The finish line inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Let that sink in for a moment. While other marathons finish on a road, in a park, or — if you're lucky — on a beach, the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival finishes inside the most storied sports arena in Australia, on the same turf where legends have played. It's an absurdly good finish line, and it's one of many reasons why the Melbourne Marathon Festival has become Australia's largest marathon event and one of the most celebrated running weekends in the country.
The 2026 course starts on Batman Avenue near the MCG and heads through Melbourne's most iconic neighbourhoods. Runners pass Flinders Street Station, weave through the Melbourne CBD, cross the Bolte Bridge, take in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and eventually arrive at the extraordinary MCG finish. The course has been refined over the years and the 2026 edition runs the half marathon in the opposite direction, opening up wider running lanes and allowing half marathon runners to watch the marathon finish from inside the MCG before their own race begins. That's a nice touch.
The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival runs across Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026. Five distances are available: the Marathon (42.2km), the Nike Half Marathon (21.1km), the 10km, the 5km, and a 3km walk — meaning there's genuinely something here for runners at every level. All distances finish inside or near the MCG precinct, and all get the full festival experience with post-race food, live music, and the buzz of tens of thousands of finishers.
The 2026 ballot has already closed. However, charity entry spots and official travel packages remain available. Check melbournemarathon.com.au for current options — there are usually a few pathways to a start line even after the ballot closes. For 2027, put the ballot in your diary the moment it opens; it fills extremely fast.
The start is right in the heart of Melbourne's sporting precinct — walk from Richmond or Flinders Street Station, or take a tram from the CBD. Post-race, the MCG precinct has everything you need: food stalls, recovery areas, and plenty of public transport back to wherever you're staying. Accommodation in Melbourne is plentiful across all budgets, but book ahead for race weekend.
Melbourne in October can throw anything at you weather-wise — this is Melbourne, after all. Layers are your friend for the start, and always have a rain plan. The course is generally flat and fast, making it a genuine PB course for experienced marathon runners. The MCG finish is something you'll remember for a very long time.
