Dead Sea Land Marathon 2026 Sells Out with Unique Race at the Lowest Point on Earth

Cross The Dead Sea On Salt Embankments In A Marathon Open Once A Year

Dead Sea Land Marathon of the Tamar Regional Council has sold out two months before the start, with all 8,000 spots taken. Runners are in for a unique, fun, and challenging experience at the lowest point on Earth. The marathon was ranked 1 in The Running Week’s “9 Most Unique Races in the World.”

Marking its seventh year, the event will take place on February 6, 2026, and will also feature the Israeli Ultra-Marathon Championship for the 50 km distance.

It 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 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.

The marathon offers 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 event 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).  

It includes six distances and 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 honour the memory of Tomer and Giora Ron, sons of Kibbutz Ein Gedi.

Nir Wenger, Head of Tamar Regional Council, said, "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."

The marathon is organised 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.