Choosing between New York City 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 | New York City Marathon | Sydney Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 9:10 am | Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 6:30 am |
| Elevation | Rolling with bridges - approx. 10m above sea level. ↑ 294 m · ↓ 292 m · net +2 m | Moderate hills including Harbour Bridge - approx. 58m above sea level. ↑ 262 m · ↓ 345 m · net −83 m |
| Typical weather | Cool to mild autumn | Mild winter |
| Typical participants | Approximately 56k finishers | Approximately 35k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Very competitive | Very competitive |
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, taking runners through all five boroughs — Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. The course crosses five bridges and finishes in Central Park, delivering an unmatched big-city marathon experience.
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.
Swap either race to compare another pair, or return to the compare hub.
