Night Marathon Luxembourg

Location: Luxembourg
Country: Luxembourg
Website: https://www.ing-night-marathon.lu/en.html
2025 Marathon Date: 31/05/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 16/05/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:29:04
% Sub-3s: 1–2%
# Sub-3s: 10–49
Total Runners: 1k–3k

The Night Marathon Luxembourg is one of Europe’s most distinctive running events, held each May in the capital city of Luxembourg. With a start time in the evening, the race offers a unique atmosphere as runners wind through the city’s illuminated streets and historic quarters.

The course is a double loop, beginning and ending at LuxExpo in Kirchberg. It takes participants through both modern and old sections of the city, including cobbled zones, sharp turns, and moderate inclines. While visually engaging, the route is not built for speed—twists, uneven surfaces and nighttime visibility make pacing more complex for sub-3 runners.

That said, the atmosphere is hard to beat. Thousands of spectators line the route, especially in the later stages, creating a party-like feel complete with music, lights and enthusiastic support. Aid stations are frequent and well-lit, and signage is clear despite the evening conditions.

Luxembourg’s weather in late May is generally mild, with evening temperatures falling into the ideal range for racing. The timing of the race helps avoid heat, though humidity can still be a factor. Darkness begins to fall partway through the event, adding a distinctive dimension that requires mental focus in the later miles.

For runners chasing sub-3, this race presents a tactical challenge. The course profile and surface make it harder to sustain rhythm, and the distraction of the event’s celebratory feel can either energise or interrupt depending on mindset. The field is not especially deep at the front end, but there is enough pacing support to avoid complete isolation.

The Night Marathon Luxembourg is best suited to experienced marathoners who want something different—an urban course, a night-time start, and a festival backdrop. It’s less about pure speed and more about controlled execution under non-standard conditions.