There are marathons, and then there is the TCS Sydney Marathon. As Australia's sole member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors — the prestigious six-race circuit that includes Boston, Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York — the Sydney Marathon isn't just a great Australian running event. It's one of the great marathons on earth. And the 2026 edition, running on 30 August, will send more than 30,000 runners across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through the streets of one of the world's most beautiful cities to finish, breathless and triumphant, in the shadow of the Sydney Opera House.
The TCS Sydney Marathon starts in North Sydney, runs up to the Sydney Harbour Bridge — the single most dramatic moment of any marathon in Australia, bar none — crosses to the CBD, and then winds through the Royal Botanic Gardens before finishing with a sprint to the iconic Opera House steps. At 42.195km, it's the same distance as every other marathon on the planet. It just happens to be set against one of the most spectacular urban backdrops you can imagine.
The 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon weekend features the full Marathon (42.195km) and the 10km on Sunday 30 August, with the TCS Sydney Mini Marathon (5km) taking place on Saturday 29 August, starting at Macquarie Street and finishing at the Opera House. All three events offer the chance to run across the Harbour Bridge or through the CBD on closed roads — a once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone who hasn't done it before.
Yes. The TCS Sydney Marathon uses a ballot entry system. The 2026 ballot opened in late September 2025 and closed in October, with results announced shortly after. If you missed the ballot, charity entry spots and official travel packages offer a path to the start line. Check the website for updates on any remaining availability.
Joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit elevated the Sydney Marathon into a different category entirely. International runners travel from over 100 countries to take part, the elite field is world-class, and the event has a production quality that matches the world's best. Running it means you've run a World Marathon Major — a fact that will impress roughly everyone you've ever met who runs.
The start is in North Sydney, accessible from the CBD by taxi or rideshare (trains may not be running at race time). The finish at the Sydney Opera House is the easiest part — you'll know where it is. Sydney has no shortage of accommodation options across all budgets; just book well in advance as race weekend is enormously popular.
