important and exciting tradition. Its popularity continues to grow thanks to the breathtaking routes and unique experience it offers. This is a great opportunity to combine sport, nature, and culture, and to run in one of the most extraordinary locations in Israel. Our area offers the perfect combination of stunning landscapes, magnificent natural sites, and a variety of tourist attractions. This year, as the Tamar Regional Council celebrates its 70th anniversary, the event carries an even greater significance. I invite all runners to join the celebrations and be part of this unforgettable sporting event.”
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