10th Carnival Marathon (Carnival Marathon Cologne-Pesch)

The 10. Karneval-Marathon (Carnival Marathon Köln-Pesch) will be held on 11 November 2026 on the outskirts of Cologne. The event keeps its characteristic carnival atmosphere with a traditional 11:11 start and invites participants to run in costume while supporting local carnival societies.

The race is run at Köln-Pesch around the Pescher See on a paved 2.7 km loop that passes through a nature reserve and returns to the playground at the lake for the start/finish area. Timing is manual and laps are counted by volunteers, so participants are asked to cooperate with lap counters and race officials throughout the day. The finish line closes at 17:00 on race day.

Entry is by email. There is a fixed start fee of €44.44 and the entry deadline is 1 November 2026; after costs the remaining proceeds are donated to Cologne carnival societies to help preserve local tradition. The field is deliberately limited (up to 50 participants). The fee includes food and drink before, during and after the race (including Kölsch), a unique Finisher Carnival Medal, and PDFs of certificate and results sent by email. Basic facilities such as changing rooms and showers are provided at the nearby clubhouse; parking is available in nearby residential areas.