The Sydney Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, August 30, bringing thousands of runners and some of the world's leading marathon athletes to one of the most spectacular courses in the sport.
The race features defending men's champion Hailemaryam Kiros, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, world champion Alphonce Simbu, former Boston and London winner Sisay Lemma, and a strong international wheelchair field.
This guide covers the Sydney Marathon 2026 schedule, start times, course, elite field, Australian Marathon Championships, 2025 results, course records, and how to watch the race live.
Table of Contents
- Sydney Marathon 2026 at a Glance
- What Is the Sydney Marathon?
- Date, Start Times and Course
- Record Field Size and Ballot Demand
- Men's Elite Field
- Women's Elite Field
- Wheelchair Elite Field
- Australian Marathon Championships
- Key Storylines to Watch
- 2025 Results and Course Records
- How to Watch Sydney Marathon 2026
- FAQ
- Related Articles
Sydney Marathon 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Race | TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS |
| Date | Sunday, August 30, 2026 |
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Elite marathon start | 6:30 am AEST |
| Elite wheelchair start | 6:15 am AEST |
| Course start | Miller Street, North Sydney |
| Finish | Sydney Opera House |
| Expected field | About 41,000 runners |
| World Marathon Major | Yes |
| Men's defending champion | Hailemaryam Kiros |
| Women's defending champion | Sifan Hassan is not competing |
| Men's course record | 2:06:06, Hailemaryam Kiros |
| Women's course record | 2:18:22, Sifan Hassan |
What Is the Sydney Marathon?
The Sydney Marathon 2026 is the second edition of the race as an Abbott World Marathon Major.
Sydney became the seventh Major in November 2024, with its first Major edition held in 2025. The Abbott World Marathon Majors series has since expanded again, with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon becoming the eighth Major in June 2026.
The Sydney Marathon has its roots in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The standalone event began in 2001 and has developed into one of Australia's biggest road-running events.
The 2026 race is also a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon.
Date, Start Times and Course
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The Sydney Marathon 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Key marathon start times are:
- 6:15 am AEST: Elite wheelchair races
- 6:30 am AEST: Elite men's and women's marathon
- 6:32 am AEST: Mass participation waves begin
The marathon covers the full 42.195 kilometers, starting on Miller Street in North Sydney and finishing near the Sydney Opera House.
The route crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and passes several of Sydney's best-known locations, including Pyrmont, Barangaroo, The Rocks, Centennial Park and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
The course includes approximately 262 meters of climbing and is considered moderately hilly rather than a completely flat city marathon.
The marathon has a seven-hour cut-off measured from each runner's individual start.
Sydney is part of a busy international endurance calendar in 2026. Readers can also follow the 2026 Vuelta a España route and race guide for another major road-racing event.
Record Field Size and Ballot Demand
Sydney's growth has been remarkable since the event entered the World Marathon Majors system.
Around 41,000 runners from more than 160 countries are expected for the 2026 race. That represents a substantial increase from the approximately 35,000 finishers recorded in 2025.
The 2026 ballot attracted more than 123,000 applications, showing the enormous international demand for places in one of the newest World Marathon Majors.
The event had around 5,300 entrants in 2022, before its transformation into a Major dramatically increased its international profile.
Men's Elite Field
Kiros Defends His Sydney Title
Ethiopia's Hailemaryam Kiros returns to defend his Sydney Marathon title and his course record of 2:06:06.
Kiros produced a breakthrough performance in 2025, winning Sydney's first Major edition and setting the fastest men's marathon ever recorded on the course.
The rest of the 2025 podium is also returning. Addisu Gobena, who ran 2:06:16 last year, and Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana, who recorded 2:06:47, will both be looking for another podium finish.
Lemma and Simbu Lead the Challenge
Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma arrives with the fastest personal best in the field at 2:01:48. The former Boston and London Marathon winner gives Kiros a major challenge.
Reigning world marathon champion Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania is another leading contender.
Kenya's Timothy Kiplagat, who has a personal best of 2:02:55, adds further depth to the field. His personal best came from his runner-up finish at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
Other leading contenders include Vincent Ngetich, Dawit Wolde, and Leul Gebresilase.
One of the most interesting entries is Ethiopian track star Hagos Gebrhiwet, the second-fastest 5,000m runner in history, who makes his marathon debut in Sydney.
Scotland-based Australian Andy Buchanan leads a group of seven Australian men in the elite field.
Women's Elite Field
Jepchirchir Leads the Field
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya heads the women's elite field.
Her personal best of 2:14:43 makes her the fastest woman entered and puts her among the leading favorites for the title.
Jepchirchir has already won major marathons, including Boston, London, and New York, giving her extensive experience at the highest level.
Hassan Will Not Defend Her Title
Defending champion Sifan Hassan will not compete in the 2026 Sydney Marathon.
Hassan won the 2025 Sydney Marathon in 2:18:22, setting the current women's course record.
She withdrew from the London Marathon in March after an Achilles injury and has subsequently been listed for the 2026 New York Marathon.
Strong International Opposition
Jepchirchir's challengers include fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai and four-time Olympic medalist Vivian Cheruiyot.
Tanzania's national record holder Magdalena Shauri also arrives with strong credentials, including a podium finish at the Chicago Marathon.
Other notable contenders include Uganda's Stella Chesang, Ethiopia's Ruti Aga, and compatriot Haven Hailu.
Chesang won the Osaka Women's Marathon in January, while Aga successfully defended her Xiamen Marathon title and Hailu won the Seoul Marathon.
Wheelchair Elite Field
The wheelchair races feature another strong international line-up.
Australia's Madison de Rozario headlines the women's field on home soil. The two-time Sydney Marathon champion and two-time London Marathon winner will face a world-class challenge.
Her rivals include Switzerland's Manuela Schär, a multiple Abbott World Marathon Majors series champion and marathon world record holder, along with American star Tatyana McFadden.
The women's field also includes Eden Rainbow-Cooper, Tsubasa Nakamine, Michelle Wheeler, Vanessa De Sousa, and Australia's Eliza Stankovic-Mowle.
In the men's wheelchair race, Britain's David Weir makes his Sydney debut.
The six-time Paralympic champion and six-time London Marathon winner faces Paralympic champions Jin Hua and Daniel Romanchuk, Japan's Tomoki Suzuki, and former Boston Marathon champion Josh Cassidy.
Australian Marathon Championships
The Australian Marathon Championships will be decided within the Sydney Marathon.
The 2026 championship offers what organizers describe as the richest prize purse in the history of the event.
Registered state athletics association athletes can compete without an additional marathon entry fee, subject to the championship qualification standards.
The qualifying standards are:
- Men: 2:30:00 marathon
- Women: 2:50:00 marathon
- Men's half marathon: 68:30
- Women's half marathon: 77:30
The championships include open medals as well as master categories from ages 40-44 through 60 and over.
Key Storylines to Watch
Can Kiros Defend His Title?
Kiros returns as defending champion and course-record holder, but the men's field is considerably stronger than a typical city marathon field.
Lemma's 2:01:48 personal best and Simbu's world championship credentials make the men's race particularly difficult to predict.
For readers interested in other major endurance events, the 2026 Vuelta a España route and race guide provides another look at one of Europe's biggest road-racing events.
Can Jepchirchir Break Hassan's Course Record?
Hassan's 2:18:22 is the women's course record.
Jepchirchir's 2:14:43 personal best is considerably faster, but a marathon course record depends on weather, pacing, and race conditions as much as an athlete's personal best.
Gebrhiwet's Marathon Debut
Hagos Gebrhiwet's move from elite track racing to the marathon is one of the most intriguing stories of the race.
His 5,000m credentials are exceptional, but the marathon presents a very different physical and tactical challenge.
A Major Race for Australian Distance Running
The large Australian contingent gives the 2026 event an additional domestic storyline.
Seven Australian men are included in the elite field, while Madison de Rozario leads the home challenge in the wheelchair competition.
Readers following women's endurance and road racing can also explore the 2026 Tour de France Femmes route, teams and riders for another major 2026 endurance event.
The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar is another useful guide for fans following international cycling throughout the season.
2025 Results and Course Records
The 2025 Sydney Marathon was the race's first edition as an Abbott World Marathon Major.
Both the men's and women's winners established new course records.
| Position | Men | Time | Women | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) | 2:06:06 CR | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 2:18:22 CR |
| 2 | Addisu Gobena (ETH) | 2:06:16 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 2:18:56 |
| 3 | Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) | 2:06:47 | Workenesh Edesa (ETH) | 2:22:15 |
Hassan's victory lowered the previous women's course record of 2:21:40 by more than three minutes.
Around 35,000 runners finished the 2025 race, compared with approximately 5,300 entrants in 2022.
How to Watch Sydney Marathon 2026
Australian viewers can watch the TCS Sydney Marathon 2026 live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand.
SBS's live coverage begins at 6:00 am AEST on Sunday, August 30.
The television broadcast runs until approximately 10:30 am AEST, while SBS On Demand continues live coverage until 1:30 pm AEST. A full replay will also be available on SBS On Demand after the live coverage.
Sydney Marathon 2026 TV Schedule
| Coverage | Time |
|---|---|
| Live coverage begins | 6:00 am AEST |
| Elite marathon start | 6:30 am AEST |
| SBS television coverage | Until 10:30 am AEST |
| SBS On Demand coverage | Until 1:30 pm AEST |
| Replay | Available on SBS On Demand |
International viewers should check the official broadcast information available in their country, as coverage varies by territory.
FAQ
When is the Sydney Marathon 2026?
The Sydney Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, August 30, 2026. The elite marathon starts at 6:30 am AEST.
Where does the Sydney Marathon start and finish?
The marathon starts on Miller Street in North Sydney and finishes near the Sydney Opera House.
Who is defending the men's Sydney Marathon title?
Ethiopia's Hailemaryam Kiros is the defending men's champion and course-record holder.
Who won the Sydney Marathon women's race in 2025?
Sifan Hassan won the 2025 women's race in 2:18:22, setting the current women's course record.
Is Sifan Hassan racing in Sydney in 2026?
No. Hassan is not competing in the 2026 Sydney Marathon.
How many runners are expected in the 2026 race?
Organizers expect approximately 41,000 runners from more than 160 countries.
Is Sydney a World Marathon Major?
Yes. Sydney became the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in November 2024 and held its first Major race in 2025. Cape Town became the eighth Major in June 2026.
What are the Sydney Marathon course records?
The men's course record is 2:06:06, set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025.
The women's course record is 2:18:22, set by Sifan Hassan in 2025.
How can I watch the Sydney Marathon 2026?
Australian viewers can watch live coverage on SBS and SBS On Demand from 6:00 am AEST. SBS television coverage ends at about 10:30 am, with SBS On Demand continuing until 1:30 pm.
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