About Polar Circle Marathon — what makes it special
ABOUT THE RACE
A day you'll remember, long past the finish line.
An extreme race above the Arctic Circle in Greenland,
billed as "the coolest marathon on Earth." You run past the glaciers and tundra of Kangerlussuaq and over snow-covered gravel roads,
through what feels like a silent Arctic desert.
The 2026 race is Saturday, October 24 (full) and Sunday, October 25 (half marathon).
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.
Polar Circle Marathon runner reviews and race reports
Stories from runners who've been there.
From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.
Race reports: 6
teessidewandererRan in 2024 · Finish time 05:58:00
“I completed in 5 hours and 58 minutes exactly.”
In around -10°C, this runner crossed ice cap and glacier sections on Greenland's course. Spikes and cold-weather gear were a must early on, and they had to plan for frozen drinks and the cold. The glacier and lake views, the marshals' support, and finish leading up the airport stairs stood out, and they finished in 5 hours 58 minutes.
“Polar Circle marathon was a very hilly, treacherous marathon in one of the most inhospitable parts of the world.”
The runner wrote about the experience at the 2023 Greenland race, including the snow-and-ice course and hills following the ice-sheet section, as well as the strain on the runner's feet when wearing spikes.
“I crossed the line in 3hr17mins and first place out of the 139 who finished.”
Neill Weir ran the 2015 Polar Circle Marathon in conditions that felt close to -30°C, over ice, snow and gravel. He finished in 3 hours 17 minutes, placing first among 139 runners, and completed the Polar Bear Challenge by running the half marathon the next day.
“Running on the ice sheet was a unique and special experience that I could not compare with anything else.”
Kristina Schou Madsen ran across the Greenland ice sheet and through snow and ice at the 2014 Polar Circle Marathon. Her 21K split was 2:13:00. The cold and tough terrain made for an extremely demanding race, and she ultimately finished 4th among the women and 29th overall.
Quoted from the original · translated
Original quote
At løbe på indlandsisen var unikt, specielt og tåler ingen sammenligning.
This runner took part in the first marathon held on the Greenland ice sheet, in temperatures ranging from -20°C to -5°C. They wrote about the snow and ice and the importance of hydration, cold-weather gear and crampons, and finished eighth in 4:14:42.
“When I crossed the finish line after 3 hours and 31 minutes it had warmed up to a balmy -6C and I found myself in a creditable 6th place.”
Nick Van Mead ran over ice, through the Arctic desert and across the tundra at the 2010 Polar Circle Marathon. Although he slipped on the ice and was pushed outside course, he finished in 3 hours 31 minutes, placing sixth.
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.
Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.
From the 2026 edition
Time limit7 hours
Show more
Full 7 hours · half marathon 4 hours
The start time and cutoff follow the official announcement (checked 2026.7) — re-check on the official page before entering.
Event
Start
Time limit
Entry fee
Field size
Marathon42.195km
09:30
7h
€350
250
Half21.0975km
08:30
4h
€350
250
Entry fee: €350 per event; full + half marathon back-to-back days (Polar Bear Challenge) €500. 5-day package (Oct 22–26) €2,895–3,395, sold separately. U.S. tour operator Marathon Tours sells it for US$435 per event
City center · not the start line
We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.
Cutoff Full marathon time limit 7 hours, half marathon time limit 4 hours. Runners who exceed the time limit are picked up by race staff or a medical vehicle and transported to the finish area.
Where and when to collect your Polar Circle Marathon race bib
To the start line, step by step.
Pick up your bib, check your wave. So on race morning, you can just run.
From the 2026 edition
Bib pickup
Overseas participants receive a goodie bag (including bib) at Albatros headquarters in Copenhagen the evening before the flight to Greenland. If you can't attend, pick it up at Copenhagen Airport before checking in for Kangerlussuaq. Local runners in Greenland receive it at the race briefing at Hotel Kangerlussuaq.
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (no roads or rail connections to elsewhere — accessible only by air)
Runners fly round trip with Air Greenland from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, a flight of approximately 4.5 hours that arrives in the morning local time. Because Air Greenland does not codeshare with other airlines, travelers must clear customs and check in again for the Greenland flight — arriving in Copenhagen at least a day before departure is recommended.
DATE NUANCE: sources differ on which day hosts each distance. Marathon Tours & Travel lists the full marathon on Oct 24, 2026 and the half marathon on Oct 25, 2026. Verify this against your own registration/bib.
Organizers provide transportation to the start (near the ice sheet).
Airport transport in Kangerlussuaq on event days is included for registered participants through the organizer's travel packages; no independent public transit option exists.
Your start time, fuel and bag drop. Know them ahead and the run feels easier.
The Arctic Marathon is an expedition in itself.
Flights, accommodation, meals and local transport are bundled in travel agency packages, making a package more practical than participating independently.
The course consists of snow-covered gravel roads, so trail shoes with good grip and insulating layers are essential.
Bring a buff to help prevent frostbite on your face.
According to the official regulations, shoe spikes are mandatory, and poles cannot be used.
The energy gel is difficult to obtain locally, so bring it with you in advance and store it inside your clothing to prevent it from freezing.
When checking in personal supplies, you must write your name and bib on them.
Invisible crevasses may be present on the ice, so you must not leave the marked course.
The full marathon personal supply points are at 10 km, 21 km and 30 km.
Times are local to Kangerlussuaq. 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.
