Thousands of runners took to the streets of Azerbaijan's capital Baku on May 3 as the “Baku Marathon 2026” kicked off under the dynamic slogan “Win the Wind.”

Launched by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the 9th edition of the event has drawn participants from across the globe, including the United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and host nation Azerbaijan, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

The marathon’s 42 km main route begins at State Flag Square and stretches to the scenic Sea Breeze area, where runners cross the finish line. Special finish zones have also been set up for participants competing in the 10 km and 21 km distances along the approved course.