Polar Night Marathon

January 3, 2026

Polar Night Marathon

Join Norway's biggest winter race!

Imagine running in the blue hour north of the Arctic Circle. Watch the frost smoke from your fellow runners as you set off through the streets of Tromsø and into the city center.

Registration via Njuko

A winter adventure in the north

Under PolarNight Marathon – the Norwegian name for the Polar Night Marathon – you run in the middle of the day in the blue, Arctic light that characterizes the period before the sun returns above the horizon. This is also an ideal time to visit Tromsø if you want to experience the beautiful northern lights dancing across the dark sky. Along the course, the audience cheers you on and lights up the route with applause through the winter darkness. For many, the race is not only a physical challenge, but a memory for life.

During the Polar Night Marathon you can choose between four races – from full distance to shorter experiences: Ishavskraft Marathon, Polar Night Half Marathon, Mørketidsmila (10 km) and Mørketidstrimen (5 km).

All our trails are inspected and certified by AIMS.

In the dark, the city's streets glow with candles and sparkling lights as runners approach the finish line – and occasionally the northern lights add their magic.

The unique medal 2025 – which motif will adorn the cover of the next edition?

When the city lights up in the dark

Tromsø is at its most atmospheric when runners take to the streets in midwinter. Surrounded by candlelight, starlight and perhaps the Northern Lights themselves, the race is an experience unlike any other. It is a place where community, endurance and Arctic magic meet – a memory that will remain long after the finish line has been crossed. Regardless of your running experience, the Polar Night Marathon is definitely an experience beyond the ordinary.