Sold Out at the Lowest Point on Earth: Dead Sea Land Marathon Breaks Record with 8,000 Runners

• Registration for this one-of-a-kind race has closed due to overwhelming demand; participants will experience a rare run on salt embankments in the heart of the sea.

January 2026: About two months before the start, all registration spots for the marathon were taken. The 8,000 runners who secured their place are set to enjoy a unique, fun, and challenging running experience in the lowest place on earth. The Dead Sea Land Marathon was ranked #1 in the “9 Most Unique Races in the World” by the prestigious international running magazine The Running Week.

Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 – marking the marathon’s seventh year. As part of the event, the Israeli Ultra-Marathon Championship for the 50 km distance will also take place. The marathon features six race distances: 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | 21.1 km | 42.2 km | 50 km.

The Dead Sea Land Marathon of the Tamar Regional Council will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026. This year, the marathon broke records, with over 8,000 runners securing their spot at an extraordinary pace. Two months before the gun started, registration for the race had already sold out.

The Dead Sea Marathon is one of the most sought-after races in Israel and has even been ranked first among the “9 Most Unique Races in the World” by the renowned international running magazine The Running Week. Due to high demand, a waiting list has been opened, which can be joined on the marathon’s official website.

This is the seventh edition of the marathon, which has already become a tradition – offering a unique running experience in the lowest place on Earth, allowing participants to cross the sea on salt embankments within a pristine desert landscape.

Alongside professional and high-quality production with international-standard course management, the marathon attracts both elite runners and amateurs of all levels who come to experience one of the most beautiful and unique race courses in the world. The event offers a wide variety of distances, ranging from 5 km to 50 km.

The highlight of the marathon is the run into the Dead Sea on the border embankment of the Dead Sea Works, which surrounds the southern part of the Dead Sea. Access to the embankment is only available during the marathon, offering breathtaking views. The embankment also serves as a border between the Israeli and Jordanian parts of the Dead Sea and is open only once a year for marathon runners.

The marathon will start at 6:15 AM from a central point between the northern hotel area of Ein Bokek and the southern hotel area (south of Nevo Hotel and north of Herods Hotel – the starting point was changed from previous years due to tourism development). This year, approximately 8,000 participants are expected to compete in six race categories:

5 km – A comfortable run/walk for beginners.

10 km – Out-and-back along the main salt embankment crossing the Dead Sea.

15 km “Around Tamar” – Full loop of the salt embankments.

21.1 km Half Marathon – A fast, flat course, dedicated to the memory of Tomer and Giora Ron of blessed memory.

42.2 km Marathon – A run along the southern Dead Sea shoreline.

50 km Ultra-Marathon – Israeli Championship for the 50 km distance.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the overall winners of the three longest races. This year, military, security, police, and reserve service running groups will also take part in the marathon. The Dead Sea Land Marathon evolved from the historic Ein Gedi Race, which for over 30 years hosted thousands of runners and was a key event in Israel’s annual race calendar. The half marathon continues to honor the memory of Tomer and Giora Ron, sons of Kibbutz Ein Gedi.

"The Dead Sea Land Marathon, now in its seventh year, has become an important and exciting tradition. Its popularity continues to grow thanks to the breathtaking routes and unique experience it offers. This is a great opportunity to combine sport, nature, and culture, and to run in one of the most extraordinary locations in Israel. Our area offers the perfect combination of stunning landscapes, magnificent natural sites, and a variety of tourist attractions. This year, as the Tamar Regional Council celebrates its 70th anniversary, the event carries an even greater significance. I invite all runners to join the celebrations and be part of this unforgettable sporting event."

Nir Wenger, Head of Tamar Regional Council

The marathon is organized by the Tamar Regional Council, with support from Dead Sea Works (ICL), the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and executed by the Dead Sea Government Company and the Dead Sea Drainage Authority.