Antalya Marathon 2026 Results: Söylemez and Evgrafova Win as Runtalya Celebrates 20 Years on the Mediterranean

The 20th anniversary edition of the Runtalya Marathon delivered a spectacular day of running, community, and celebration on Sunday, 5 April 2026, as over 10,000 runners took to the Mediterranean coastline of Antalya for Turkey’s biggest lifestyle marathon. The sold-out event saw Turkey’s Üzeyir Söylemez claim the men’s marathon title in 2:25:40, while Ekaterina Evgrafova won the women’s race in 2:58:30.

Across the marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances, the three-day sports festival — complete with a pasta party, shakeout run, kids’ race, and closing concert — once again proved why Runtalya has become one of the most popular destination races in the Mediterranean region.

Men’s Marathon: Söylemez Runs Clear

Üzeyir Söylemez produced a commanding performance to take the men’s title, crossing the finish line at the Antalya Culture Center in 2:25:40 — comfortably clear of the chasing pack. Kirill Karpov was over 13 minutes back in second place with 2:39:07, while Turkey’s Murat Kaya completed the podium in 2:47:52.

The men’s top 10 reflected the international character of Runtalya, with runners from Turkey, Russia, China, France, and Moldova filling the positions. China’s Yusheng Ni was a strong fourth in 2:48:35, while France’s Pierre-Alain Bouffandeau rounded out the top five in 2:52:58.

Men’s Marathon — Top 10

Women’s Marathon: Evgrafova Breaks Three Hours

Ekaterina Evgrafova delivered the standout women’s performance, becoming the only female marathon finisher to break the three-hour barrier with a winning time of 2:58:30. It was a composed display over the full 42.195 km, holding a steady pace along the Mediterranean coastline to finish well clear of the field.

Iuliia Demirdzhi took second place in 3:04:16, with Natalia Kahraman just 21 seconds further back in third with 3:04:37 — a tight battle for the remaining podium spots. Valentina Matkina was fourth in 3:09:38, while Iran’s Aylar Ghazvini completed the top five in 3:21:25.

Women’s Marathon — Top 10

The Course: 42 km Along the Mediterranean

The Runtalya Marathon course is one of the most scenic in the Mediterranean running calendar. Starting and finishing at the Antalya Culture Center on Sakıp Sabancı Bulvarı, the flat, fast out-and-back route follows the stunning Antalya coastline, offering panoramic views of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea from one end of the city to the other.

Runners pass through the historic Kaleiçi (Old Town) district, along the palm-lined promenades, and past Antalya’s famous beaches. The mostly flat profile — with just some gentle undulations on the return leg — makes it an ideal course for personal bests and a favourite among runners looking for a fast early-season marathon in warm conditions.

With April temperatures typically between 15–26°C and clear skies, the weather in Antalya offers a welcome contrast to the cooler spring conditions of most European marathons — though runners need to manage the heat, particularly in the second half of the race.

20 Years of Runtalya: From 850 Runners to a Sold-Out Festival

The 2026 edition marked a major milestone: 20 years since the first Runtalya Marathon was staged in 2006 with just 850 participants and a vision of combining sport with Turkish tourism. Two decades later, the race has grown into Turkey’s biggest lifestyle marathon and a sold-out international event attracting over 10,000 runners from around the world.

Runtalya has always been more than just a race. The three-day sports festival kicked off on Friday with the Runtalya Village opening and race kit distribution at Cam Piramit AKM, followed by the traditional pasta party and the Little Steps kids’ run on Saturday. A shakeout run by Asics gave marathon entrants one last chance to loosen the legs before Sunday’s main event, which also featured a CISM military race alongside the civilian marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K.

As an AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) member event, Runtalya meets international standards for course measurement and race organisation — a point of pride for the organisers who have built the event from a small regional race into a globally recognised spring marathon destination.

A Truly International Field

One of Runtalya’s defining features is its diverse, international participant base. The 2026 marathon results alone featured runners from Turkey, Russia, China, France, Moldova, Iran, Germany, and Hungary in the top 10 — a snapshot of the race’s appeal as a destination event that combines a serious running challenge with a Mediterranean holiday.

The atmosphere along the course reflected this international mix, with spectators and supporters from dozens of countries lining the coastal route and the finish area at the Antalya Culture Center buzzing with post-race celebrations, music, and the closing concert that has become a Runtalya tradition.

Key Takeaways from Antalya Marathon 2026

• 20th anniversary milestone: From 850 runners in 2006 to a sold-out field of 10,000+ in 2026, Runtalya’s growth into Turkey’s biggest running event is a remarkable success story.
• Söylemez dominates: Üzeyir Söylemez’s 2:25:40 was a commanding men’s victory, finishing over 13 minutes clear of second place — one of the most dominant wins in Runtalya history.
• Evgrafova’s sub-3: Ekaterina Evgrafova was the only woman to break three hours, with her 2:58:30 a strong performance on a warm Mediterranean course.
• Tight women’s battle for 2nd: Just 21 seconds separated Demirdzhi (3:04:16) and Kahraman (3:04:37) in the fight for the remaining podium spots.
• Global appeal: Runners from around the world filled the top 10 in both races, confirming Runtalya’s reputation as one of the Mediterranean’s premier destination marathons.
• More than a race: The three-day festival format — with kids’ runs, pasta party, expo village, shakeout run, and closing concert — makes Runtalya a complete running weekend experience.

What’s Next?

With the 20th anniversary edition in the books, Runtalya is already looking ahead. The event continues to grow year on year, and for runners seeking a flat, scenic marathon in warm spring conditions — combined with the chance to explore one of Turkey’s most beautiful coastal cities — Antalya remains one of the best-value destination marathons on the calendar. Keep an eye on the official Runtalya site for 2027 dates and early-bird registration.

Full official results including all finishers and all distances are available on the PlusTiming results page.