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Midnight Sun Marathon 2026: Complete guide to running in Tromso
The Midnight Sun Marathon takes place on 20 June 2026 in Tromso, Norway. Find distances, registration, packing tips, and how to get there.
The Midnight Sun Marathon is an AIMS-certified road race held in Tromso, Norway, every June, where runners race through the night under a sun that never sets. The 2026 race takes place on 20 June, with five distances from a children’s fun run to the full 42.2 km.
Whether you’re already registered or still deciding, this guide covers everything you need to register, prepare, and plan your trip to Tromso.
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What is the Midnight Sun Marathon?
The Midnight Sun Marathon is one of the most distinctive road races in Europe, not just for the scenery, but for the simple fact that the sun is up the entire time.
The event was founded in 1990 and has grown into a major fixture on the international running calendar, drawing nearly 9,000 runners from 88 countries in 2025. It is an AIMS-certified marathon, meaning course distances meet international standards and times are eligible for qualification purposes. Runner’s World has listed it among the top ten marathons in the world worth experiencing.
The race is a city event, the start, finish, expo, and official hotel are all within Tromso’s compact city center, which keeps logistics manageable for visiting runners.
Midnight Sun Marathon At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 June 2026 |
| Location | Tromso, Norway |
| Distances | 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km, children’s race |
| Certification | AIMS-certified |
| Participants (2025) | ~9,000 from 88 nations |
| Registration | msm.no |
| Time limits | Marathon: 5h30m / Half: 3h30m |
Midnight Sun Marathon race distances
The Tromso midnight marathon offers five distances, so there’s a realistic option whether you’re targeting a PB or running your first international race.
| Distance | Name | Time Limit | Min. Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42.2 km | Midnight Sun Marathon | 5h30m | 18 |
| 21.1 km | Mizuno Half Marathon | 3h30m | 15 |
| 10 km | Coop Mila | — | 13 |
| 5 km | iTromso Mini Marathon | — | 11 |
| 870 m | Children’s race (Redd Barna) | — | 0–12 |
The full marathon and midnight sun half marathon are the two distances that sell out earliest in general, both are fully booked ahead of race day.
For international runners who want the full Arctic experience without the full-distance commitment, the half-marathon is the most popular entry point. The 10 km is a solid option for those traveling with non-running partners, and the children’s race means families can participate together.
The Course Route
All distances start and finish in Tromso city center, which means your hotel is likely within walking distance of both the start line and the finish.
At around the 2 km mark, runners cross the iconic Tromso Bridge. The bridge climbs from 6 m to 43 m above sea level, with open views across the Tromsfjord toward Tromsdalstinden and the Arctic Cathedral on the eastern shore. It is one of the defining moments of the race and appears in nearly every photo from the event.
After the bridge crossing, the marathon route loops south through Tromsdalen and returns via the same bridge before finishing back in the city center.
The course is largely flat outside of the bridge climb, which makes it accessible for runners of most abilities. Kilometer markers count down from 42 on the marathon and from 21 on the half, so you always know exactly where you stand.
How to register for the Midnight Sun Marathon
Registration opens at the Midnight Sun Marathon official website and uses a tiered pricing system. The earlier you register, the lower the entry fee. For the 2026 race, the base marathon fee started at NOK 980, rising in stages through to NOK 1,300 for late entries. The half-marathon followed a similar structure, starting at NOK 690.
The key practical note: the full marathon and half marathon for 2026 both sold out, so early registration is strongly advised if you want either of those distances. The 10 km, 5 km, and children’s races tend to have more availability.
Race weekend schedule (2026):
- Friday 19 June: MSM Expo open 10:00–20:00 at Havneterminalen (the harbor terminal), bib pickup, race shop
- Saturday 20 June: MSM Expo open 10:00–21:00, race start in the evening
The expo is where you collect your bib number and race pack. It also hosts a number of charity and sponsor stands. If you need to change the distance after bib numbers have been assigned, you can do so at the help desk at the expo, subject to availability.
For 2026, the organizers have also introduced a bib transfer option, allowing runners to buy and sell their places directly through EQ Timing (deadline: 31 May).
Tips for preparing for the Midnight Sun Marathon
Racing in the Arctic summer means conditions you won’t find at most city marathons. Here’s what to prepare for before race day.
Weather and temperature
June in Tromso is mild but changeable. Expect temperatures between 8°C and 16°C, with the possibility of rain and wind at any point.
- Dress in moisture-wicking layers rather than one heavy piece
- Pack a light wind shell for before and after the race
- The sun stays up all night, hotel rooms don’t go fully dark, so bring a sleep mask if you’re light-sensitive
What to pack for race weekend
- Layered run kit: temperatures drop on the Tromso Bridge crossing
- Light wind jacket for pre- and post-race
- Sleep mask and earplugs for sleeping in continuous daylight
- Norwegian krone or a card for expo purchases
- Personal race nutrition: aid stations offer water, Maxim sports drink, and bananas approximately every 5 km
Training tips
- The course is mostly flat, but the Tromso Bridge adds a climb from 6 m to 43 m, including some incline work in your final training weeks
- The marathon cutoff is 5h30m, with a checkpoint sweep at 00:45 at the 32 km mark. Plan your pace accordingly
- Running in 24-hour daylight can feel disorienting, practice some evening or night runs before travel to help your body adjust
Getting to Tromso for the marathon
Tromso Airport (TOS) is the main point of entry for international runners. There are no rail connections to Tromso, so flying is the standard option. Direct flights operate from Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and a number of other European cities, with Oslo serving as the main hub for long-haul connections.
Flight and accommodation prices spike significantly in the weeks around race weekend. Booking as early as possible is the most reliable way to keep costs down and secure your preferred options. For more context on driving in Norway or getting around the country before or after the race, it’s worth planning your wider itinerary at the same time.
Tromso itself is a compact city and easy to navigate on foot once you arrive. The airport is about 5 km from the city center, with taxis and buses available. Most race-related activity, like the expo, start line, finish line, and official hotel, is concentrated in or around the harbor area, so you won’t need a car during race weekend.
Where to stay in Tromso during the Midnight Sun Marathon?
The official race hotel is the Scandic Ishavshotel, located in the city center close to the start and finish line. It is also the venue for the Friday Pasta Party, making it a convenient base if you want to stay close to all the race activity. Expect to pay more than standard rates during race weekend, and expect rooms to fill up quickly.
Beyond the Scandic, Tromso has a range of accommodation options, including independent hotels, guesthouses, and short-term rentals. Any property within the city center puts you within easy walking distance of the expo and start line.
Given how quickly accommodation moves for this weekend, it’s worth prioritizing your hotel booking alongside, or even before, your race registration. For a broader picture of what to budget for your stay, the cost of living in Norway guide gives useful context on prices across accommodation, food, and transport.
Stay connected at the Midnight Sun Marathon with Holafly
Race weekend in Tromso means navigating an unfamiliar city, coordinating meet-ups with other runners, tracking live results, and sharing the experience, all of which depend on having a reliable mobile connection. A Holafly Norway eSIM lets you land with data already set up on your phone, without swapping your SIM or hunting for a local provider.
Holafly covers over 200 destinations with single-destination eSIMs, and Norway is among them. If you’re planning to run other marathons in Europe or extend your trip, you can browse the Holafly eSIM shop to find the right plan for your itinerary.
One detail worth knowing before you go: every Holafly eSIM includes Always On — 1 GB of monthly backup data at no extra cost. If your plan runs out mid-race weekend or you forget to renew before heading to your next destination, Always On kicks in automatically so you stay connected when it matters.
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