Choosing between Melbourne Marathon and Sydney Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Melbourne Marathon | Sydney Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 11 October 2026 at 6:15 am | Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 6:30 am |
| Elevation | Mostly flat with gentle undulations - approx. 25m above sea level. ↑ 135 m · ↓ 132 m · net +3 m | Moderate hills including Harbour Bridge - approx. 58m above sea level. ↑ 262 m · ↓ 345 m · net −83 m |
| Typical weather | Mild and humid spring | Mild winter |
| Typical participants | Approximately 6,000 finishers | Approximately 35k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Very competitive | Very competitive |
The Melbourne Marathon draws approximately 6,000 finishers on an urban road in Melbourne, Australia. The course starts and finishes at the MCG. The route passes Federation Square, the Yarra River, St Kilda, and Albert Park. Mostly flat with gentle undulations on Yarra bridge crossings.
The Sydney Marathon offers one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world, crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge with views of the Opera House and harbour. As the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, Sydney combines iconic landmarks with a challenging but rewarding course through Australia's largest city.
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