Saturday 2 May 2026

The Welschlauf is a road running event held annually on the first Saturday in May in the Südsteiermark, a wine-producing region in the Steiermark (Styria) province in the southern part of Austria, near the border with Slovenia.

The 42.2km Marathon is a very hilly (1,440m of ascent!) and scenic point-to-point race which connects the villages of Ehrenhausen (pictured) and Wies. The route alternates in direction each year.

In addition to the marathon, the event offers a 21.1km Halbmarathon (half marathon), a 12.3km Viertelmarathon (quarter marathon) and a 5.3km Achtelmarathon (eighth marathon).

Many participants take the Welschlauf more as a fun run than as a serious race. It's an atmospheric event that features fancy-dress runners, folk music, traditional costumes, plenty of food and fine locally-produced Welsch wine.

Map of the venue (blue: Wies; red: Ehrenhausen):

31. Welschlauf:

Date:

• 2 May 2026 (Saturday)

Race distance and start time:

• 42.2km Marathon:
  • at 10:00 in Wies
• 21.1km Halbmarathon:
  
  • at 12:00 in Leutschach an der Weinstraße
• 12.3km Viertelmarathon (run and nordic walking):
  • at 14:00 at Buschenschank Repolusk in Leutschach/Gamlitz
• 5.3km Achtelmarathon:
  
  • at 14:00 at Weingut Tement in Ehrenhausen

Finish area:

• all races:
  • Ehrenhausen

Event website:

• www.welschlauf.com

Number of finishers:

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.