ARE YOU READY TO RUN YOUR PERSONAL BEST ON THE HISTORIC PENINSULA WITH ITS AMAZING VIEWS AND ANCIENT HISTORY?
Every year, we make improvements to provide you with a better marathon and course experience on race day. This year, the 21st Istanbul Half Marathon will have some criteria for the registration process.
To register for the 21K category, you must meet one of the following criteria:
To learn about other road races that meet these criteria, click here.
Registration Process:
1st Period: December 1 – January 5 → 70 Euro
2nd Period: January 6 – March 9 → 80 Euro
3rd Period: March 10 – April 13 → 90 Euro
Your registration cannot be cancelled or postponed and no refund is possible as the service processes will start as soon as you register. Even though you decide not to attend to the race, you can get your race kit from the distribution point.
“Category Change” is not possible.
The quota for the 21K category is limited to 8,000 people.
All the athletes who are 16 or above by 19 April , 2026, can register.
Athletes aged 16-18 who meet the criteria for the Türkiye İş Bankası 21th Istanbul Half Marathon must complete the Parental Consent Form and submit it in person to the officials during the kit distribution.
You can access the Parental Consent Form here.
04:30 – Full road closure on the race course
06:30 – 10K start area opens
07:15 – 21K start area opens
08:00 – 10K race start
08:30 – Estimated finish time of the 10K champion
09:15 – Elite and 21K race start
09:30 – End of the 10K race
10:15 – Estimated finish time of the 21K champion
11:00 – Award ceremony
11:05 – Balat reopens to traffic
11:45 – Sirkeci reopens to traffic
12:40 – End of the 21K race
12:50 – Master Athletes Award Ceremony
13:30 – Yenikapı reopens to traffic
21K Race Course Links
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FKS_MRPfS-2FvPnTIYLUBTviLFEnQ8A&usp=sharing
The event area is located at the Langa bus stop, in front of Yenikapı Event Area.
You can easily reach the area by taking the M1A, M1B, or M2 metro lines, or the Marmaray, and getting off at Yenikapı Station.
The starting point of the Istanbul Half Marathon is located at the Langa bus stop in front of the Yenikapı meeting area in Fatih District. The race begins at Yenikapı and continues along Kennedy Avenue. It proceeds to Namık Kemal Street connection road, then follows Gazi Mustafa Kemal Avenue, Kumkapı Segah Street connecting , Kumluk Street, Şair Sermet Street, and Aksokal Street. The race course passes through Cankurtaran and Ahırkapı streets, and moves on through Çatladıkapı, exiting at the Sarayburnu gate of Gülhane Park.
From Sarayburnu, the race course continues to the Sirkeci traffic lights, to Ankara Street connection . The runners then proceed Eminönü and turn in the direction of Karaköy, crossing the Galata Bridge.
U-turn at the traffic lights at the end of the bridge, the race continues via Eminönü, Rağıp Gümüşpala Street, and the Kazancılar Street side road.
The race course continues via Unkapanı, crossing the Atatürk Bridge and following Atatürk Street’s connecting roads to Cibali. It passes the Kadir Has intersection, proceeding along Kadir Has Street, Seferikoz Street, Şerefiye Street, and into Balat.
From there, it continues via Ayakapı Street, Miralay Nazımbey Street, Dr. Sadık Ahmet Street, Yıldırım Street, and Abdülezelpaşa Street.
Before reaching the Golden Horn Bridge, the race makes a U-turn within the Fatih District boundary and follows the same coastal road back in the opposite direction. The return route Mürselpaşa Street, Abdülezelpaşa Street, Balat, Cibali, Eminönü, Sirkeci, Sarayburnu, Cankurtaran, and Kumkapı, before ending back at the starting point in Yenikapı.
Traffic Closure Times and Race Details
Traffic Closure:
04.30 – 13.30
Start Times:
Half Marathon Cut-off Points
09.15 – 10.00 / 0 – 5K
10.00 – 11.50 / 5 – 10K
10.50 – 11.40 / 10 – 15K
11.40 – 12.40 / 15 – 21K
| DISTRICT | NEIGHBORHOOD | STREET | ||
| FATİH | YENİKAPI KUMKAPI SARAYBURNU CANKURTARAN SİRKECİ AHIRKAPI | E | KENNEDY STREET | |
| FATİH | ÇATLADIKAPI | E | Ferruh Kayha Street | |
| BEYOĞLU | GALATA BRIDGE | E | GALATA BRIDGE | |
| BEYOĞLU | KARAKÖY | E | KEMERALTI STREET | |
| BEYOĞLU | KARAKÖY | E | Tersane Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ UNKAPANI | E | RAGIP GÜMÜŞPALA STREET | |
| FATİH | CİBALİ BALAT | E | ABDÜLEZELPAŞA STREET | |
| FATİH | CİBALİ | E | Atatürk Bridge | |
| FATİH | BALAT AYVANSARAY | E | AYVANSARAY STREET | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | E | Savaklar Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | E | Ayvansaray Intersection | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Ayvansaray Kuyusu Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Çember Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Çınçınlı Çeşmesi Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Ferruh Kayha Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Balat Kapısı Street | |
| FATİH | AYVANSARAY | G | Çiçekli Bostan Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | E | MÜRSELPAŞA STREET | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Akçin Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Yıldırım Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Dr. Sadık Ahmet Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Miralay Nazım Bey Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Ayakapı Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Şerefiye Street | |
| FATİH | BALAT | G | Seferikoz Street | |
| FATİH | CİBALİ | G | Kadir Has Street | |
| FATİH | CİBALİ | G | Kadir Has Intersection | |
| FATİH | CİBALİ | E | Atatürk Avenue Connection | |
| FATİH | UNKAPANI | G | Yavuz Sinan Camii Street | |
| FATİH | KÜÇÜKPAZAR | G | Yeni Hayat Street | |
| FATİH | KÜÇÜKPAZAR | G | Kazancılar Street | |
| FATİH | KÜÇÜKPAZAR | G | Küçükpazar Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Kıble Çeşme Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Ord. Prof Dr Cemil Birsel Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Çanakçılar Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Mahkeme Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Asmaaltı Street | |
| FATİH | EMİNÖNÜ | G | Kalçin Street | |
| FATİH | SİRKECİ | G | Arpacılar Street | |
| FATİH | SİRKECİ | G | Yalı Köşkü Street | |
| FATİH | SİRKECİ | E | Ankara Street | |
| FATİH | SİRKECİ | G | Sirkeci İstasyon Street | |
| FATİH | SARAYBURNU | G | Gülhane Park Sea Side Enterance | |
| FATİH | CANKURTARAN | G | Ahırkapı Street | |
| FATİH | AHIRKAPI | G | Kalyon Otel Restaurant | |
| FATİH | KUMKAPI | G | Aksaka Street | |
| FATİH | KUMKAPI | E | Avrasya Tunnel “U” Turn | |
| FATİH | KUMKAPI | G | Şair Sermet Street | |
| FATİH | KUMKAPI | G | Kumluk Street | |
| FATİH | KUMKAPI | G | Çap Ariz Street | |
| FATİH | YENİKAPI | E | Yenikapı Turnout | |
| FATİH | YENİKAPI | E | Namık Kemal Street | |
*E POLICE
**G PRIVATE SECURITY
The time limit for 21K runners is 3 hours 25 minutes.
Between 0 K – 5K: 09.15 – 10.00
Between 5K – 10K: 10.00 – 10.50
Between 10K – 15K: 10.50 – 11.40
Between 15K – 21K: 11.40 – 12.40
During registration, your ranking in the document you uploaded during registration or the ranking of your runs in the system are taken into account. Using this information, we will guide athletes to the correct pace gate according to their bib number so as to help them enter the race area. Each athlete must enter to the race area using the gate indicated on his or her bib number. Using another door to race area is not allowed. For example; an athlete who has a bib number indicating the letter “A” cannot enter to the area using the Gate B.
Pacers will line up at the starting point according to their targeted finishing time. These athletes will be present at the start of the Half-Marathon. Pacers will help you to start the race and control race time according to your targeted place.
Sharp turns on the race course will be marked in BLUE.
The intermediate times of the participants are measured every 5 kilometers.
Each km will be indicated by markers along the course.
There is a refreshment station on the race course per 5 kilometre. There are also water and sponge stations between these food stations.
There will be public and portable toilets available in various spots on the race course. The toilet spots will be indicated with signs so as to ensure that runners get easy access. The toilets will generally be placed 100 to 200 meters after water stations.
Parkur üzerinde çeşitli noktalarda kamusal ve portatif tuvaletler hazır bulunacaktır. Tuvalet noktaları, koşucuların kolay ulaşabilmesi için işaretlerle gösterilecektir. Tuvaletler genellikle su istasyonlarından sonra 100-200 metre arasında yer alacaktır.
Please fill in the information requested on the reverse of your bag number and attach it to your bag. The number tag must be attached to your bag before the race. Please do not use this number if you will not deliver your bag.
Only the bags provided to athletes will be accepted at the bag drop tents by the organization committee. The other bags and belongings will not be accepted due to security concerns.
Participants must not put valuable articles, money, telephone, wallet or similar other belongings in the bags they will deliver to bag drop tents. In case of lost bags, the institution and authorities who hold the organization cannot be held responsible.
Bags may be lost in case of bag delivery to a place or vehicle other than bag drop tents. In such case, the institution and authorities who hold the organization cannot be held responsible.
Do not forget that you need to leave your bag at the latest 20 minutes before the start time of the category you will run. For example, for the run that will start at 08:10, the athlete must have delivered his/her bag at 07:50 at the latest.
| 2026 PRIZE MONEY LIST | ||||
| OVERALL CLASSIFICATION | ||||
| MEN | WOMEN | |||
| 1 | $15.000 | 1 | $15.000 | |
| 2 | $10.000 | 2 | $10.000 | |
| 3 | $8.000 | 3 | $8.000 | |
| 4 | $6.000 | 4 | $6.000 | |
| 5 | $5.000 | 5 | $5.000 | |
| 6 | $4.000 | 6 | $4.000 | |
| 7 | $3.000 | 7 | $3.000 | |
| 8 | $2.000 | 8 | $2.000 | |
| $53.000 | $53.000 | |||
| COURSE RECORD | ||||
| If an athlete runs faster than the course record stated below, the bonus will be awarded only to the race winner. | ||||
| MEN | WOMEN | |||
| 59:15:00 | $3.000 | 01:04:02 | $3.000 | |
| $3.000 | $3.000 | |||
| WORLD RECORD | ||||
| MEN | WOMEN | |||
| World Record Time | $10.000 | World Record Time | $10.000 | |
| $10.000 | $10.000 | |||
| PAYMENT CONDITIONS | ||||
| 1-) Athletes competing in the Elite Category are not eligible for prizes awarded in the Masters Categories. | ||||
| 2-) Course Record Bonus and World Record Bonus are paid only to the winner. | ||||
| 3-) A stamp tax of 0.948% will be deducted from all prize money payments. | ||||
| 4-) In accordance with World Athletics regulations, no prize money shall be paid to athletes whose doping control results are positive. | ||||
| 5-) Prize money for ranked athletes will be transferred to the bank accounts declared by the athletes before a public notary. | ||||
| 6-) Pursuant to the World Athletics Label Road Race Regulations, a 2% deduction will be applied to the prize money of the athletes finishing in the top eight (Overall Classification), and this amount will be transferred to the World Athletics account. | ||||
| 7-) Course Record Bonus and World Record Bonus are cumulative. | ||||
The objection period for age groups is 5 business days from the race date. Objection requests received within this period will be evaluated. Objection requests received after this date will not be considered.
Zaman sınırından sonra yarışı bitiren katılımcılar madalya hakkını kaybederler.
Men Age Groups
35-39 / 40-44 / 45-49 / 50-54 / 55-59 / 60-64 / 65-69 / 70-74 / 75-79 / 80-84 / 85+
Women Age Groups
35-39 / 40-44 / 45-49 / 50-54 / 55-59 / 60-64 / 65-69 / 70-74 / 75-79 / 80-84 / 85+
All athletes who complete the race within the time limit of 3 hours and 25 minutes will receive a medal at the finish line.
Participants who finish the race after the time limit forfeit a right to medal.
21K General Classification – 21K Turkish Classification – Turkey Half Marathon Championships Award Ceremony will be held at 11:00;
21K Master Athletes Award Ceremony will be held at 12:50.
The kit distribution for the Türkiye İş Bankası 21st Istanbul Half Marathon will take place at Kanyon Mall daily from April 11 to 17, between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and on April 18, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Information on how to use your chip is available in the video below.
Overall ranking rewards (elite athletes) will be awarded based on gun time. All age group and other prizes will be given according to chip measurement times. Your position at the start line, how further back you are from the start line, does not affect your measurement. Your race time starts to be measured on the moment you cross the chip carpet.
Electronic Timing Chip
At the Race Kit Distribution area, all participants who register for the race will be given an Electronic Timing Chip with Recycling feature, that will measure their grades during the race.
Do not forget to wear your chip distributed with the race kits on the day of the race, do not take it out of your shoes during the race. The degrees of the racers running without chips cannot be measured.
We strongly advise you not to exchange your chip with other runners, as your chip is identified by your identification information.
Do not cross the finish line a second time or re-enter any part of the race course.
Participants will get their bib numbers during the distribution of kits. Your bib number will be determined when you will get your kit.
Your bib number is special for you and to Türkiye İş Bankası 21st Istanbul Half-Marathon. Do not copy it or exchange with other participants.
If you give your bib number to another person or change it, your rank will be cancelled since you will be deemed to have violated the race rules.
ATTENTION: If you give your bib number to or exchange it with another person, this may risk his or her health since he or she will not be sufficiently prepared to Half-Marathon.
Don’t forget to stick your bag numbers given to you during the kit distribution
on the number field in front of your bags!
To enter the event area, you must present your bib number.
Each athlete must enter the race area through the gate indicated on their bib number. Entry through a different gate will not be permitted. For example, an athlete assigned to enter through Gate “A” will not be allowed to enter through Gate “B.”
Your bib number must be attached on your chest throughout the race.
You need to attach your bib number in visible fashion so as to ensure that the official photographers of Istanbul Half-Marathon can take your photos and you can find these photos later.
Please do not forget to put on the timekeeping chip, which has been delivered to you with your bib number and is used for keeping the time of your run, before the race starts.
Please completely fill in the required information on the reverse of your bib number, so that we can immediately intervene in case of any health issue.
Please get a medical examination before the race.
Patients with respiratory tract and heart diseases must not attend to the race.
You should attend to the race after a good sleep and rest.
Please have a breakfast early in the morning of the race and avoid alcoholic and acid drinks.
You should definitely put on your running shoes with socks.
You can cream your toes in order to prevent possible wounds which may occur after the race.
Please leave the race and ask help from health officers in case of any health issue which may occur during the race.
Important:
Do not take part in the race if you have recently had a cold, flu or fever; if you have vomited; if you had chest pains; or if you are weak and not feeling well. You may be at serious risk on race day. In this case, please be informed that Istanbul Half-Marathon will also be held one year later and consider attending to the next race.
Throughout the race, ambulances will be stationed every 2 km, and mobile medical teams will be present at various locations: Medical teams are authorized to remove a participant from the race if they deem it necessary. This decision is binding on the runner.
Bus Departure Points for Runners Leaving the Race
There will be 3 buses at the 13th, 15th and 17th kilometres for runners who leave the race and don’t wish to continue till the finish point.
To read our blog “What Should I Do to Avoid Injuries?” you can click here.
To read our blog “What Should Be the Fluid and Nutrient Intake while Preparing for the Marathon?” you can click here.
Before the race
– Flight/journey
– Visa/passport
– Hotel/Accommodation
– Emergency contacts
Event Week
– Check your flight times
– Determine your emergency contacts
The race day
– Check bus locations and times so you can reach the starting point.
– Attach your chest number to your t-shirt with safety pins and fill in the information on the back.
– Attach your race chip to your shoe so that your running time can be measured.
– Please bring shorts and the t-shirt (previously worn), running socks, gloves, headband, sunglasses, pulsimeter watch and running shoes (must be minimum 50k and worn previously).
– Bring old shorts and t-shirts with you to warm up at the start area.
– Have enough beverages with you.
– Hand over your bags to bag drop off tents.
After the race
– Food and drink
– Shirt
– Picking up your bag
Istanbul Half Marathon is a running event and, therefore, athletes are not allowed to attend with a bicycle, motorcycle, any wheeler or non-wheeler vehicle or an animal. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality organizes other races and events for sports performed with these means. Participants are required to arrive with sportswear suitable for the organization.
It is strictly prohibited for all the runners who register to any category under Istanbul Half Marathon, to bring or exhibit at the race area products which promote a brand, foundation, organization or entity other than the t-shirts, flags and similar other articles distributed by the sponsor companies. Legal action will be taken against those persons and institutions who behave to the contrary.
Electronic timing
Race Kit (chest number and electronic chip)
Race bag
T-shirt
Medal
Certificate
Water and nutrition stations on the race course
Food package after the race
Photograph service
Free transportation in the vehicles belonging to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Marmaray is not included)
Dear participant, we would like to remind you that participants without a chest number, children under the age of 16, baby strollers, strollers, pets, scooters / bicycles and any other means of transportation that may endanger the safety of the race will not be allowed on the Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Half Marathon course and free bus services.
Participants who have completed the registration process are deemed to have read and approved all the rules of the Istanbul Half Marathon.
All information regarding the organization is subject to change (e.g. route, date, venue, etc.). Please revisit our website in the days leading up to the race for information regarding any changes.
Only those with a chest number will be admitted to the race area. For family participants, each family member must register separately.
