The two-day event not only broke the all-time participation record—surpassing the previous high of 31,293 set in 2019—but also marked new milestones in the number of international runners and the proportion of female participants. The massive crowd and beautiful weather transformed the race, which started on Margaret Island and passed through some of the most scenic parts of the capital, into a true celebration of running—an unforgettable festival of smiles. The huge media buzz surrounding the 40th Telekom Vivicittá, combined with strong social media activity from participants, reached a wide audience, promoting the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
Nearly the entire country was represented at the 40th Telekom Vivicittá: runners came from 1,177 Hungarian towns and cities, with half of the domestic participants arriving from outside Budapest. For the first time in the event’s history, women were in the majority, making up 51% of participants. Among Hungarian runners completing their first half marathon, 10 km, or 7 km race, this figure was even higher at 59%. For 3,600 Hungarians, the Vivicittá marked their first “major” running achievement—1,620 in the half marathon, 1,120 in the 10 km, and 1,030 in the 7 km distances.
The anniversary event featured 14 separate starts across 10 different distances, offering something for everyone—from the 940-meter Family Run to the 21.1 km half marathon. The event’s popularity was evident, with all race slots sold out before the weekend.
International running tourism also hit a new high: over 3,300 runners from 106 countries came to Budapest specifically for the event, with foreigners making up 25% of the half marathon field. Most international runners came from Germany, Slovakia, and France.
“It’s an amazing feeling to see that the 40th Telekom Vivicittá has become the biggest and most successful Vivicittá of all time,” said Árpád Kocsis, CEO of organizer Budapest Sport Office (BSI), who also participated in the 7 km and 10 km runs. “The 31,530 participants aren’t just a number—they show that Vivicittá, running, and recreational sports in general are becoming increasingly popular in Hungary. Our goal is to get more and more people moving regularly, and there’s no better motivation than seeing thousands of smiling faces crossing the finish line. This year is special for us—it’s the 40th Telekom Vivicittá, and several of our other major races are also celebrating anniversaries. This success is the result of decades of work, and we’re proud to have built such a strong community and to contribute to the growing popularity of active, healthy lifestyles in Hungary.”
Live music added to the atmosphere along the entire course, with 20 music spots on the half marathon route and 7 on the 10 km course helping runners find their rhythm. Margaret Island was packed, and large cheering crowds along the course—from both the Buda and Pest sides—created a festive vibe, boosted by the perfect spring weather for running.
The event lived up to the name Vivicittá (“Long live the city!”) and its mission of city protection. The half marathon route, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, passed through iconic, UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites in Budapest. Runners’ comfort and energy levels were supported by 8 fully equipped refreshment stations along the half marathon course. The organizers provided an impressive amount of refreshments: runners consumed 4,500 liters of isotonic drinks, 2,100 bananas, 60 kg of glucose tablets, and a total of 42,000 liters of mineral water (10,000 liters on the course and 32,000 liters at the finish area) during the weekend. The smooth execution of the entire event was made possible by 1,300 organizers and volunteers.
At the festival area set up on Margaret Island, sponsors engaged with the public through various activities, including the title sponsor Magyar Telekom, the State Secretariat for Active Hungary, and the Sport Nation Program of the State Secretariat for Sports.
The 40th Telekom Vivicittá also focused on charity. Participants and supporters raised over 12 million forints for six featured charitable organizations.
The diversity of the event was reflected in the wide range of participants. People of all ages took part: the oldest runner in the 10 km race was 87-year-old Ferenc Richter, while 77-year-old László Gyulai completed the half marathon. The next generation was represented by 6,100 schoolchildren participating in the shorter distances. In the professional championships, 1,600 IT professionals, lawyers, economists, engineers, doctors, and teachers competed. The corporate sector was also well represented, with nearly 3,000 employees from over 100 companies participating in the “Run the Company” program. A special highlight of the weekend was the SUHANJ! Run with 650 participants, where athletes with and without disabilities ran together. The 900+ participants of the City Walk and the 1,800 people in the Gondosóra Walk also drew great interest. Team running was another hit, with 3,500 runners forming 1,410 relay teams.
Famous runners also appeared in the crowd—actress Réka Tenki, star of the movie Futni mentem („I Went Running”), participated in her first race, having taken up running thanks to the film. Other familiar faces included Olympic boxing champion István „Kokó” Kovács and renowned toxicologist Dr. Gábor Zacher. Olympic modern pentathlon champion Michelle Gulyás sounded the starting horn for the half marathon.
