Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0About km 2.5
On the Harbour Bridge
The Opera House is to your left as you cross, with the sun just up over the harbour for the early groups.
For runners
Step to the side to stop; the field is dense here.
Race guide · Abbott World Marathon Major
Sydney Marathon 2026
Sunday 30 August 2026 · the guide, and how it went
The newly joined arch from Lavender Bay, 24 August 1930. Photo: Rev. E. F. N. (Frank) Cash, Samuel Marsden Archives, Moore Theological College, Public domain
- Race day
- Sun 30 Aug 2026Start groups from 6:30am
- Climbing
- +313 m−83 m start to finish
- Cut-off
- 7 hoursFrom when the start window closes
- Finishers
- 36,000+From 140+ countries
The short version
The 2026 Sydney Marathon, officially the TCS Sydney Marathon, ran on Sunday 30 August, from Miller Street in North Sydney over the Harbour Bridge to the forecourt of the Opera House. It was the second Sydney race as one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and the biggest yet: more than 36,000 finished.
Addisu Gobena won in 2:04:42, the fastest marathon ever run in Australia. Don't let that time fool you about the course: it has 313 m of climbing, very few flat stretches, and its hardest part comes late, in Centennial Park.
2026 results: how it went
Men
2:04:42
Addisu Gobena, a race record
Women
2:18:31
Peres Jepchirchir, since provisionally suspended
Conditions
10–21°C
The day's low and high: 9.9°C and 20.9°C, clear and dry
Crowd
400,000
A record, along the course
The first seven men all beat the old race record. Three of the four race records fell: Gobena's, Daniel Romanchuk's 1:26:50 in the men's wheelchair race and Manuela Schär's 1:42:04 in the women's, a win that made her the first athlete in any category to win at all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors. Andy Buchanan (2:10:14) and Ellie Pashley (2:28:28) won the Australian championships. A record A$15.2 million was raised for charity. In October the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Jepchirchir, after a sample taken in Kenya before the race returned an adverse finding for EPO; she is entitled to due process.
PB potential
Run it for the day, not the time
The hills cost most runners time against a flat course, and the downhill start tempts you to go out too fast.
Difficulty
Rarely steep, rarely flat
313 m of climbing by the organisers' figure, and it almost never stops rising and falling. The 2024 winner said it looked tougher than Boston.
Best moment
The Bridge, then the Opera House
The Harbour Bridge, closed to traffic, early in the race, and a finish with the Opera House in front of you.
- Runners who want a Major on home soil
- Anyone who'd rather have the photos than the PB
- First-timers, if they pace the hills: there's 7 hours
The 2026 Sydney Marathon medal
The 2026 medal: gold, with rings of blue enamel dots and arcs around a blue centre, on a navy ribbon. On its back, the skyline shows Munich's Allianz Arena where Sydney's Allianz Stadium should be: a week before the race the organisers called it an unfortunate error, and it's the medal every finisher received. Photographed on race day.
Where to take the best photos at the Sydney Marathon
The course passes the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, and you see each more than once. Our picks for supporters with a camera, and for runners: the organisers discourage phones and cameras on the course and ban selfie sticks, tripods and drones, though a camera no bigger than a GoPro, held or worn, is allowed. If you carry a phone, step to the side before you stop.
Pick a photo to find it on the map.
- Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 AUAbout km 11
Under the Bridge on Hickson Road
The arch overhead as the course runs along Hickson Road towards The Rocks.
For runners and supporters
Supporters: stand on the harbour side and shoot along the road.
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0km 11.9
Circular Quay and The Rocks
Runners with the Quay, the ferries and the Opera House across Sydney Cove.
For supporters
It's busy: get there before the first runners come through.
Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0km 39.2
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
The postcard: the Opera House with the Bridge behind it, across Farm Cove.
For supporters
Get there early: it's a long walk in through the Domain.
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0About km 41.2
Down Macquarie Street
The last downhill, down Macquarie Street towards the Opera House.
For supporters
Shoot from low down for the runners against the sky.
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0Finish
The Opera House forecourt
The finish on the Opera House forecourt. Look up as you cross the line: it's the photo you'll frame.
For runners
Arms up, a step before the line.
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0After the finish
Your medal photo by the water
On the waterfront by the Opera House forecourt, with the Bridge behind you.
For runners
Hold the medal at chest height, ribbon showing.
Frame your memory
Ran Sydney 2026?
Frame your 2026 Sydney Marathon medal
You ran Sydney. Now keep it: your 2026 medal, your photos from the day and your bib number, in one frame made to fit them.
- Made to fit your medal and its ribbon, 2, 3 or 4 cm wide
- A favourite race-day photo behind the medal
- Your finishing time or a message of your own on the front
- Designed on a live preview, 3D-printed to order in white, cream or black
From $35
The Sydney Marathon course, section by section
Point to point, 42.195 km: from Miller Street in North Sydney over the Harbour Bridge, a loop through Pyrmont and the city, out and back along Anzac Parade, a loop of Centennial Park, and home through the Domain and the Royal Botanic Garden, past Mrs Macquarie's Chair, to the Opera House.
Pick a stretch, or click the course on the map, to see it close up.
km 0–2
North Sydney
From the start on Miller Street the course drops through North Sydney onto the Harbour Bridge: about 50 m down in the first 2 km.
About −49 mStart, Miller Street
Don't bank time on the downhill. You'll pay for it on Oxford Street.
km 2–3
The Harbour Bridge
Across the Bridge, closed to traffic for the race, with the harbour on both sides and the Opera House to your left.
Best photo of the day
km 3–10
Pyrmont, Ultimo and back to Barangaroo
Off the Bridge onto the Western Distributor and a loop through Pyrmont and Ultimo along Harris Street, then back by Sussex Street to Hickson Road and Barangaroo at 10 km.
Short rises in Pyrmont
km 10–15.4
The Rocks, the CBD and Oxford Street
Along Hickson Road and under the Bridge at about 11 km, through The Rocks at 11.9 km and a loop of the city's streets, then the first long climb: up Macquarie Street to its top at 14 km and along Oxford Street to Taylor Square at 15.4 km.
About +48 mBig crowds
Ease off on the climbs, however loud the crowd gets.
km 15.4–29
Moore Park and Anzac Parade
Down Flinders Street onto Anzac Parade and out past Kingsford, where you reach halfway, to the U-turn near Avoca Street (about 22.9 km on the course file). The way back rises gently from about 25.5 km.
Halfway, 21.1 kmU-turn, about 22.9 km
- Hardest
km 29–34.8
Centennial Park
Past the SCG on Driver Avenue at 29 km, then a loop of Centennial Park. Its short rises catch people out, and the Homestead, at 33.3 km, comes where many runners hit the wall.
The Homestead, 33.3 km
Fuel before the park, and run its rises by effort, not pace.
km 34.8–39.2
Taylor Square, then down to the Domain
Back along Driver Avenue at 34.8 km and Moore Park Road, up to Taylor Square again at 36.2 km, then down College Street and through the Domain on Art Gallery Road and Mrs Macquarie's Road, out to Mrs Macquarie's Chair at 39.2 km.
About +15 m to Taylor SqAbout −43 m to the Domain
km 39.2–42.2
Art Gallery Road to the Opera House
The last climb: back up Art Gallery Road to the top of Macquarie Street at 40.8 km. From there it's downhill to the finish on the Opera House forecourt.
About +31 m, the last climbFinish, Opera House
The climb is short, and it's downhill all the way from the top.
Drawn from the official course file: each stretch's km and heights are measured from it. The spectator points' km are the organisers' own.
How hilly is the Sydney Marathon?
It's hilly, though rarely steep. The official course has 313 m of climbing and 396 m of descent, and finishes 83 m lower than it starts. That drop is more than World Athletics allows for records, so a time run here can't stand as a world record.
There are very few flat stretches. Brimin Misoi, who won in 2024, said the course was only flat from 41 km to the finish, and that next to Boston it looked tougher.
+313 mClimbingOfficial figure
−396 mDescentOfficial figure
−83 mStart to finishOfficial: too steep for records
6Longer climbsFrom the course file; the biggest about 48 m
Heights from the official course file, which the organisers say isn't exact. The CBD stretch (km 12–14) is smoothed: tall buildings distort the file there.
Hover or drag along the chart to read the heights.
Where it bites
km 0–2
The fast start
About 50 m of downhill through North Sydney, in a crowd of fresh legs.
Hold goal pace or slower until you're over the Bridge.
km 11–15.4
The Rocks to Taylor Square
About 48 m up, by Macquarie Street and Oxford Street.
It's early. Ease off and save your legs.
km 25.5–28.5
The Anzac Parade drag
About 21 m over 3 km after the U-turn. You'll feel it more than you see it.
Run by effort here, not by the watch.
km 29–34.8
Centennial Park
Short, surprising rises, and the Homestead at 33.3 km, where many runners hit the wall.
Hold your form here, don't chase pace.
km 34.5–36.3
Back up to Taylor Square
About 15 m more, just when it starts to hurt.
Shorten your stride and keep your cadence.
km 39.4–41
Art Gallery Road
About 31 m, the last climb of the day.
It's downhill all the way from the top.
One of the hardest marathons I've ever done.
Race week and race morning
Sydney has two races, and no half marathon or 10 km: the 5 km Mini Marathon on the Saturday and the marathon on the Sunday. Times marked Official are the organisers' 2026 times; the rest is our suggestion.
OfficialFrom the organisers' siteSuggestedOur adviceReportedFrom runners' reports
Race week
Race morning: start times and a suggested schedule
Your assembly area
Your start group
Your bib shows both.
Breakfast
SuggestedSomething you've eaten before long runs. With an early start, many runners eat at home and top up at the start.
Leave for the start
SuggestedAllow about 45 minutes from the city to Victoria Cross Metro or North Sydney station.
Arrive at your assembly area
OfficialSt Leonards Park, North Sydney, the Purple assembly area. You can't go in before this time.
Toilets first, then a last drink
SuggestedReviews of past races mention long toilet queues at the start, so join one as soon as you arrive.
Into the start chute
OfficialKeep a warm layer on until now: anything left at the start line is donated to charity.
You start, from this time
OfficialDownhill through North Sydney and onto the Harbour Bridge. Don't bank time on the drop.
- 7 hrs
The cut-off
Official7 hours, counted from when the start window closes after the last group has gone.
- After
Meet your people
SuggestedAgree a meeting spot before the day: the area around the finish is busy. Bags are collected from Baggage Reclaim in the Royal Botanic Garden, about 600 m from the finish.
Every start group's times (2026, official)
| Assembly area | Start group | Arrive from | Into the chute | Start, from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | 1 | 5:00am | 5:45am | 6:32am |
| Purple | 2 | 5:45am | 6:35am | 7:05am |
| Purple | 3 | 6:15am | 6:55am | 7:29am |
| Purple | 4 | 6:45am | 7:25am | 7:55am |
| Green | 1 | 5:00am | 5:50am | 6:41am |
| Green | 2 | 5:50am | 6:40am | 7:11am |
| Green | 3 | 6:25am | 7:00am | 7:38am |
| Green | 4 | 6:55am | 7:35am | 8:07am |
| Orange | 1 | 5:00am | 6:00am | 6:50am |
| Orange | 2 | 6:00am | 6:45am | 7:17am |
| Orange | 3 | 6:30am | 7:10am | 7:44am |
| Orange | 4 | 7:05am | 7:45am | 8:19am |
| High Performance | Its own | 5:00am | 5:55am | 6:30am |
Nearest stations: Purple, Victoria Cross Metro or North Sydney station; Green, Crows Nest Metro (change from the train to the metro); Orange, Victoria Cross Metro or North Sydney station; High Performance, Victoria Cross Metro or North Sydney station.
- Start line
- Macquarie Street, CBD
- Finish
- Sydney Opera House
- Runners
- A record 12,500
- Bag drop
- None for the Mini
The 2026 times are no longer on the official site. Race previews gave assembly from 6:15am and a 7:15am start, the same as 2027's.
Waves assemble
ReportedNear the start line on Macquarie Street, in the city.
Start
ReportedDown Macquarie Street, 5 km through closed city streets to the Opera House.
- Finish
The Opera House
OfficialThe finish line is at the Sydney Opera House.
- After
Your photo by the water
SuggestedWalk along to the waterfront for the Bridge behind you.
Where to watch the Sydney Marathon
The best places to watch are the top of Macquarie Street, Taylor Square and Driver Avenue by the SCG: the course doubles back on itself, so each lets supporters see their runner twice without much travel. On the day, the organisers' Smart Map shows the viewing points and the transport to them: roads close from early morning. Supporters can't run alongside a runner or hand them food or drink on the course.
Pick a photo to find it on the map.
Photo: ColonelLight, CC010 km
Barangaroo
The first chance to see them, on Hickson Road after Pyrmont.
Barangaroo Metro
- Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
11.9 km
The Rocks
George and Alfred Streets, by Circular Quay.
Circular Quay station
- Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
14 & 40.8 kmTwice
Top of Macquarie Street
Twice: on the first climb, and just before the run down to the finish.
St James or Martin Place
15.4 & 36.2 kmTwice
Taylor Square
Twice: at the corner of Oxford and Flinders Streets.
Walk up Oxford Street from Museum station
Photo: Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.029 & 34.8 kmTwice
Driver Avenue, by the SCG
Twice, either side of Centennial Park.
Moore Park light rail
Photo: Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.033.3 km
Centennial Park Homestead
Around where many runners hit the wall: where they need you most.
Walk in from Moore Park light rail, by the Robertson Road Gate
- Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0
39.2 km
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Harbour views, and the foot of the last climb.
Walk through the Domain from St James
Race-morning weather
Race day was close to ideal: a low of 9.9°C and a high of 20.9°C at Observatory Hill, a light westerly, clear skies and no rain (Bureau of Meteorology). Since 2025 the race has been held in late August instead of mid-September, and the mornings have been cool.
Sunrise 6:16am, just before the first start groups go
Recent race mornings
202630 Aug
Clear, with a light westerly and no rain: called ideal
Low 9.9°CHigh 20.9°C
202531 Aug
Clear and cold at the 6:30am start: the westerly made it feel like about 3°C
Just over 8°CHigh 20.3°C
202415 Sep
A cool, dry morning, with an earlier start from 6am
Low 8.5°CHigh 16.5°C
202317 Sep
An extra drinks station and three ice stations; 26 runners went to hospital
Heat alertHigh 32.8°C
How to get into the Sydney Marathon
There are four ways in: the ballot, a charity place, a time-qualifier place or a travel partner's package. Entries for 2026 have closed. For the 2027 race, the ballot closed on 19 October 2026 and results went out on 3 November.
The ballot
The main way in, and free to enter. Results come out in early November.
A charity place
Apply to one of the official charity partners and commit to fundraising: a guaranteed entry with no ballot, if they accept you.
A time-qualifier place
The High Performance Program: time standards for each age group, from 2:45 for men and 3:18 for women aged 18–34. Meeting one doesn't guarantee a place.
A travel partner
Official travel partners sell packages with guaranteed entry and accommodation: the usual way in from overseas.
- 18 or over on race day
- Entry was A$280 for Australian and New Zealand residents, A$330 international
- 7-hour cut-off
Prices, dates and how to apply are on the official site: tcssydneymarathon.com
Running in 2027? The 2027 guide has its date, entry and course.
Questions runners ask about the Sydney Marathon
Who won the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
Addisu Gobena won the men's race in 2:04:42, a race record and the fastest marathon ever run in Australia. Peres Jepchirchir won the women's race in 2:18:31; in October the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended her after a sample taken before the race returned an adverse finding for EPO, and she is entitled to due process. Daniel Romanchuk won the men's wheelchair race in a record 1:26:50, and Manuela Schär's women's wheelchair win made her the first athlete in any category to win at all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Where can I find my 2026 result?
The official site links to the full 2026 results, on Multisport Australia (multisportaustralia.com.au/races/sydney-marathon-2026).
What was the weather like at the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
Close to ideal: a low of 9.9°C and a high of 20.9°C at Observatory Hill, a light westerly, clear skies and no rain (Bureau of Meteorology).
How many people ran the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
More than 36,000 finished, from more than 140 countries: the biggest Sydney Marathon yet. A record 400,000 people watched along the course.
What does the 2026 medal look like?
Gold, with rings of blue enamel dots and arcs around a blue centre, on a navy ribbon. On its back, the skyline shows Munich's Allianz Arena where Sydney's Allianz Stadium should be: the organisers called it an unfortunate error, and it's the medal every finisher received.
When is the next Sydney Marathon?
Sunday 29 August 2027. The 2027 ballot has closed, but charity places and travel partners are still ways in.
Where does the Sydney Marathon start and finish?
It's point to point: it starts on Miller Street in North Sydney, crosses the Harbour Bridge, and finishes on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House. Runners assemble in St Leonards Park, North Sydney.
Is the Sydney Marathon hilly?
Yes: it's hilly, though rarely steep. The official course has 313 m of climbing and drops 83 m from start to finish. There are very few flat stretches, and the hardest part comes late, in Centennial Park: the 2024 winner, Brimin Misoi, said it was only flat from 41 km.
Is Sydney a PB course?
For most runners, no. Expect to run slower than on a flat course. And because it drops 83 m from start to finish, times run here can't be ratified as records.
Is the Sydney Marathon a World Marathon Major?
Yes. Sydney has been one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors since 2025: 2026 was its second race as a Major, and 2027 will be its third.
Does the Sydney Marathon have a half marathon or a 10 km?
No. The organisers run two races: the marathon on the Sunday, and the 5 km Mini Marathon on the Saturday, from Macquarie Street to the Opera House, with no age limits.
Does the course cross the Harbour Bridge?
Yes, early: about km 2 to 3 on the official course file, with the Bridge closed to traffic. For the first start groups it's soon after sunrise.
How do I get into the Sydney Marathon?
Through the ballot (free to enter, usually late September to October, with results in early November), a charity place, the High Performance Program for fast runners, or a package from an official travel partner.
Do I need a qualifying time?
Only for the High Performance Program, which has 1,200 places for 2027. Its standards go by age group, from 2:45 for men and 3:18 for women aged 18–34, and meeting one doesn't guarantee a place. The ballot, charity places and travel packages are the other ways in.
How old do you have to be?
18 or over on race day for the marathon. The 5 km Mini Marathon has no age limits.
What is the cut-off time?
7 hours for the marathon, counted from when the start window closes, and 1 hour 10 minutes for the Mini Marathon (both official).
Can I collect my bib on race morning?
No. Bibs are collected in person at the Running Show at Sydney Showground in race week, with government-issued photo ID. They aren't mailed, and can't be collected on the Sunday morning.
Is there a bag drop?
Not at the start. In 2026 marathon runners handed their bag in at the Running Show and collected it after the finish from Baggage Reclaim in the Royal Botanic Garden, about 600 m from the finish line. There was no bag drop for the Mini Marathon.
How do I get to the start?
By public transport: there's no parking at the start or the finish. In 2026 your bib was your ticket on Sydney Trains, metro, buses and ferries on race day, and the assembly areas were reached from Victoria Cross Metro or North Sydney station (Purple and Orange) or Crows Nest Metro (Green).
Where can my family watch?
The top of Macquarie Street, Taylor Square and Driver Avenue each let them see you twice. The Homestead in Centennial Park, at 33.3 km, is where you'll need them most.
How can I track a runner on the day?
The organisers' Official Smart Map, in the TRACX app, lets you follow runners, and shows the viewing points, road closures and transport.
Can my supporters run with me or hand me drinks?
No. Only registered runners may be on the course, and runners can't take food, drink or pacing from anyone who isn't registered.
Does Sydney count towards the Six Star Medal?
No. Finishing Sydney earns you a star in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, but the Six Star Medal still covers only the original six: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
Photo credits
- Sydney Harbour Bridge - arch joined as seen on 24th August 1930 by Rev. E. F. N. (Frank) Cash, Samuel Marsden Archives, Moore Theological College, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- BarangarooMetroPlaza2024 by ColonelLight, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- AUS Sydney, Central Business District, Sydney Cove 016 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- AUS Sydney, Central Business District, Macquarie Street 018 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Corner of Bourke and and Campbell street, Darlinghurst - March 2025 - 3rd version - Day by Xyxyzyz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- (1)Sydney Cricket Ground by Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- (1)Centennial Park cannon 020 by Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- View from Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney (483333) (9442894272) by Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- AUS Sydney, Central Business District, Sydney Harbour Bridge, View 015 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sydney Harbour Bridge abutment at The Rocks by Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons
- AUS Sydney, Central Business District, Sydney Opera House Forecourt 005 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- AUS Sydney, Central Business District, Sydney Cove 003 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- টি সি এস সিডনি ম্যারাথন পদক (Madel of TCS Sydney Marathon 2026) by Tameem Mahmud 007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The frame mock-ups: made by Kastomised from the photos by Tameem Mahmud 007, Robert Linsdell and -wuppertaler credited here, CC BY-SA 4.0
The map data is © OpenStreetMap contributors, under the Open Database Licence.