If your dream race involves ocean views, ideal winter weather, and a finish line you can practically smell the salt air from, the EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon has your name on it. Held on 2 August 2026 at Alexandra Headlands on the Sunshine Coast, this event regularly earns its reputation as one of Australia's most beautiful running festivals — and once you've run it, it's hard to disagree.
The course hugs the stunning coastline of Alexandra Headland, with white sandy beaches and spectacular ocean vantage points alongside you for the entire race. August in Queensland delivers conditions that road runners dream of: mild temperatures, low humidity, and clear skies. Compare that to trying to run a marathon in summer and you'll understand why this event draws runners from all over the country chasing PBs.
The festival has something for every runner:
All courses start from the Alexandra Headlands Surf Club in Mooloolaba. Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km entries include a free event t-shirt.
Pick up your bib at Buhk Park, Alexandra Headlands on Thursday 30 July (2–6pm), Friday 31 July (9am–5pm), or Saturday 1 August (8am–4pm). Alternatively, opt for bib mail-out during registration before 22 June ($15 extra) and skip the queue entirely.
The Sunshine Coast is about an hour north of Brisbane by car — an easy drive or a short flight into Sunshine Coast Airport. Mooloolaba itself is a popular holiday destination, which means plenty of accommodation options, but race weekend fills up fast. Book well in advance. The beachfront apartments right on Alexandra Headland are an obvious choice — you'll practically be able to roll out of bed and onto the start line.
The Sunshine Coast Marathon is the kind of event that makes you wonder why you don't race more often. The setting is genuinely beautiful, the conditions are about as good as Australian running gets, and finishing on the Sunshine Coast means you can spend the rest of the day on the beach. Not a bad Sunday.
