Iceland
Reykjavik Marathon 2027
Saturday 21 August 2027 · confirmed date
302 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Saturday 21 August 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 08:40
- local time
- Course
- Mostly flat · Loop
- Sæmundargata, by the University of Iceland to Geirsgata, by the Reykjavík Art Museum
- Total climb
- 174 m
- Course record, men
- 2:17:06
- Ceslovas Kundrotas, 1993
- Course record, women
- 2:38:47
- Angharad Mair, 1996
- Time limit
- 6h30
- First held
- 1984
The race
About the Reykjavik Marathon
The Reykjavik Marathon has been held every year since 1984, apart from 2020 and 2021, and takes place on the city's Culture Night, so the whole town is out on the day. Sponsored by Íslandsbanki, it brings together a marathon, half marathon, 10 km and fun run, with more than 16,000 participants registered in 2026 and around 1,500 runners each year in the marathon itself.
The course follows much of Reykjavik's coastline and its green valleys, with sea and mountain views. It is a relaxed, friendly race that suits travelling runners and anyone who wants a marathon with a strong sense of place. The weather, more than the course, is usually the main challenge.
Course
The Reykjavik Marathon course
The marathon starts on Sæmundargata by the University of Iceland and heads west along the Ægisíða shore to Seltjarnarnes, then back east through the Grandi harbour area and the city centre. From there it follows Sæbraut along the north coast into Laugardalur.
The second half runs through Laugarnes and the Tún district, past Öskjuhlíð and into Fossvogur and the Elliðaárdalur valley, then out to Sævarhöfði and Bryggjuhverfi before the return to the finish on Geirsgata by the Reykjavík Art Museum. Total climbing is about 174 metres, spread over gentle rises. Long coastal stretches are exposed to wind, and the roads are not fully closed to traffic.
Race-day weather
Race morning in late August is usually cool, around 9–13 °C, often windy and with a good chance of showers.
Train
Training for the Reykjavik Marathon 2027
43 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 8 March 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 5 April 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 3 May 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 31 May 2027 |
For this course
Reykjavik's course is gentle, but the North Atlantic weather is not: prepare for wind, rain and cool temperatures in late August. Do some long runs in poor weather and practise holding effort, not pace, into a headwind. Include rolling routes to cover the 174 metres of climbing, and train on paths as well as roads, since much of the route follows coastal and valley paths. If you are travelling, plan to arrive a day or two early.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Reykjavik Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Entry is by online registration, which stays open until race day unless a distance sells out. Marathon runners must be 18 or older.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Íþróttabandalag Reykjavíkur
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Reykjavik Marathon 2027?
The Reykjavik Marathon 2027 is on Saturday 21 August 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Reykjavik Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 3 May 2027, a 20-week plan on 5 April 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Reykjavik Marathon course flat?
Fairly. The full marathon has about 174 metres of total elevation gain, mostly in gentle rises, but wind along the coast is often the bigger factor.
What is the time limit for the Reykjavik Marathon?
Six hours 30 minutes.
What is the weather like for the Reykjavik Marathon?
Usually cool, around 9–13 °C, often with wind and showers. In 2026 runners had a mix of sunshine and, mostly, showers.
More marathons nearby
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