If you’ve been thinking about running the Sydney Marathon next year, this is your last chance to make it happen. The ballot for the 2026 race closes at 11:59 p.m. AEDT this Friday, October 17, and once it’s shut, the only way to get a bib will be through an official charity or travel package.
The marathon, set for Sunday, August 30, 2026, has quickly become one of the most sought-after events in global running since being added to the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
In 2025, Sydney’s first year as an official Major, more than 80,000 people entered the ballot, and 35,000 runners from 156 countries were selected to take part, the largest field in Australian road running history. Just three years earlier, in 2022, the event drew barely 5,000 participants.
The explosion in popularity has been remarkable.
Entries are decided by a random draw, giving every applicant an equal chance of being selected regardless of when they enter. Results will be sent out by email on October 29, with runners in the High Performance Program notified a day earlier. Successful entrants will have their entry fee automatically processed when results are announced.
Those who miss out will still have other options to join the field through charity partnerships or travel operators, both of which typically open once the main ballot has closed.
Much of the Sydney Marathon’s appeal comes from its spectacular course.
If the route remains the same as last year, runners will start in North Sydney, cross the Harbour Bridge, wind through Pyrmont, Barangaroo, and The Rocks, and finish in front of the Sydney Opera House, a 42.195-kilometre journey that ends at one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
For elite athletes, Sydney now offers another major-stage opportunity to test themselves against the best in the world. For amateur runners, it’s a dream chance to earn one of the six stars that come with completing all of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
And for those who supported the event during its candidate years between 2022 and 2024, guaranteed entry remains available for one of the first three editions as a Major, depending on their preference.
The clock is ticking. With the ballot closing this Friday, runners have just a few days left to throw their name in and hope for the best. For those who get the nod, that moment crossing the Harbour Bridge and finishing beneath the sails of the Opera House next August will make every bit of waiting worth it.
