IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków 2026:
Sporting Excitement from Zakrzówek to the Main Market Square

During the first weekend of August, Kraków will once again become one of the most important destinations on the European triathlon calendar. From 31 July to 2 August 2026, the city will host the Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków weekend, including the main triathlon, relay competition, Good Morning Run Kraków and Pho3nix IRONKIDS Kraków.

The main race will start at 8:00 AM on Sunday, 2 August, at Zakrzówek Reservoir. Athletes will complete a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride and a 21.1 km run. The finish line will be located in one of Kraków’s most recognisable places – the Main Market Square. The overall race cut-off time is 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Main image: an athlete on the running course in the Main Market Square during the 2025 event.
Caption: Archive photograph from the first IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków. Source: ironmankrakow.pl.

Three Disciplines in a Unique Kraków Setting

Swimming at Zakrzówek Reservoir

The first stage will be a 1.9 km swim in the waters of Zakrzówek. The race is scheduled to use a rolling-start format, with athletes entering the water gradually according to their expected swimming time. Transition Zone T1 will be located in Zakrzówek Park near Wyłom Street.

Surrounded by rocks and greenery, Zakrzówek creates a spectacular backdrop for the beginning of the race. Spectators planning to watch the start should travel early, as temporary traffic changes and restricted access to parts of the course are expected on race day.

Image: swimmers in Zakrzówek during the previous edition.
Caption: The swimming stage of Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków. Archive photograph. Source: ironmankrakow.pl.

A 90-Kilometre Bike Course

After leaving the water, competitors will begin the 90 km cycling stage. According to the official map, the route will lead from Kraków towards Wieliczka, Brzezie and Bochnia, where athletes will turn around before returning towards Kraków. The cycling stage will finish at Transition Zone T2, located at the Kraków Zachód Interschool Sports Centre near Plac Na Groblach.

The cycling route will be closed to ordinary traffic during the competition. Residents and visitors travelling by car should check the current traffic-crossing map and the organiser’s latest announcements immediately before setting out.

Image: an athlete on the cycling course with Wawel Castle in the background.
Caption: Kraków’s scenery is one of the race’s most distinctive features. Archive photograph. Source: ironmankrakow.pl.

A Half Marathon Finishing in the Main Market Square

The final discipline will be a 21.1 km run. The official map shows three loops passing near Wawel Castle, along the Vistula boulevards and through Grodzka Street. The final metres will take competitors into the Main Market Square and across the finish line.

The areas around Wawel Castle, the river boulevards and the Main Market Square will therefore be among the best places to support the athletes. The first finisher is expected at approximately 11:30 AM, while the final athlete is expected to finish at around 5:40 PM.

IRONMAN Kraków 2026 Weekend Schedule

Friday, 31 July

Race package collection, the Expo, the Official Merchandise Store and a series of IRONMAN Talks are scheduled from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM. The Polish-language athlete briefing will begin at 5:00 PM, followed by the English-language briefing at 6:00 PM. According to the current programme, these activities will be centred around Plac Szczepański and the finish area.

Saturday, 1 August

Saturday’s programme will begin at 9:00 AM with Good Morning Run Kraków. The five-kilometre race will start and finish in the Main Market Square. Its course will pass along Grodzka Street, beside Wawel Castle and along the Vistula River.

Pho3nix IRONKIDS Kraków will begin at noon. Children aged from 3 to 15 may take part, with race distances adjusted to each age category. The presentation of professional athletes is scheduled for 2:00 PM in the Main Market Square, while a drone show is planned for 9:30 PM above the Vistula boulevards.

Saturday will also be an important organisational day for main-race competitors. Athletes will be able to deposit their running bags at T2 between noon and 8:30 PM and check their bicycles into T1 at Zakrzówek between noon and 9:30 PM. Bicycles and transition bags cannot be checked in on Sunday morning.

Sunday, 2 August

Transition Zone T1 will be open to athletes from 6:00 AM until 7:30 AM, with the main race starting at 8:00 AM. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 5:45 PM in the Main Market Square. The allocation ceremony for qualifying places at the 2027 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is due to begin at 6:45 PM in the auditorium of the Jagiellonian University’s Collegium Novum.

More Than an Individual IRONMAN Race

Three-person relay teams will also compete. One athlete will complete the swim, another will ride the cycling course and the third will run the half marathon. The distances and cut-off times are the same as those for individual competitors. Both the main race and the relay competition are marked as sold out by the organiser.

Visitors who are not taking part in the triathlon can join one of the supporting events or cheer along the course. The official website continues to provide registration links for Good Morning Run and IRONKIDS, although current availability should be confirmed directly with the organiser.

Where Are the Best Places to Watch?

The most attractive spectator locations will include:

Zakrzówek – the start and swimming stage,
Wawel Castle and the Vistula boulevards – sections of the running route,
Grodzka Street – the final part of each running loop,
the Main Market Square – the finish line, finisher area and awards ceremony.

Travelling on foot or by public transport is recommended, with traffic restrictions checked immediately before departure. Detailed course maps and traffic-crossing information are available on the official event website.

Expo – Confirm the Location Before Setting Out

According to the current event programme, the Expo and Official Merchandise Store will operate at Plac Szczepański: on Friday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. However, a separate Expo page still identifies Mały Rynek as the location. Because of this discrepancy, visitors should check the organiser’s latest announcement on the day of their visit.

Accommodation Close to the IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków Finish Line

Medotel is located at 11a Krupnicza Street in Kraków’s historic centre, approximately 500 metres from the Main Market Square. Its location provides convenient walking access to the finish line, Plac Szczepański, Grodzka Street and many of the weekend’s central events.

Self-service check-in and access using individual entry codes are particularly convenient for guests arriving late in the evening or leaving for the race early in the morning. Zakrzówek is outside the immediate city centre, so travelling to the start area should be planned well in advance.

Information May Change

The programme, traffic arrangements, transition-zone opening times and availability of race packages may change for organisational or safety reasons. Visitors and athletes should always check the organiser’s most recent announcements before attending.

Source and detailed information: https://ironmankrakow.pl/

Information checked: 30 July 2026.