- What Is the Sydney Marathon?
- Sydney Marathon 2026 Date and Course
- 2026 Winners at a Glance
- Men's Race: Addisu Gobena Sets Course Record
- Women's Race: Peres Jepchirchir Wins
- Wheelchair Marathon Results
- Australian Marathon Championships
- Full Sydney Marathon 2026 Results
- Record Field Size
- Key Storylines
- Sydney Marathon Course Records
- FAQ
- Related Articles
What Is the Sydney Marathon?
The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS is one of the world's leading road marathons and is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
The 2026 race was held on Sunday, 30 August 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Sydney became the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in 2025, joining Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
The event has grown rapidly since becoming part of the World Marathon Majors. Its combination of a major international elite field, a large mass-participation race and a spectacular Sydney route has made it one of the most recognisable marathon events on the global calendar.
Sydney Marathon 2026 Date, Start, and Course
Date: Sunday, 30 August 2026
Distance: 42.195 kilometres
Start: North Sydney
Finish: Sydney Opera House
Status: Abbott World Marathon Majors
The marathon starts in North Sydney before taking runners across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. The route then passes through several central Sydney districts before finishing close to the Sydney Opera House.
The course is not considered a flat marathon. Runners face a number of climbs and descents during the 42.195-kilometer journey, making pacing an important part of the race.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge provides one of the most recognizable sections of the course, while the closing kilometres through central Sydney create a spectacular setting for the finish.
Sydney Marathon 2026 Winners
| Race | Winner | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's marathon | Addisu Gobena | ETH | 2:04:42 CR |
| Women's marathon | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 2:18:31 |
| Men's wheelchair | Daniel Romanchuk | USA | 1:26:50 CR |
| Women's wheelchair | Manuela Schär | SUI | 1:42:04 CR |
Men's Race: Addisu Gobena Sets a New Course Record
Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena produced the outstanding performance of the men's race, winning the Sydney Marathon in 2:04:42 and breaking the previous course record of 2:06:06 set by fellow Ethiopian Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025.
The victory was especially significant because Gobena had finished second behind Kiros at the previous edition. One year later, he returned to Sydney and converted that disappointment into a course-record victory.
The men's race developed into a remarkably fast contest. Seven athletes remained in contention deep into the marathon, with the leaders still running at a pace capable of threatening the course record.
Gobena and fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele eventually broke clear during the closing stages. Gobena produced the stronger finish and crossed the line first in 2:04:42.
Debele finished just four seconds behind in 2:04:46. Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana and Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu both recorded 2:04:57.
Defending champion Kiros finished sixth in 2:05:16. Although he ran faster than his winning performance from 2025, the extraordinary pace of the 2026 race kept him off the podium.
Men's Top 10 Results
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addisu Gobena | ETH | 2:04:42 CR |
| 2 | Chimdessa Debele | ETH | 2:04:46 |
| 3 | Tebello Ramakongoana | LES | 2:04:57 |
| 4 | Alphonce Simbu | TAN | 2:04:57 |
| 5 | Jemal Mekonnen | ETH | 2:04:59 |
| 6 | Hailemaryam Kiros | ETH | 2:05:16 |
| 7 | Vincent Ngetich | KEN | 2:05:28 |
| 8 | Dawit Wolde | ETH | 2:06:41 |
| 9 | Kennedy Kimutai | KEN | 2:06:50 |
| 10 | Gilbert Kibet | KEN | 2:07:13 |
Women's Race: Peres Jepchirchir Wins in 2:18:31
Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won the women's Sydney Marathon in 2:18:31, adding another major marathon victory to her career.
The early stages belonged to fellow Kenyan Priscah Cherono, who made an aggressive move and established a significant lead over the chasing group.
Cherono was eventually caught before 28 kilometers. Jepchirchir then moved to the front alongside training partner Irine Cheptai.
By 30 kilometers, Jepchirchir and Cheptai had created a gap over the rest of the field. Jepchirchir gradually increased the pressure and moved clear before 35 kilometers.
Jepchirchir finished in 2:18:31, just nine seconds outside the Sydney women's course record of 2:18:22 set by Sifan Hassan in 2025.
Women's Top 10 Results
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 2:18:31 |
| 2 | Irine Cheptai | KEN | 2:22:11 |
| 3 | Shure Demise | ETH | 2:22:33 |
| 4 | Haven Hailu | ETH | 2:22:57 |
| 5 | Meseret Abebayahu | ETH | 2:23:40 |
| 6 | Priscah Cherono | KEN | 2:23:49 |
| 7 | Stella Chesang | UGA | 2:23:52 |
| 8 | Fikrte Wereta | ETH | 2:25:18 |
| 9 | Ellie Pashley | AUS | 2:28:28 |
| 10 | Aberu Ayana | ETH | 2:28:30 |
Wheelchair Marathon Results
The wheelchair races added two more course records to an already historic day.
American Daniel Romanchuk won the men's wheelchair marathon in 1:26:50, setting a new Sydney course record.
Switzerland's Manuela Schär won the women's wheelchair race in 1:42:04, also setting a course record.
Schär's victory was particularly significant. It completed her collection of victories across all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors courses, an achievement that placed her in a unique position in wheelchair marathon history.
Men's Wheelchair Top 10
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Romanchuk | USA | 1:26:50 CR |
| 2 | David Weir | GBR | 1:31:33 |
| 3 | Luo Xingchuan | CHN | 1:31:35 |
| 4 | Tomoki Suzuki | JPN | 1:31:42 |
| 5 | Gerard Schipper | NED | 1:31:52 |
| 6 | Sho Watanabe | JPN | 1:35:41 |
| 7 | Robert Joshua Cassidy | CAN | 1:37:26 |
| 8 | Miguel Jimenez Vergara | USA | 1:39:34 |
| 9 | Kota Hokanuie | JPN | 1:41:48 |
| 10 | Masazumi Soejima | JPN | 1:51:29 |
Women's Wheelchair Top 10
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuela Schär | SUI | 1:42:04 CR |
| 2 | Eden Rainbow-Cooper | GBR | 1:47:17 |
| 3 | Tatyana McFadden | USA | 1:51:08 |
| 4 | Madison de Rozario | AUS | 1:53:34 |
| 5 | Vanessa Cristina de Souza | BRA | 1:54:45 |
| 6 | Eliza Ault-Connell | AUS | 2:01:14 |
| 7 | Tsubasa Nakamine | JPN | 2:06:02 |
| 8 | Michelle Wheeler | USA | 2:26:17 |
| 9 | Mikaela Dingley | AUS | 2:40:14 |
| 10 | Sharnie Digby | AUS | 3:47:03 |
Australian Marathon Championships
The 2026 Sydney Marathon also hosted the Australian Marathon Championships, giving domestic athletes the opportunity to compete for national titles on the same course as the international elite field.
Andy Buchanan won the Australian men's marathon championship in 2:10:14, while Ellie Pashley claimed the women's title in 2:28:28.
| Championship | Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Men's Marathon | Andy Buchanan | 2:10:14 |
| Australian Women's Marathon | Ellie Pashley | 2:28:28 |
Full Sydney Marathon 2026 Results
Here are the leading results from the men's and women's elite marathon races.
Men's Top 10
| Position | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addisu Gobena | ETH | 2:04:42 CR |
| 2 | Chimdessa Debele | ETH | 2:04:46 |
| 3 | Tebello Ramakongoana | LES | 2:04:57 |
| 4 | Alphonce Simbu | TAN | 2:04:57 |
| 5 | Jemal Mekonnen | ETH | 2:04:59 |
| 6 | Hailemaryam Kiros | ETH | 2:05:16 |
| 7 | Vincent Ngetich | KEN | 2:05:28 |
| 8 | Dawit Wolde | ETH | 2:06:41 |
| 9 | Kennedy Kimutai | KEN | 2:06:50 |
| 10 | Gilbert Kibet | KEN | 2:07:13 |
Women's Top 10
| Position | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 2:18:31 |
| 2 | Irine Cheptai | KEN | 2:22:11 |
| 3 | Shure Demise | ETH | 2:22:33 |
| 4 | Haven Hailu | ETH | 2:22:57 |
| 5 | Meseret Abebayahu | ETH | 2:23:40 |
| 6 | Priscah Cherono | KEN | 2:23:49 |
| 7 | Stella Chesang | UGA | 2:23:52 |
| 8 | Fikrte Wereta | ETH | 2:25:18 |
| 9 | Ellie Pashley | AUS | 2:28:28 |
| 10 | Aberu Ayana | ETH | 2:28:30 |
Record Field Size
Approximately 40,000 runners took part in the 2026 Sydney Marathon, highlighting the extraordinary growth of the event since it became an Abbott World Marathon Majors race.
The combination of international status, a famous Sydney course and the opportunity to run alongside some of the world's best marathoners has helped make the race one of the most sought-after events on the global marathon calendar.
The rapid growth also reflects the wider popularity of the World Marathon Majors series, which attracts elite athletes and recreational runners from around the world.
Key Storylines from Sydney Marathon 2026
Gobena Completes His Sydney Redemption
A year after finishing second to Hailemaryam Kiros, Addisu Gobena returned to Sydney and won with a new course record of 2:04:42.
Jepchirchir Adds Another Major Victory
Peres Jepchirchir controlled the women's race after catching the early breakaway and finished in 2:18:31, only nine seconds outside Sifan Hassan's course record.
Seven Men Beat the Previous Record
The men's race was exceptionally fast. Seven athletes finished faster than the previous 2:06:06 Sydney course record.
Schär Completes the Major Set
Manuela Schär's wheelchair victory completed her collection of wins across all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors courses.
Australian Champions Shine
Andy Buchanan and Ellie Pashley won the Australian men's and women's marathon championships during the same event.
Sydney Marathon Course Records
The 2026 men's race produced a major improvement to the Sydney Marathon course record. Gobena lowered the mark from 2:06:06 to 2:04:42.
The women's record remained with Sifan Hassan after Jepchirchir finished only nine seconds short of the 2:18:22 mark set in 2025.
| Event | Record | Athlete | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's marathon | 2:04:42 | Addisu Gobena (ETH) | 2026 |
| Women's marathon | 2:18:22 | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 2025 |
| Men's wheelchair | 1:26:50 | Daniel Romanchuk (USA) | 2026 |
| Women's wheelchair | 1:42:04 | Manuela Schär (SUI) | 2026 |
Sydney Marathon 2026 FAQ
Who won the Sydney Marathon 2026?
Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena won the men's race in 2:04:42, while Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won the women's race in 2:18:31.
What was the Sydney Marathon men's course record in 2026?
Addisu Gobena set the men's Sydney Marathon course record at 2:04:42, improving Hailemaryam Kiros' 2025 record of 2:06:06.
Did Peres Jepchirchir break the Sydney Marathon women's record?
No. Jepchirchir ran 2:18:31, which was nine seconds slower than Sifan Hassan's 2025 course record of 2:18:22.
Who won the Sydney Marathon wheelchair races?
Daniel Romanchuk won the men's wheelchair race in 1:26:50, while Manuela Schär won the women's race in 1:42:04. Both times were course records.
Who won the 2026 Australian Marathon Championships?
Andy Buchanan won the men's championship in 2:10:14, while Ellie Pashley won the women's championship in 2:28:28.
Where does the Sydney Marathon start and finish?
The Sydney Marathon starts in North Sydney, crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes near the Sydney Opera House.
How many people ran the Sydney Marathon 2026?
Approximately 40,000 runners took part in the 2026 Sydney Marathon.
Is Sydney a World Marathon Major?
Yes. Sydney became the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in 2025, joining Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
Related Articles
Final Takeaway
The Sydney Marathon 2026 delivered one of the fastest editions in the event's history. Addisu Gobena produced the headline performance by breaking the men's course record in 2:04:42, while Peres Jepchirchir won the women's race in 2:18:31.
The wheelchair races added two more course records, and Manuela Schär made history by completing her collection of victories across the eight Abbott World Marathon Majors courses.
With around 40,000 runners and another successful World Marathon Majors edition, Sydney has firmly established itself as one of the world's major marathon events.