Greece
Athens Marathon 2026
Sunday 8 November 2026 · confirmed date
16 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 8 November 2026
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 08:30
- local time
- Course
- Hilly · Point to point
- Marathon (town of Marathonas) to Panathenaic Stadium, Athens
- Course record, men
- 2:10:34
- Edwin Kiptoo, 2023
- Course record, women
- 2:31:06
- Rasa Drazdauskaitė, 2010
- Finishers
- 17,041
- in 2024
- Time limit
- 8h00
- First held
- 1972
The race
About the Athens Marathon
The Athens Marathon, The Authentic, follows the road from the town of Marathon to Athens: the route of the Pheidippides legend and of the first Olympic marathon in 1896. It finishes inside the marble Panathenaic Stadium, which makes the last few hundred metres unlike any other race.
Organised by the Greek athletics federation, SEGAS, it is a race to run for the history and the finish rather than a fast time. The course climbs for much of its middle section, and the course records are modest by big-city standards. It suits experienced runners, and anyone who wants the marathon's original route on their list; the eight-hour limit leaves room for every pace.
Course
The Athens Marathon course
The race starts in Marathon and runs along Marathonos Avenue, with an early loop around the Tomb of the Athenians, the burial mound from the battle of 490 BC. The first 10 km or so, out to Nea Makri, are flat. Then the long climb begins, through Pikermi and Pallini: moderate gradients from roughly 11 to 17 km, then the hardest uphill running from about 25 km to the high point near Stavros at 30–31 km.
After that the road drops towards Athens along Mesogeion Avenue and into the city centre, past the US Embassy and the Athens Concert Hall. Save some legs for the descent: the race ends with a final 170 m inside the Panathenaic Stadium.
Race-day weather
Early-November mornings in Athens are usually mild, around 12–20°C and often sunny, which can feel warm on the long climb.
Train
Training for the Athens Marathon 2027
Under twelve weeks to go is short for a marathon block, so these dates count down to the edition after, on Sunday 14 November 2027.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 31 May 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 28 June 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 26 July 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 23 August 2027 |
For this course
Athens is a climbing course, so make hills the backbone of your last two months: long, steady uphill efforts of 10–20 minutes, and long runs with a sustained climb in their middle third. Practise running downhill too, because the final 11 km fall towards the city and punish untrained quads. A November race lets you train through autumn, but warm days are possible in Athens, so do a few sessions in warmer conditions and run the climb by effort, not pace.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Athens Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Registration is online through the official website, individually or as a group, and the marathon is open to runners aged 20 and over. Places go quickly: entries for 2026 are already closed. Some charities also offer places.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS)
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Athens Marathon 2026?
The Athens Marathon 2026 is on Sunday 8 November 2026. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Athens Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 26 July 2027, a 20-week plan on 28 June 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Athens Marathon course hard?
Yes, it is one of the tougher big marathons: the road climbs for much of the stretch between about 10 and 31 km before descending into Athens. Pace the climb by effort.
What is the time limit for the Athens Marathon?
Eight hours from the start of the race.
Is the 2026 Athens Marathon sold out?
Yes, online registration for the 2026 marathon has closed. Some charities offer places, and the next registration window will be announced on the official website.
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