Marathons in Germany 2026: Routes, Dates & Elevation Guide

Germany is home to 31 marathons in our database, spread across cities including Aachen, Berlin, Bonn, and Bremen, and more.

The country hosts an Abbott World Marathon Major — Berlin Marathon — putting it among the most sought-after destinations on the global racing calendar. Berlin Marathon is the largest race in the lineup, typically drawing around 48,000 finishers, while the full spread offers everything from fast urban courses to scenic regional events.

Below are the largest races in the country; browse by region for the full list.

Browse the races below for course maps, elevation profiles, typical weather, and practical race-day detail to help you choose your next start line.

AachenNorth Rhine-WestphaliaGermany

Aachen Marathon

The Aachen Marathon draws approximately 1,800 finishers each October through Charlemagne's imperial city at the German-Belgian-Dutch border. The course passes the Aachen Cathedral — Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage site — the Dreiländereck tripoint area, and the Carolus Thermen spa district on rolling borderland terrain. October's golden autumn in the Eifel foothills makes it a historic tri-border marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026

World Marathon Major

BerlinBerlinGermany

Berlin Marathon

The BMW Berlin Marathon is renowned as one of the world's fastest marathon courses, having hosted more men's marathon world records than any other venue. The flat, straight boulevards take runners past the Brandenburg Gate for a spectacular finish. Elite and recreational runners alike target Berlin for personal bests.

Next race: Sunday, 26 September 2027

KandelRhineland-PalatinateGermany

Bienwald-Marathon

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

BonnNorth Rhine-WestphaliaGermany

Bonn Marathon

The Bonn Marathon attracts approximately 1,200 finishers each April through the former West German capital on the Rhine. The course passes Beethoven's birthplace, the Post Tower, and the Rhine meadows (Rheinaue) on flat Bonn terrain. April's Rhine spring and the Beethovenstadt cultural heritage make it a charming Rhineland marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 11 April 2027

Steinheim an der MurrBaden-WürttembergGermany

Bottwartal Marathon

The Bottwartal Marathon draws approximately 1,800 finishers each October on a valley road in Steinheim an der Murr, Germany. It is a classic community marathon weekend for southwestern Germany's club-running scene. The route passes vineyards, small towns, and rolling valley roads north of Stuttgart. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.

Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026

BremenBremenGermany

Bremen Marathon

The Bremen Marathon attracts about 6,000 finishers each April through the Hanseatic city of the Town Musicians. The course passes the Roland statue, the Schnoor quarter, and the Weser River on flat north German terrain. April spring weather and the Weserstadion finish make it a popular northern Germany marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027

CologneNorth Rhine-WestphaliaGermany

Cologne Marathon

The Cologne Marathon (Generali Köln Marathon) attracts about 8,000 finishers each October on a fast loop through Germany's cathedral city. The course passes Cologne Cathedral, crosses the Rhine on the Deutzer Brücke, and finishes on the Rheinauhafen waterfront. October running weather and a flat profile make it one of Germany's premier autumn marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 3 October 2027

DresdenSaxonyGermany

Dresden Marathon

The Dresden Marathon attracts about 2,100 marathon finishers on the last Sunday of October through the restored baroque capital of Saxony. The course passes the Frauenkirche, the Semperoper, and the Elbe River embankment. Late-October weather along the flat Elbe valley makes it eastern Germany's premier marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026

DüsseldorfNorth Rhine-WestphaliaGermany

Düsseldorf Marathon

The Düsseldorf Marathon attracts about 5,000 finishers each April on a flat Rhine riverfront loop through the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The course passes the Rheinturm TV tower, Königsallee shopping boulevard, and MedienHafen harbour district. Düsseldorf's spring marathon is a fast, scenic tour of one of Germany's most prosperous cities.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

FrankfurtHesseGermany

Frankfurt Marathon

The Frankfurt Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 15k finishers on an urban road in Frankfurt, Germany. Runners start on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage (waves from 10:00, must start by 10:30) and finish inside the Festhalle (east gate). The route passes the Römer, the Main river embankment, Sachsenhausen, and the banking district. Very flat with only minor rises on Main river bridges.

Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026

HamburgHamburgGermany

Hamburg Marathon

The Hamburg Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 12k finishers on an urban road in Hamburg, Germany. The course starts and finishes at the Reeperbahn. The route follows the Alster lakes, passes the Elbphilharmonie, and crosses the Elbe via tunnels and bridges. Very flat with minor rises on Elbe crossings.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

HannoverLower SaxonyGermany

Hannover Marathon

The Hannover Marathon hosts about 6,000 finishers each April on one of Germany's flattest courses through the capital of Lower Saxony. The loop passes the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), Maschsee lake, and Herrenhausen Gardens on wide boulevards. Hannover's flat terrain and spring race date attract runners seeking fast times in northern Germany.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

HeidelbergBaden-WürttembergGermany

Heidelberg Marathon

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

KarlsruheBaden-WürttembergGermany

Karlsruhe Marathon

The Karlsruhe Marathon attracts approximately 2,500 finishers each May through the fan-shaped baroque city in Baden-Württemberg. The course radiates from the Karlsruhe Palace through the city's unique fan-layout streets, passing the ZKM media museum and the Rhine harbour. May's spring weather in Germany's sunniest city and flat terrain make it a popular southwest German marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027

KasselHesseGermany

Kassel Marathon

The Kassel Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each September on an urban road in Kassel, Germany. The race anchors one of central Germany's bigger regional marathon weekends. The route passes Fulda River sections, documenta-city boulevards, and green urban parks. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.

Next race: Sunday, 5 September 2027

MainzRhineland-PalatinateGermany

Mainz Marathon

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

MannheimBaden-WürttembergGermany

Mannheim Marathon

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

FreiburgBaden-WürttembergGermany

Mein Freiburg Marathon

The Mein Freiburg Marathon attracts about 6,500 finishers each April through the Black Forest gateway city. The course passes the Münster cathedral, the Schwabentor gate, and the Dreisam River with views of the Black Forest hills. April spring weather in Germany's sunniest city makes it a popular southwest German marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027

MunichBavariaGermany

Munich Marathon

The 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

MünsterNorth Rhine-WestphaliaGermany

Münster Marathon

The Münster Marathon draws about 4,500 finishers each October through the bicycle capital of Germany. The course passes the Prinzipalmarkt arcades, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Aasee lake on flat Westphalian terrain. October autumn weather and the historic Prinzipalmarkt finish make it a charming western German marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 16 May 2027

PirnaSaxonyGermany

Oberelbe Marathon

The Oberelbe Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each April on a point-to-point river road in Pirna, Germany. The Elbe valley scenery gives it one of Germany's prettiest spring point-to-point routes. The course follows the Elbe, sandstone landscapes, and a long gentle run toward central Dresden. The route is net downhill overall.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

Neuhaus am RennwegThuringiaGermany

Rennsteiglauf Marathon

The GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers on a point-to-point mountain road course from Neuhaus am Rennweg to Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig in Germany's Thuringian Forest. The Rennsteig name carries enormous tradition in German endurance sport. The route follows forest ridgelines and classic Rennsteig trail segments with roughly 769 m of gain — expect significant climbs on this hilly course.

Next race: Saturday, 22 May 2027

RostockMecklenburg-Western PomeraniaGermany

Rostock Marathon

The Rostock Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each May through the Hanseatic port city on the Baltic Sea. The course passes the St. Mary's Church, the Warnemünde beach resort, and the harbour channel on flat northern German coastal terrain. May's Baltic spring and the seaside finish make it Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's premier marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027

WürzburgBavariaGermany

Würzburg Marathon

The Würzburg Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each October through the baroque wine city on the Main River. The course passes the Würzburg Residence — a UNESCO World Heritage palace — the Marienberg Fortress, and the Main riverfront on flat Franconian terrain. October's wine-harvest season and the Residenz gardens make it one of Bavaria's most elegant regional marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027