The 41st LifeStar Malta Marathon is set to mark a major milestone in the event’s history, with record participation figures, a strong international elite field and World Athletics certified courses confirming its growing status on the global road running calendar.
Scheduled for Sunday 22 February, the LifeStar Malta Marathon will welcome 6,200 registered runners, surpassing the previous participation record set in 2025 by more than 1,100 athletes. With competitors travelling from 50 countries, Malta will become a focal point for international distance running.
In total, 85 nations will be represented on the start line, highlighting the event’s broad international appeal. The largest overseas contingent comes from the United Kingdom, with 1,027 runners registered, followed by Poland with 430 participants and Italy with 315. Local engagement remains strong, with 1,900 Maltese runners taking part, alongside 600 foreign residents living in Malta, reinforcing the marathon’s importance both within the community and for sports tourism.
The elite field for the 41st edition features several established international athletes. Leading the men’s race is Moroccan runner Redouan Nouini, the current course record holder, who won the 2023 edition in a time of 2:13:18. Nouini arrives in Malta following a recent victory at the XXIII Ruta Carlos III Half Marathon, where he recorded a time of 1:19:39.
Among his main competitors is fellow Moroccan Mousaab Hadout, who finished second at the 2025 LifeStar Malta Marathon in 2:15:33. Hadout’s consistent performances place him among the leading contenders for this year’s title.
The women’s race is expected to attract significant attention, with Jamima Farley once again on the start list. The Scottish runner, who is based in Malta, has won the past three editions of the marathon and holds the women’s course record of 2:35:41, set during wet conditions in 2024. Challenging her will be Morocco’s Sana Achahbar and Polish athlete Dominika Stelmach, who claimed victories at the Pisa Marathon and the Palermo International Half Marathon in 2025.
The Half Marathon competition will feature Moroccan runner Bilal Marhoum among the leading contenders, while Hungary’s Edit Filó is expected to compete in the women’s 5K race. Filó previously won the LifeStar Malta Half Marathon in 2025 with a time of 1:21:25.
A key development for this edition is the official World Athletics certification of both the marathon and half marathon courses. The certification process was completed following technical measurements carried out by international course measurer Giuseppe Sclafani, ensuring that all performances will be officially recognised and eligible for inclusion in international rankings.
Race Director Joe Micallef highlighted the significance of this year’s event, noting that the record participation numbers and certified courses reflect the continued growth of the LifeStar Malta Marathon and its position as a recognised event within the European road running circuit.
