Spain
Valencia Marathon 2026
Sunday 6 December 2026 · confirmed date
44 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 6 December 2026
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 08:15
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Loop
- Plaça de la Marató, by the City of Arts and Sciences to City of Arts and Sciences (blue carpet over the water)
- Course record, men
- 2:01:48
- Sisay Lemma, 2023
- Course record, women
- 2:14:00
- Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2025
- Finishers
- 30,523
- in 2025
- Time limit
- 5h30
- First held
- 1981
The race
About the Valencia Marathon
The Valencia Marathon has been held since 1981 and in recent years has become one of the fastest marathons in the world. Its course records, 2:01:48 for men and 2:14:00 for women, rank among the fastest times ever run, and the race holds a World Athletics Platinum Label.
Run on the first Sunday of December, it combines a flat course at sea level, mild weather and a city that turns out in numbers. More than 30,000 runners finished in 2025, many of them chasing a personal best. It suits anyone aiming for a fast time, and runners who want a late-season marathon after an autumn build.
Course
The Valencia Marathon course
The race starts at Plaça de la Marató beside the City of Arts and Sciences and soon reaches the port, passing the Veles e Vents building in the early kilometres. The route also takes in the seaside district of El Cabanyal and the Viveros gardens, mostly on wide avenues.
At about 28 km runners pass the Torres de Serranos, the medieval city gate on the edge of the historic centre. The final kilometres head back to the City of Arts and Sciences for a finish on a blue carpet laid over the water. The course is flat, at sea level and full of long straights; the main risks are starting too fast and a warm, sunny morning.
Race-day weather
Early December mornings in Valencia are usually mild and often sunny, around 10–16°C, and it can feel warm in the sun by the end of the race.
Train
Training for the Valencia Marathon 2027
Under twelve weeks to go is short for a marathon block, so these dates count down to the edition after, on Sunday 5 December 2027.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 21 June 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 19 July 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 16 August 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 13 September 2027 |
For this course
Valencia is in early December, so your build runs through autumn, often in cool weather that suits quality training. Because the course is flat and fast, focus on marathon-pace work on flat roads and long runs with extended segments at goal pace. Race mornings can turn warm once the sun is up, so practise drinking on the move and decide in advance how you will adjust pace if it is warmer than expected. Coming from northern Europe, December sunshine can feel warmer than the thermometer suggests.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Valencia Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Entry for 2026 opened with a priority period for the previous year's finishers, followed by a ballot for the remaining places; the field is capped at 36,000. Runners can apply in groups of up to three. Official tour operators also hold bibs, and unsuccessful ballot applicants can join a waiting list.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by SD Correcaminos
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Valencia Marathon 2026?
The Valencia Marathon 2026 is on Sunday 6 December 2026. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Valencia Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 16 August 2027, a 20-week plan on 19 July 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Valencia Marathon course fast?
Yes. It is flat, at sea level and on wide avenues, and both course records rank among the fastest marathon times ever run.
How do I get into the Valencia Marathon?
For 2026, finishers of the previous edition had a priority period, and the other places were allocated by ballot. Bibs are also available through official tour operators, and there is a waiting list for unsuccessful applicants.
What is the time limit for the Valencia Marathon?
The official limit is 5 hours 30 minutes from crossing the start line, and runners must reach 25 km before a set cut-off time.
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