2026 Verdi Marathon

The Verdi Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026, will take place in Busseto, Italy, within the Emilia-Romagna region. The event is a road race that spans multiple municipalities, connecting historic towns associated with the composer Giuseppe Verdi. On this date, Busseto is expected to experience mild to moderate temperatures, with daytime highs around 7°C and nighttime lows dropping to 1°C. Light winds and occasional rain are possible, which may affect the course conditions. Participants will navigate a route that begins in Salsomaggiore Terme and concludes in Busseto, Soragna, and Fontanellato, each offering unique cultural and historical landmarks. The event includes a full marathon, a 30-kilometer race, and a half marathon, all starting from the same location but finishing in different towns. The course is FIDAL-certified and part of the Italian national calendar, with timing provided by EVODATA.

What distances are available for this event?

• →Full Marathon: 42.195 km
• →Prince Diofebo Race: 28.800 km (listed as "30k")
• →Half Marathon: 21.097 km

What are the start and finish locations for each race?

• →Full Marathon: Start in Salsomaggiore Terme, Viale Matteotti; finish in Busseto, Piazza Verdi
• →Prince Diofebo Race: Start in Salsomaggiore Terme, Viale Matteotti; finish in Soragna, Piazza Garibaldi
• →Half Marathon: Start in Salsomaggiore Terme, Viale Matteotti; finish in Fontanellato, Via Pigorini (Rocca side)

What are the time limits for each race?

• →Full Marathon: 5 hours 30 minutes (course closes at 3:00 PM)
• →Prince Diofebo Race: 4 hours 00 minutes
• →Half Marathon: 3 hours 00 minutes (specific limit for the Fontanellato half)

What is the course description for each race?

• →Full Marathon: A point-to-point road race through the Verdian Lands, starting in Salsomaggiore Terme and ending in Busseto, Verdi’s hometown. The route passes through countryside and smaller towns, with traffic controlled in sections.
• →Prince Diofebo Race: A road route from Salsomaggiore Terme to Soragna, traversing the Parma region’s provincial roads.
• →Half Marathon: A road course from Salsomaggiore Terme to Fontanellato, finishing near the Rocca (castle). A shorter "Salso-Fidenza" segment is mentioned, with a 1h15 limit.

What are the awards for each race?

• →Full Marathon: Finisher medal for all; top 3 male and female overall, plus top 3 per FIDAL category (excluding overall winners)
• →Prince Diofebo Race: Finisher medal for all; top 10 men and top 6 women
• →Half Marathon: Finisher medal for all; top 3 male and female overall, plus top 3 per FIDAL category (excluding overall winners)

What are the logistics for bib collection and expo?

• →Expo and bib collection will take place at Tommasini Civic Court, Viale Filippo Corridoni 1, Salsomaggiore Terme
• →Hours: Saturday, February 21: 10:00 – 20:00; Sunday, February 22: 07:00 – 08:45
• →Required: Valid ID; confirmation letter recommended but not mandatory
• →Delegation allowed with a signed delegation letter and photocopy of the delegator’s ID
• →Medical certificate required for Italian residents based on FIDAL/Runcard/EPS rules

What are the bag drop and shower facilities?

• →Bag drop at Viale Matteotti, open until 08:45 AM
• →Bags must be marked with the sticker from the tech envelope and transported to the finish line gym
• →Showers and changing rooms are available at the start area (Salsomaggiore) and finish areas (Busseto, Fontanellato, Soragna, Fidenza)

What is the shuttle service schedule?

• →To Start (Morning):

- 07:00 AM: From Busseto (Piazza), Fontanellato (Sports Hall), Soragna (Piazza Garibaldi)

- 07:30 AM: From Fidenza Station

• →From Finish (Afternoon):

- Buses depart from Fidenza at 11:45 AM; from Fontanellato and Soragna at various times

- Exact schedules published on www.verdimarathon.it one week prior

- Retired athletes can pick up bags at Fontanellato and Soragna

What refreshments and aid stations are available?

• →Water and food stops at km 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and the finish line
• →Sponge stations at km 7.5, 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, 27.5, 32.5, 37.5 (subject to weather conditions)

What are the participation requirements?

• →Eligibility based on residency and federation membership (FIDAL, Runcard, EPS, or foreign federation)
• →Italian residents:

- Marathon/30k: Minimum age 20 (Promises category) for Runcard; standard FIDAL rules apply

- Half Marathon: Minimum age 18 (Junior category) for Runcard members (20 for some categories)

• →Non-residents (foreigners/Italians abroad):

- Minimum age 18 (20 for Runcard users) by race day

- Foreign federation tessera or Runcard required

• →Sports Tourism participants: No federation license required, but a Disclaimer Form must be filled out

What are the important notes for runners?

• →The course is not fully closed; roads reopen progressively as the time limit passes
• →Athletes must respect traffic codes where barriers are lifted
• →If a runner retires, they cannot access their bag at the finish line via standard transport; they must use the pick-up service or arrange independent retrieval
• →Bibs are color-coded by distance for easy identification by staff and volunteers