2025 edition
11°
Clear & sunny
High18°
Low7°
Crisp 6°C dawn · clear skies all morning · ideal PB conditions
Sydney Marathon
Australia's Major. A scenic harbour start, a brutal Kings Cross climb, and a finish at the Opera House.
Sydney joined the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025, expanding the series from six to seven races. The 2025 ballot drew 79,000 applications for ~35,000 spots (~44% accepted). The 2026 ballot drew 123,000+ applications for a target field of ~40,000 (~33% accepted), a 56% year-over-year jump in demand.
Ballot opens
Sep 24, 2026
Window opens · free to enter
Next up
Ballot closes
Oct 17, 2026
Last day to submit
Draw / results
Oct 29, 2026
Winners notified
Race day
Aug 30, 2026
August 30, 2026
OPENS IN 66 DAYS · SEP 24, 2026
Climate
Past three years on race day
Historical conditions on the course, what to expect, what to pack.
2024 edition
10°
Partly sunny
High17°
Low8°
Sunny, chilly start · gusty 20+ km/h winds · clouded over by mid-morning
2023 edition
22°
Sunny, hot
High32°
Low17°
Spring heatwave · 26 hospitalised, 40 treated for heat exhaustion
Related·
In the news
Dispatches on the Sydney Marathon ballot, results, and race updates, most recent first.
Jul 10
Didn't Get Into the London Marathon 2027? Your Options
Jul 07
Why It's So Hard to Get Into a Marathon Right Now
Course·
Point-to-point, Milsons Point to Sydney Opera House
Milsons Point → Opera House
Cool, 10–18°C
Elevation
Course profile
Net descent overall (-83m), but 313m of climbing across the course. Drops 70m off Miller Street into the Harbour Bridge, climbs Oxford Street to a peak of 74m at km13, rolls through Anzac Parade and Centennial, then a brutal kicker around Mrs Macquarie Chair at km38-40 before the final descent to the Opera House.
Total ascent·313m
Total descent·396m
Highest point·79m @ 0 km
PAST RESULTS
Ballot history
TCS Sydney Marathon ballot applications have grown around 56% since 2025, pushing acceptance from ~44% in 2025 to ~33% today. Browse every year's applications, acceptance rate, and field size.
2026 · Record
123,000
The largest ballot in race history. A 56% jump on 2025's 79K figure.
View 2026 results
Applications · 2025 → 2026
79K123K
'25'26
CHARITY PLACES
Charity places
The non-ballot route in. TCS Sydney Marathon has 21 official charity partners, with fundraising minimums starting at $3,000 (Running for Premature Babies, Children) and rising to $5,000+ for the highest-demand partners. Applications open Aug, right after ballot results.
Partners
21
9 cause areas
Min from
$3,000
up to $5,000
Apps open
Aug
after ballot
Apps close
—
most earlier
RF
Browse all charity partners
Running for Premature Babies
Children
$3,000min raise
Applications open
BB
Beyond Blue
Mental health
$3,000min raise
Applications open
CT
Can Too Foundation
Cancer
$3,000min raise
Applications open
AF
Arrow Foundation
Health
$3,000min raise
Applications open
GG
Go4Garvan (Garvan Institute of Medical Research)
Health
$3,000min raise
Applications open
AC
Australian Cancer Research Foundation
Cancer
$3,000min raise
Applications open
Photos
On the course
Scenes from the 2025 edition, the Opera House finish and the crowds across the Harbour Bridge.
Finish · 2025
Crowd · 2025
FAQ
Common questions
When is the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
The 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon runs on Sunday, August 30, 2026. The race starts on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes at the Opera House.
Is there a lottery for the Sydney Marathon?
Yes. Sydney runs a random-draw ballot for general entry. The 2026 ballot drew 123,000+ applications for a target field of ~40,000 (about 33% accepted), up from ~44% in 2025. Priority entry, charity, and travel-partner pathways sit outside the ballot.
How do I enter the Sydney Marathon?
Apply through the official ballot during the entry window (the 2026 ballot ran 24 Sept → 17 Oct 2025; expect a similar window for the 2027 race). Priority/Good-for-Age standards (men 2:53, women 3:13 at the open age band) bypass the ballot. Charity entries start at AU$1,500+ via official partners.
When did Sydney become an Abbott World Marathon Major?
Sydney's inaugural edition as a Major ran in 2025, expanding the Abbott World Marathon Majors from six to seven races. Cape Town was confirmed as the eighth Major in June 2026 and joins at its 2027 edition.
What is the course like in Sydney?
Point-to-point from Milsons Point across the Harbour Bridge, through the CBD with a tough climb through Kings Cross, and finishing at the Sydney Opera House. Rolling profile with cool winter conditions (10–18°C).