This year, Wizz Air Sofia Marathon 2026 has another gift for all registered participants – free admission to some of Sofia’s most interesting museums and galleries on October 9, 10 and 11.

The initiative includes the National Gallery / The Palace, National Gallery / Kvadrat 500, National Gallery / Museum of Christian Art, and the Regional History Museum / Sofia. Four different venues where you can discover Bulgarian and international art, Christian artistic heritage, and the rich history of Sofia.

Don’t miss the opportunity not only to run through the streets of the Bulgarian capital, but also to discover its history and art. Whether you are visiting Sofia especially for the marathon or the city is your home, race weekend is a great opportunity to see it from a different perspective.

How to Take Advantage of the Free Admission

Free admission is available on October 9, 10 and 11, 2026, to all registered Wizz Air Sofia Marathon 2026 participants.

To take advantage of it:

• Show your race bib at the entrance to the respective museum or gallery.
• During your visit, you will receive a stamp on the back of your race bib from the respective venue.

National Gallery / The Palace

Address: 1 Knyaz Alexander I Square
Opening hours: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, ticket office until 5:30 PM

The Palace is not only one of the National Gallery’s central exhibition venues but also part of Sofia’s history. The former Royal Palace now hosts exhibitions of Bulgarian and international art, while the building itself preserves traces of the eras of Prince Alexander I and Prince Ferdinand. Since 1953, the former palace has housed the National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum.

And there is something else that makes its location particularly special during marathon weekend – The Palace is situated right on Knyaz Alexander I Battenberg Square, home to the marathon’s Start/Finish area.

National Gallery / Kvadrat 500

Address: 1 19 Fevruari Street, St. Alexander Nevsky Square
Opening hours: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, ticket office until 5:30 PM

Kvadrat 500 is one of the National Gallery’s main museum complexes and a place where visitors can discover both Bulgarian and international art. The complex brings together historic buildings, while its present-day appearance is the result of a major reconstruction completed between 2012 and 2014.

It is located right next to St. Alexander Nevsky Square – another iconic Sofia landmark along the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon course.

National Gallery / Museum of Christian Art

Address: Crypt of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Alexander Nevsky Square
Opening hours: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, ticket office until 5:30 PM

The Museum of Christian Art is located in the crypt of one of Sofia’s most recognisable landmarks – St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It offers an opportunity to add an encounter with Bulgaria’s Christian artistic tradition to your marathon experience, all within one of the capital’s most iconic buildings.

Regional History Museum – Sofia

Address: 1 Banski Square
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, last admission at 5:30 PM

Located in the beautiful former Central Mineral Baths building, the Regional History Museum tells the story of Sofia through different periods – from prehistory and Antiquity to the modern city. Its collections include archaeological finds from Sofia and the surrounding region, as well as an extensive numismatic collection of more than 6,500 coins and banknotes.

One Marathon, Another Way to Experience Sofia

On October 10 and 11, Sofia’s streets will belong to the runners, but marathon weekend can be much more than the race itself.

Take your race bib with you and make time to discover some of the history, architecture and art of the city you’ll be running through.

October 9–11, 2026
Free admission for registered participants upon presentation of a race bib.