Balaton Marathon 2026: two laps of Siófok, and the spot to see your runner four times

The 23rd Balaton Marathon and Half Marathon runs on 14–15 November 2026, and this year both days are in Siófok, on the south shore of Lake Balaton (last year's Sunday race was in Fonyód). It's the weekend that closes the lake's running season, and in 2025 it brought more than 5,000 runners to an off-season lakeside. If someone you care about is running, here's how to know where they are, whether you're on the Petőfi promenade or following from home, and how to get your voice to them for the final push.

Unlike a city marathon, there's no continuous 42 km course here. The marathon is run in stages (three in one day, or two or three over two days), and the main event of the weekend is the half marathon: two 10.55 km laps through the centre of Siófok.

The weekend at a glance

Sources: the official schedule and the race descriptions (in Hungarian). The course map and GPX were still "coming soon" when we wrote this, so check again in race week.

1. The official timing

Timing is by AGNI-Timing, with a chip stuck to the back of the bib. The results list on the BSI results site updates continuously as runners finish.

A few things to bear in mind:

• The only timing mat is at the start/finish. Last year's half marathon results show just the two lap times and no intermediate points, so you'll hear about your runner roughly every 10.5 km, about once an hour.
• The 2026 race pages don't mention an official live-tracking app. BSI does have a BSI Sport app with live tracking, but check in race week whether it's running at the Balaton Marathon.
• In the staged marathon each stage starts separately, so your runner "disappears" from the course between stages and turns up again at the next start.

We explain the difference between chip splits and continuous tracking in chip timing vs GPS.

2. Live GPS on the map

The official timing tells you something once a lap. GPS tracking from the runner's phone fills the gap: you can see whether they're at the Szent László utca turnaround or already on the lakeside, and when they'll reach you. Strava Beacon, Garmin LiveTrack, a location share or Cheerlify can all do it; we compare them in marathon tracking apps compared.

Cheerlify matches the dot to the course and gives an arrival estimate for any kilometre. On a two-lap course that matters more than usual, because it also knows whether your runner is on lap one or lap two.

The half marathon course

One lap, from the official description: Petőfi sétány → Mártírok útja → Batthyány Lajos utca → Karinthy Frigyes utca → Köztársaság utca → Glatz Henrik utca → Batthyány Lajos utca → Tátra utca → Beszédes József sétány → Kodály Zoltán utca → Szent László utca → turnaround → Szent László utca → Csúszda utca → the lakeside → Szent István sétány → Táncsics Mihály utca → Petőfi sétány.

Solo half marathoners run this lap twice; in a pair, each runner does one lap. Aid stations are at km 4.9, 6.8 (water only), 10.7, 15.4 and 17.3 (water only), plus the finish. There's a sign at every kilometre, and because the course is lapped you'll sometimes see signs for both laps.

The organisers warn that the course narrows sharply in places and that the lakeside section can be slippery.

3. Where to stand

On a two-lap course you'll see your runner at least twice from almost anywhere. These look like the best spots to us (our reading of the course, not the organiser's recommendation):

• Petőfi sétány, start and finish. You see the start, the end of lap 1 (km 10.55) and the finish. It's the most comfortable place to wait, close to the race centre and somewhere warm.
• Szent László utca, near the turnaround. Runners pass twice per lap (out and back), so if you stay put you can see them four times.
• Batthyány Lajos utca, which the course uses twice early in each lap.
• The lakeside and Szent István sétány, near the end of each lap, by the water. It's a lovely stretch, but windy in November, and the organisers say it can be slippery.

The race centre will have "Találkozási pont" (meeting point) signs. Agree before the start which one you'll meet at after the finish.

Getting there and parking

Siófok is about 100 km from Budapest on the M7 motorway, and you can get there by train from Budapest Déli and Kelenföld stations (check the current MÁV timetable).

The organisers suggest parking on Indóház utca, Ady Endre utca and the railway side of Szent László utca. Don't park on Batthyány Lajos utca, Táncsics Mihály utca, Tátra utca, Szent István sétány or Petőfi sétány, because they're part of the course. The 2026 road closures will be published on the race site.

Weather

In November Siófok's average high is 9 °C and the low 4 °C, and the wind often comes off the lake. In 2025 it was 2–3 °C on race morning with strong gusts, and sleet in the afternoon. Dress for winter if you're supporting: hat, gloves, a hot drink, and somewhere to duck inside between laps.

4. Cheer at km 17

In a half marathon the final push starts around km 17–18, which here is on lap two, just before the lakeside. With Cheerlify you record a voice or video message in advance and pick the kilometre, and it plays in your runner's earbud right there. You don't need an app or an account, just a link and a code in your browser.

At BSI races the organisers advise against wearing a music player in both ears at once, because bikes, motorbikes and ambulances move through the field. Your message plays just as well in one earbud or in open-ear headphones, so your runner doesn't need both ears covered.

You don't have to be in Siófok for this. From home you can still be with them at km 17. If you're stuck for words, we keep 30+ lines for every stage of a race.

Supporter checklist

1. You know which distance and which day your runner is racing, and when they start (Saturday 10:00, 12:30, 16:00 or Sunday 10:00).
2. Their bib number is saved and the BSI results site bookmarked.
3. Your runner has shared their GPS tracking link (Cheerlify, Beacon, LiveTrack), and you tested it the evening before.
4. Their phone is charged, since batteries drain faster in the cold. More on that: how much battery live tracking uses.
5. You've recorded a cheer for lap two, somewhere between km 15 and 19.
6. You've packed a winter coat, hat and gloves, and agreed a meeting point at the race centre.

Frequently asked questions