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Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo

Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race photo
Union Glacier
AQ
Race date in 72 days
Dec 13, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Union Glacier · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
US$22,500Varies by event and entry period
2026Date Dec 13, 2026 · Open
2025Date Dec 13, 2025
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This is the world's most extreme marathon, held at the southernmost point on Earth.

Runners race across snow and ice at Union Glacier Camp near 80° south latitude, in howling winds with a wind-chill of -20°C.

Reached by chartered flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, simply finishing this race is a badge of honor for life.

The 2026 race is on December 13.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

8 race reports
StephRan in 2023
“The Antarctic Ice Marathon was completed on the original planned date December 13, 2023.”

As a 2023 participant, Steph recorded how the flights and race schedule, which depended on the weather, went ahead as planned, along with the scenery they saw after arriving at Union Glacier.

Glenn RushRan in 2023 · Finish time 06:53:00
“By the time I crossed the line, my left arm was pretty much frozen.”

The runner ran 42.2 km in below-freezing temperatures, wearing three layers of clothing, gloves, and a beanie at the beginning. In the second half, the wind and snow intensified, making it difficult to breathe, and the runner lost feeling in the arms, but finished in 6 hours 53 minutes.

Rick KopfRan in 2023
“This was not a race for time; it was a race just to do it.”

Rick Kopf completed the 2023 Antarctic Ice Marathon. It was a snow-and-ice course consisting of four laps of a 6.5-mile course, and he said that the goal was the challenge itself rather than a running time.

Chris BoundyRan in 2022 · Finish time 5:22
“The entire course is on a snow covered glacier, making the terrain difficult to run on and producing much slower than normal finish times.”

Chris Boundy took part in the 2022 Union Glacier race and finished in 5:22. He wrote that the snow-covered glacier course led to a slower time than usual.

Brett ClarkRan in 2022 · Finish time 05:17:18
“What I underestimated the most was the softness underfoot.”

Brett Clark ran across snow-covered glacier terrain at the 2022 Antarctic Ice Marathon. The soft surface made the 42K feel like running on sand, and despite cramps, he finished 15th in 5:17:18.

Dhananjay YellurkarRan in 2018
“My body was screaming stop.”

The runner took part in the Antarctic Ice Marathon after being ill before the race. In the snowstorm and low visibility, the runner alternated between running and walking at first, then walked for most of the second half and finished within the time limit.

Javier Castro GuineaRan in 2016 · Finish time 7:02:14
“Without exaggerating, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Javier Castro Guinea took part in the 2016 Union Glacier race and finished in 7:02:14. He described the Antarctic scenery and the bonds that formed between runners and race staff during the event as an unforgettable experience.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Puedo decir sin exagerar que ha sido una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida.

Read the original on Basurde Xiao Long
Johnny BlairFinish time 4:53
“The Ice Marathon ‘track’ is of course just on snow and ice.”

Johnny Blair wrote about running the Ice Marathon course alone at Union Glacier. He ran four laps of the 10 km course on snow and ice. His running time was recorded as 4 hours 53 minutes, but he stated that the actual elapsed time, including rest breaks, was approximately 6 hours 30 minutes.

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

2025 Full recap

Runbuk · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Time limit10 hours
Show more

10 hours (full marathon time limit)

The start time and cut-off follow the official announcement (checked 2026.7) — re-check on the official page before entering.

US$22,500
Marathon Entry fee — Package fare including round-trip flights and accommodation and meals (early full-payment rate: US$21,900)

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Union Glacier, Antarctica

Cut-off
full 10h · half 6h · source https://www.icemarathon.com/registration

Participant benefits

Medical support

Marathon · Half

Water stations

Marathon · Half

Aid stations

Marathon · Half

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Pre-briefing held in Punta Arenas, Chile before departure for Antarctica (moving to Antarctica on 12/10 and 12/12 based on 2026 itinerary).
Before leaving Punta Arenas, undergo a winter clothing suitability test.
Separate expo or bib pickup location and time are not specified on the official page.

Chile Punta Arenas pre-briefing

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No public transit exists in Antarctica

Start/finish is at the Union Glacier camp, Antarctica.

All access is via chartered flights: runners fly from Punta Arenas, Chile to Union Glacier on a logistics-operator aircraft (Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions).

This is a unique expedition-style event with no conventional local transit;

access is entirely via organizer-arranged charter logistics from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Getting to the finish

Same as start (Union Glacier camp) — no conventional transit applicable

Finish is at the same Union Glacier camp location as the start.

Road closures

Entry fee Includes round trip to Punta Arenas Airport and round trip flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, maximum 25 kg of checked baggage

More details

The entry fee (USD $22,500) includes round-trip charter flights Punta Arenas–Antarctica,

ground transfers to/from Punta Arenas airport, and all in-camp logistics —

functioning as the 'shuttle' for this event.

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

This event is an expedition program that includes round-trip flights to Antarctica and camp accommodation and meals in the Entry fee.

You need more than 1 year to prepare, so plan early.

Katabatic winds are more dangerous than the cold.

Training in windproof and insulating layers and trail shoes with grip on ice is essential.

The official equipment guidance recommends bringing spare upper- and lower-body base layers so you can change out of wet clothing,

as well as an extra pair of gloves and socks.

Check in advance that your running shoes have enough room for your feet when you wear thick socks.

Goggles or sports sunglasses are also included in the official equipment list.

Hand warmers for keeping your feet warm are also recommended equipment from the organizer.

Times are local to Union Glacier. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Total cost and budget for Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Union Glacier runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026

FAQ
When does Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, December 13, 2026 in Union Glacier, Antarctica.

How do I register for Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026?

Entry routes: Tour package. Registration is handled on the official website.

How much is the Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 entry fee?

From $22,500, depending on the event and registration period.

What is the time limit for Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026?

10 hours (full marathon time limit).

What distances does Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 offer?

Marathon · Half.

What are the Antarctic Ice Marathon 2026 cut-off times?

full 10h · half 6h · source https://www.icemarathon.com/registration.

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