Australia · World Marathon Major
Sydney Marathon 2027
Sunday 29 August 2027 · confirmed date
310 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 29 August 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 06:30
- local time
- Course
- Rolling · Point to point
- Miller Street, North Sydney to Sydney Opera House
- Total climb
- 313 m
- Course record, men
- 2:04:42
- Addisu Gobena, 2026
- Course record, women
- 2:18:22
- Sifan Hassan, 2025
- Finishers
- 36,295
- in 2026
- Time limit
- 7h00
- First held
- 2001
The race
About the Sydney Marathon
The Sydney Marathon was first staged in 2001 as a legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and in 2025 it became the first World Marathon Major in the Southern Hemisphere. Demand has grown quickly: the 2026 race had more than 36,000 finishers from over 140 countries.
The course is one of the most scenic in the series, crossing the Harbour Bridge early and finishing in front of the Sydney Opera House. It is also more undulating than most big-city marathons, so it suits runners who enjoy a varied course and a cool, late-winter race more than those chasing a flat personal best.
Course
The Sydney Marathon course
The race starts on Miller Street in North Sydney and crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the opening kilometres, with views over the harbour. It then winds through The Rocks, Pyrmont and the city centre before heading towards the eastern suburbs.
The second half follows Oxford Street and an out-and-back along Anzac Parade towards Kingsford, returning via Moore Park and Centennial Park before heading back to the harbour for the finish in front of the Opera House. One course analysis puts the total climb at about 313 m, with the hardest sections on the bridge early and in the eastern suburbs late, so run the first half with restraint.
Race-day weather
Late August is the end of the Sydney winter: race mornings are usually cool and often dry, around 8–12°C at the start and milder by late morning.
Train
Training for the Sydney Marathon 2027
44 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 15 March 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 12 April 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 10 May 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 7 June 2027 |
For this course
Sydney is run in late August, so for runners in the Northern Hemisphere the build falls in summer: you train in heat and race in cool air, which helps if you manage hydration well. The course is undulating, so include hill repeats and rolling long runs in the last eight weeks, with some climbing after 30 km. From Europe the time difference is large, so arrive early enough to sleep normally before race day, and do some sessions early in the morning to match the start.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Sydney Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Most places are allocated through a public ballot; the 2026 race drew more than 123,000 applications. Faster runners can apply to the High Performance Program, which offers guaranteed places against qualifying times. There are also charity places and official travel packages.
2027 lottery From 29 September 2026 to 19 October 2026 · closed
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Pont3
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Sydney Marathon 2027?
The Sydney Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 29 August 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Sydney Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 10 May 2027, a 20-week plan on 12 April 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
How do I get into the Sydney Marathon?
The main route is the public ballot; for 2027 it opened at the end of September 2026. Faster runners can apply through the High Performance Program, and places are also available through charities and official travel packages.
Is the Sydney Marathon course hilly?
It is more undulating than most big-city marathons, with climbing on the Harbour Bridge early and in the eastern suburbs late. Plan for hills rather than a flat course.
What is the time limit for the Sydney Marathon?
Seven hours, counted from when the start line closes. In practice you need to hold about 10 minutes per kilometre.
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