The Frankfurt Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 15k finishers on an urban road in Frankfurt, Germany. The course starts and finishes at the Festhalle. The route passes the Römer, the Main river embankment, Sachsenhausen, and the banking district. Very flat with only minor rises on Main river bridges.
Frankfurt Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Frankfurt Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 25 October 2026 with a 10:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 81 m of climbing on a very flat layout.
The BMW Frankfurt Marathon is a loop that starts and finishes in the financial district, follows the Main River through Sachsenhausen, Niederrad, and Griesheim, and returns via the museum-lined Schaumainkai. It is very flat apart from minor bridge rises, and spectators line the embankment, cheer through Sachsenhausen, and gather at the Festhalle finish.
Official course map — view on race website
The Frankfurt Marathon course is very flat over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 81 metres of climbing and 81 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Frankfurt Marathon is held in late October — typically the last Sunday of the month. Registration is open (no lottery) and starts months before the race through the official bmw-frankfurt-marathon.com website. The field is approximately 13,000–16,000 marathon runners, with additional participants in the relay, inline skating marathon, and shorter events. Frankfurt is particularly popular with German and European runners who value its flat course and excellent PB prospects.
Race-day footage from the course to help you picture the route, crowds, and key landmarks on marathon day.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Frankfurt.
The Mainz Marathon attracts approximately 2,000 finishers each May through the Rhine city of Gutenberg and carnival fame. The course passes the Mainz Cathedral, the Rhine riverfront, and the citadel overlooking the river on flat Rhenish Hesse terrain. May's Rhine spring and the carnival-city atmosphere make it one of Germany's most cheerful regional marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027
The Mannheim Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each May through the grid-planned city at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. The course passes the Wasserturm water tower, the baroque Schloss Mannheim, and the grid-layout city blocks unique in Germany. May's Rhine spring and the flat river-plain terrain make it a fast southwest German marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027
The Heidelberg Marathon attracts approximately 1,500 finishers each April through Germany's most romantic university town on the Neckar River. The course passes Heidelberg Castle on its forested hilltop, the Old Bridge (Alte Brücke), and the Philosopher's Walk with views of the red-roofed Altstadt. April's Neckar valley spring and the fairy-tale scenery make it one of Germany's most picturesque marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027
The Bienwald-Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each March on a forest road in Kandel, Germany. It is a favored German spring race for runners chasing even splits on flat terrain. The route passes quiet Palatinate roads and long sheltered sections beside the Bienwald woodland. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027
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