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BINGO Banja Luka Maraton

Name: Heros of Banja Luka, 2nd Banja Luka marathon - Heroji Banjaluke, 2. Banja Luka maraton
Uploaded: 2022-11-15
Description: The BINGO Banja Luka Marathon is held every autumn in Banja Luka, a city in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and follows the Vrbas River as it crosses the city. Alongside the full marathon and hal

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

BAOct 25, 2026200M · 42.2km · 21.1km +2 more events

Vasyatka1 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Race date in 17 days: Oct 25, 2026 Sun
City · Distance: Banja Luka · 200M · 42.2km · 21.1km +2 more events
Entry fee: $20Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSun, February 1, 2026 ~ Sat, October 24, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

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

The BINGO Banja Luka Marathon is held every autumn in Banja Luka,

a city in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and follows the Vrbas River as it crosses the city.

Alongside the full marathon and half marathon, the event features several other races, including a 10K and relay, as well as Kids Run.

The 2026 edition will be the sixth.

As an AIMS-certified course, it is also a suitable flat course for runners targeting a Boston Marathon qualifying time or taking on the personal best challenge.

Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second-largest city with a population of around 180,000, is home to historic architecture throughout its centre.

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.

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

Race reports: 2

Sanja KavazRan in 2015 · Finish time 1:48:25

“Honestly, I couldn't have run any better than that. My time was 1 hour 48 minutes 25 seconds.”

At the inaugural Banja Luka half marathon in 2015, the runner comfortably held the target pace for the first 11 km before finishing in the heat in 1 hour 48 minutes 25 seconds. Although short of the 1 hour 45 minute goal, a new personal best brought confidence for the next challenge.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Realno, ja nisam mogla bolje, 1:48:25.

Read the original on Trčim jer štrčim

JenaFinish time 2:09:18

“I was surprised to see so many people standing out all along the route, cheering and clapping for every runner that they saw.”

Despite stomach pain and dehydration from the day before the Banja Luka half marathon, the runner started slowly and ran with encouragement from spectators and fellow runners. They kept going after slowing in the second half and finished in 2 hours 9 minutes 18 seconds.

Read the original on Banja Lane

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.

Heros of Banja Luka, 2nd Banja Luka marathon - Heroji Banjaluke, 2. Banja Luka maraton

Vladimir Selec

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 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.

General entry

Entry cost $20

Online registration through RunSignup or on-site payment at PRINTEX in Banja Luka.

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:30

Time limit6 hours

Full marathon 6 hours

Event	Start	Time limit
Maraton 42,2 km42.195km	08:30	6h
Polumaraton 21,1 km21.0975km	08:30	3h
10K10km	08:30	1h 30m
EFT Dream Team 2x5K10km	08:30	—

START

Trg Krajine, Banja Luka

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Kastel Fortress (Summer Stage), Banja Luka

The race starts at Trg Krajine, Banja Luka’s central square, and finishes inside Kastel Fortress, a medieval fortress about 700 metres away.

Participants in the full marathon and half marathon pass through central streets lined with historic buildings,

then run an out-and-back section through a narrow riverside valley along the Vrbas, passing tree-lined avenues and green spaces.

The course includes some gently rolling sections but is generally close to flat, making it a popular course among runners chasing a personal best.

The finish at Kastel Fortress is one of the event’s signature features, taking runners through the finish enclosed by the fortress walls.

Typical race-season temperature: around 12°C (54°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

As a rule, there is no race-day distribution.
Participants from outside the area can request pickup in advance at info@runandmore.org and collect it up to one hour before the start.
However, the publicly available pickup schedule is based on the May edition, so whether it applies to the October race has not been confirmed.

Sportski kompleks Banja Luka Arena

Olimpijskih pobjednika, Park Mladen Stojanović, Banja Luka

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

Pay cash (convertible marks, BAM) directly to the bus driver when boarding — contactless bank cards are not reliably accepted, so don't count on tapping a card.

Getting to the start

Start is at Trg Krajine, the main city-center square of Banja Luka, walkable from downtown hotels.

Start time 8:30am for all races except the Bambini kids' race.

Both start (Trg Krajine) and finish (Kastel) are in the compact city center within walking distance of downtown accommodation.

Getting to the finish

Kastel Fortress, about 700 meters from the start.

Race-day bag storage and changing facilities provided at Kastel fortress.

Runners/spectators can walk between start and finish.

More details

No shuttle or parking information found in the official FAQ or race pages.

More details

Tickets are bought straight from the driver on boarding;

carry small BAM bills/coins since drivers may not have change.

A 2025 traveler report describes being refused when attempting contactless payment.

Multi-day tourist passes aren't a common thing here — pay-per-ride cash is standard.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

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.

Packet Pickup and baggage drop-off are handled inside Kastel Fortress, while the start is at Trg Krajine Square.

The official FAQ lists different locations for Packet Pickup in its local-language and English versions,

so once inside the fortress, check the signs or ask an event official where to collect it.

Participants who do not live in Banja Luka may also collect their materials on race morning,

but collecting them the day before is more convenient and reduces travel on race day.

The changing area and gear check are near the summer stage inside the fortress.

After changing, hand your bag to a volunteer and collect it after finishing using your bib.

Only participants with bib may enter the start area.

You also need bib for results verification, so attach it where it is clearly visible on your chest.

After passing through finish, collect finisher medal and water, then continue walking outside the finish area.

Additional food and drinks are provided beyond that point.

If you feel unwell, tell course or a volunteer at an aid station.

The volunteer will contact the medical team.

Times are local to Banja Luka. 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.

Accommodation · 115m

9.8/10(13)

View on Booking.com

Central Square Apartment

Accommodation · 62m

9.7/10(118)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

Zagreb: Walking Tour to Discover the City's Authentic Side

₩16,385

View on GetYourGuide

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map Seeing Banja Luka with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Yesim Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

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

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Banja Luka runners' room

FAQ

When does BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, October 25, 2026 in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

How much is the BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 entry fee?

From $20, depending on the event and registration period.

What is the time limit for BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026?

Full marathon 6 hours.

What distances does BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 offer?

Marathon.

What time does BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:30.

Where does BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 start?

Trg Krajine, Banja Luka.

Where does BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 finish?

Kastel Fortress (Summer Stage), Banja Luka.

When does registration for BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026 open?

Registration runs from Sun, February 1, 2026 to Sat, October 24, 2026.

What transit card do I need for BINGO Banja Luka Maraton 2026?

Pay cash (convertible marks, BAM) directly to the bus driver when boarding — contactless bank cards are not reliably accepted, so don't count on tapping a card.

(From the 2025 edition)

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BINGO Banja Luka Maraton

About BINGO Banja Luka Maraton — what makes it special

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

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run