United Kingdom
Manchester Marathon 2027
Sunday 18 April 2027 · confirmed date
177 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 18 April 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 09:00
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Loop
- Trafford, near Old Trafford stadium to Oxford Road, outside the University of Manchester
- Total climb
- 54 m
- Course record, men
- 2:10:46
- Johnny Mellor, 2022
- Course record, women
- 2:29:04
- Becky Briggs, 2022
- Finishers
- 21,887
- in 2024
- Time limit
- 6h00
- First held
- 2012
The race
About the Manchester Marathon
The Manchester Marathon is the UK's second-largest marathon after London and one of its flattest. The modern race began in 2012 and has grown quickly: the 2026 edition welcomed more than 42,000 participants and big crowds along the route. The city's marathon history goes back much further, to a 1908 race that started and finished at a pub in Warburton, in Trafford.
The appeal is simple: a course with only about 54 metres of climbing, lively support through Trafford's town centres and a finish in the city. It suits first-timers who want company all the way and runners chasing a spring PB.
Course
The Manchester Marathon course
The race starts in Trafford near Old Trafford and heads out through Stretford toward Sale, on broad roads that make it easy to settle into pace early. The course continues south through Timperley to Altrincham, the far end of the route.
The return leg brings you back through the Trafford suburbs and south Manchester toward the city centre, finishing on Oxford Road outside the University of Manchester. With only about 54 metres of climbing there are no real hills; the challenge is pacing the long, straight stretches of the second half, where spring wind can make the kilometres feel longer than they are.
Race-day weather
Mid-April mornings in Manchester are usually around 7–12 °C, with a breeze and a chance of showers.
Train
Training for the Manchester Marathon 2027
25 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 28 December 2026 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 25 January 2027 |
For this course
Manchester is flat, so train for even, sustained effort rather than hills: long runs with marathon-pace blocks on flat roads, and tempo sessions to hold your rhythm when the field thins out. An April race means a winter build-up through cold, wet, dark months, so plan indoor or well-lit options and keep your long runs going whatever the weather. Practise drinking on the move, as the field is large and aid stations get busy.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Manchester Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
General entry is first come, first served rather than a ballot, and it fills fast: public places for 2027 were taken within days of opening. Charity places remain an option once general entry is full.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by A.S.O. UK
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Manchester Marathon 2027?
The Manchester Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 18 April 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Manchester Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 28 December 2026, a 20-week plan on 30 November 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Manchester Marathon course flat?
Yes. The course has about 54 metres of total elevation gain, which makes it one of the flattest big marathons in the UK.
What is the time limit for the Manchester Marathon?
Six hours for all participants.
Is there a ballot for the Manchester Marathon?
No. General entry is first come, first served, and recent editions have filled within days, so watch for the opening date. Charity places are also available.
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