World Marathon MajorChicagoIllinoisUnited StatesChicago MarathonThe Bank of America Chicago Marathon winds through 29 diverse neighbourhoods of the Windy City. Known for its flat, fast course and enthusiastic Midwest crowds, Chicago has hosted landmark performances including Kelvin Kiptum's previous men's world record (2:00:35, 2023) and Ruth Chepngetich's all-time women's record (2:09:56, 2024). It remains a favourite for runners chasing Boston qualifying times.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
BucharestRomaniaBucharest MarathonThe Bucharest Marathon attracts about 9,000 finishers each October through Romania's capital. The course passes the Palace of Parliament, Revolution Square, and Herăstrău Park on wide Bucharest boulevards. October mild weather and a flat profile make it the largest marathon in Romania.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
BudapestHungaryBudapest MarathonThe Budapest Marathon draws approximately 8,000 finishers on an urban road in Budapest, Hungary. The course starts and finishes on the Pázmány Péter Promenade near ELTE Lágymányosi Campus and the Petőfi Bridge Buda embankment. The route crosses the Danube on the Chain Bridge and Liberty Bridge, passing Buda Castle and Parliament, with an Andrássy út turnaround at Oktogon. Mostly flat with short climbs on bridge approaches.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
MelbourneVictoriaAustraliaMelbourne MarathonThe Melbourne Marathon draws approximately 6,000 finishers on an urban road in Melbourne, Australia. The course starts on Batman Avenue (near Rod Laver Arena) and finishes at the MCG. The 2026 redesigned loop passes Federation Square, the Yarra River, St Kilda foreshore, and Albert Park on a faster, flatter profile (Beach Road reversed; Birdwood Ave–Domain Rd climb removed). Mostly flat with gentle undulations on Yarra bridge crossings.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
PerthWestern AustraliaAustraliaPerth MarathonThe Perth Marathon draws approximately 6,000 finishers on an urban road in Perth, Australia. The course starts and finishes at Optus Stadium, with the marathon finish on stadium turf. The route follows Burswood Park and the Swan River foreshore. Mostly flat with minor rises along the river.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
GrazAustriaGraz MarathonThe Graz Marathon draws about 5,000 finishers each October through Austria's second city in Styria. The course passes the Schlossberg (clock tower), the Mur River, and the Eggenberg Palace on rolling Styrian terrain. October autumn weather and a mix of urban and parkland scenery make it a popular southern Austrian marathon.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
MunichBavariaGermanyMunich MarathonThe Munich Marathon draws about 5,000 finishers each October through Bavaria's capital, passing Siegestor, Odeonsplatz, Marienplatz, the English Garden, Werksviertel, and Olympic Park. The autumn race date coincides with Oktoberfest season atmosphere in the city, and the largely flat course on Munich boulevards suits runners chasing personal bests in cool October weather.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
Long BeachCaliforniaUnited StatesLong Beach MarathonThe Long Beach Marathon draws about 4,000 finishers each October along the Southern California coast in Los Angeles County. The course passes the Queen Mary, the Shoreline Village marina, and the Long Beach waterfront on flat coastal terrain. October mild Pacific weather and a flat beachfront profile make it a popular autumn California marathon.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
MontrealQuebecCanadaMontreal MarathonThe Montreal Marathon (Marathon Beneva de Montréal) draws approximately 4,000 finishers on an urban point-to-point road in Montreal, Canada, with an official maximum capacity of 6,000. The course starts at Parc Jean-Drapeau (Espace 67 / Île Sainte-Hélène) and finishes in Parc Maisonneuve, reaching the island via the Pont de la Concorde and running Saint Lawrence riverfront and boulevard Saint-Laurent corridors. Rolling urban terrain (official elevation +172 m / −140 m).Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
NiigataNiigataJapanNiigata City MarathonThe Niigata City Marathon draws approximately 4,000 finishers each October through Japan's rice-basket capital on the Sea of Japan coast. The course passes the Bandai Bridge, the Shinano River mouth, and the Niigata waterfront with views of Sado Island on clear days. October's crisp Sea-of-Japan autumn and flat coastal terrain make it a popular Tohoku-region race.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
VictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanadaVictoria MarathonThe Victoria Marathon attracts approximately 3,500 finishers each October on Vancouver Island's scenic capital course. Runners pass the Inner Harbour, Beacon Hill Park, and the Dallas Road waterfront with views of the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. October's mild island autumn and rolling coastal terrain make it one of Canada's most charming marathons.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
EindhovenNorth BrabantNetherlandsMarathon EindhovenThe Marathon Eindhoven attracts about 3,000 finishers each October on one of the Netherlands' fastest courses. The flat loop through Brainport Eindhoven passes the Philips Stadium area, high-tech campus districts, and the city centre. October cool weather and dead-flat Dutch terrain make Eindhoven a popular personal-best attempt in the south of the Netherlands.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
BrugesBelgiumBruges MarathonThe Bruges Marathon attracts about 2,500 finishers through the UNESCO-listed medieval city of Bruges in Belgium. The course passes the Belfry, the Markt square, and the canals that earned Bruges the nickname 'Venice of the North.' Flat Flemish terrain and fairy-tale scenery make it one of Europe's most picturesque small marathons.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
SofiaBulgariaSofia MarathonThe WIZZ AIR Sofia Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each October on a flat two-lap urban road through central Sofia, Bulgaria. The course starts and finishes at the National Art Gallery and passes landmark squares and boulevards beneath the Vitosha skyline.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
Mont-de-MarsanNouvelle-AquitaineFranceMarathon des LandesThe Marathon des Landes is an October urban and rural road marathon in Mont-de-Marsan, France (also Mazerolles and Saint-Pierre-du-Mont), organised by Stade Montois. The two-loop course is very flat. The 2025 festival drew about 2,520 participants across marathon, half, 10K and walk — marathon-only finisher totals were not published separately on the organiser site.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
ScrantonPennsylvaniaUnited StatesSteamtown MarathonThe Steamtown Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each October on a net-downhill point-to-point from Forest City to downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. The course descends through the Pocono foothills and Lackawanna Valley on scenic country roads with autumn foliage. October's peak Pennsylvania colour and the fast descent make it a popular Boston-qualifier in the Anthracite Coal Region.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
FalmouthMassachusettsUnited StatesCape Cod MarathonThe Cape Cod Marathon draws approximately 1,400 finishers each October on a scenic coastal road in Falmouth, United States. Its autumn timing captures Cape scenery after summer crowds fade. The route passes sea inlets, cranberry-country roads, and breezy sections with Buzzards Bay views. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
GyeongjuNorth GyeongsangSouth KoreaGyeongju MarathonThe Gyeongju Marathon attracts approximately 3,156 finishers each October through Korea's ancient Silla dynasty capital — an open-air museum of temples and royal tombs. The course passes Bulguksa Temple approach, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Anapji Pond on flat Gyeongju basin roads. October's mild Korean autumn and UNESCO heritage scenery make it one of the country's most culturally distinctive marathons.Next race: Saturday, 17 October 2026
BaltimoreMarylandUnited StatesBaltimore Running Festival MarathonThe Baltimore Running Festival Marathon draws approximately 1,625 finishers each October through Charm City on the Chesapeake Bay. The course passes Fort McHenry (birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner), the Inner Harbor, and Johns Hopkins University on rolling Mid-Atlantic terrain. October's crisp Baltimore autumn and the harbour-city scenery make it Maryland's premier marathon.Next race: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Kansas CityMissouriUnited StatesKansas City MarathonThe Kansas City Marathon attracts approximately 1,292 finishers each October through the City of Fountains on the Missouri-Kansas border. The course passes the Country Club Plaza, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the Kansas City skyline on rolling Great Plains terrain. October's mild Midwest autumn and the fountain-dotted boulevards make it the heartland's charming fall marathon.Next race: Saturday, 17 October 2026
BeijingBeijingChinaBeijing MarathonThe Beijing Marathon is China's most prestigious road race, with approximately 30k finishers each October on a course linking the capital's iconic boulevards. Runners pass Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Olympic Park on a flat route designed for fast times. The October race date and deep elite history make it the crown jewel of Chinese marathon running.Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
ZhengzhouHenanChinaZhengzhou MarathonThe Zhengzhou Marathon attracts approximately 25k finishers each October through Henan province's transport hub on the Yellow River. The course links the Zhengdong New Area CBD towers, Erqi Memorial Tower, and the Songshan foothills approach on wide Henan boulevards. October's mild central-China weather and a largely flat profile make it one of the country's fastest major mass-participation marathons.Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
AmsterdamNorth HollandNetherlandsAmsterdam MarathonThe Amsterdam Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 22k finishers on an urban road in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The course starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium. The route passes the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, the Amstel river, and several canal bridges through central Amsterdam. Very flat, with short climbs on canal crossings.Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Xi'anShaanxiChinaXi'an MarathonThe Xi'an Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 18k finishers each October on a historic urban road in Xi'an, China. It is one of the clearest examples of a Chinese marathon weaving imperial history into a modern mass race. The course passes the ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda district, and modern Qujiang avenues. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
