Sydney's marathon connects two of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, taking runners across the Harbour Bridge before eventually bringing them to the finish at the Opera House. Between those points, the course asks competitors to manage climbs, descents and changes of rhythm across the city.
The race became a World Marathon Major in 2025. Its second edition at that level produced another men's course record, with Addisu Gobena winning in 2:04:42, while Peres Jepchirchir took the women's title.The next Sydney Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, August 29, 2027.
The 2027 Sydney Marathon
The 2027 event will be Sydney's third as an Abbott World Marathon Major. The full marathon takes place on Sunday, with the Sydney Mini Marathon scheduled for Saturday, August 28.
Officially known as the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, the event combines elite men's and women's races, wheelchair competition and a large field of recreational runners. The published marathon route starts on Miller Street in North Sydney and finishes at the Sydney Opera House.
General-public entries are allocated through a ballot. The 2027 application period closed on October 19, 2026, with charity and official travel programmes providing additional entry routes subject to availability.
History of the Sydney Marathon
The annual event began in 2001, following the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It carried the city's Olympic connection into a race that ordinary runners could enter, retaining North Sydney as its starting area.
Sydney's move towards the top tier of international marathons accelerated when it became a candidate for the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2022. Its admission was announced in November 2024, and the race held on August 31, 2025, was its first as a Major.
That made Sydney the seventh member of a series previously comprising Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. For runners working through the Majors, Australia became another destination on the list. For the elite field, Sydney offered another opportunity to win one of the sport's leading city marathons.
The Course and Race Format
The marathon covers the standard 42.195 km distance. Its route includes the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sections through the city and a loop of Centennial Park before the later stages bring runners towards the harbour and the Opera House finish.
Sydney's elevation changes are an important part of the contest. The published course profile includes more than 300 metres of climbing, even though the finish is lower than the start. A net downhill route can still demand substantial work on the climbs.
That makes pacing more complicated than holding the same speed from one kilometre to the next. A runner who forces the pace uphill may spend energy needed later, while the descents require control as well as speed.
The elite running and wheelchair competitions have separate results. Behind them, the mass-participation race accommodates runners pursuing personal bests, charity goals or simply a finish. The published marathon cut-off is seven hours.
Sydney Marathon Course Records
Men: Addisu Gobena, Ethiopia - 2:04:42 in 2026.
Gobena improved the previous mark of 2:06:06, set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025, by one minute and 24 seconds.
Women: Sifan Hassan, Netherlands - 2:18:22 in 2025.
Hassan's record survived the 2026 race, when Jepchirchir finished nine seconds outside it.
Men's wheelchair: Daniel Romanchuk, USA - 1:26:50 in 2026.
Romanchuk lowered Marcel Hug's 2025 mark of 1:27:15.
Women's wheelchair: Manuela Schaer, Switzerland - 1:42:04 in 2026.
Schaer improved Susannah Scaroni's 2025 record of 1:44:52 by two minutes and 48 seconds.
These are Sydney event records. Comparisons with performances at other marathons also need to account for the course layout, elevation and conditions on the day.
Recent Sydney Marathon Winners
2026
Men: Addisu Gobena, Ethiopia - 2:04:42.
Women: Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya - 2:18:31.
2025
Men: Hailemaryam Kiros, Ethiopia - 2:06:06.
Women: Sifan Hassan, Netherlands - 2:18:22.
2024
Men: Brimin Kipkorir Misoi, Kenya - 2:06:18.
Women: Workenesh Edesa, Ethiopia - 2:21:41.
What Happened in the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
The men's race on August 30 remained closely contested deep into the closing kilometres. Seven runners were still together approaching 40 km before Gobena and fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele separated themselves from the group.
Gobena, runner-up in Sydney a year earlier, finished four seconds ahead of Debele. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho completed the podium in 2:04:57. The first seven men all beat the previous course record, while the first five finished under 2:05.
The women's race developed differently. Priscah Cherono made an early break, but Jepchirchir and Irine Cheptai caught her before 28 km. Jepchirchir later pulled away from Cheptai and built a winning margin of three minutes and 40 seconds.
Cheptai finished second in 2:22:11, with Ethiopia's Shure Demise third in 2:22:33. Jepchirchir's winning time came close to Hassan's record, but the decisive feature of her race was the gap she opened over the other contenders.
Romanchuk and Schaer completed a day of fast performances by setting records in both wheelchair races.
Sydney Marathon Betting Markets
Betting availability depends on the sportsbook and the announced elite field. Where Sydney markets are offered, the men's and women's races should be assessed separately.
Race winner: Select the athlete who will win the specified race. The shortest price identifies the market favourite, but does not guarantee that the runner will handle the course or arrive in the best form.
Podium or finishing position: Where available, back an athlete to finish inside a stated number of places. The depth of the field matters because a strong performance may still leave a runner outside the required positions.
Head-to-head: Select which of two named athletes will finish ahead of the other. A runner can win this matchup without winning the marathon.
Winning time: Some sportsbooks may offer a line on the winning time. These markets depend on the weather, early pace and whether the leaders continue pressing for a fast result once the race begins to separate.
Each-way: If offered, the stake is split between a win bet and a place bet. The number of places and the fraction of the win odds paid for a place must be checked for that market.
Withdrawals and non-finishers can be treated differently across markets. Check the settlement conditions, particularly for head-to-head bets where one or both runners may fail to finish.
What to Consider Before the Race
Personal bests are useful, but they need context. A fast time on a flatter course does not show exactly how an athlete will cope with Sydney's changes in elevation. Previous performances on demanding routes can help explain who is comfortable maintaining an effort through uneven terrain.
Look at recent racing and the time between marathon starts. A runner returning from another hard effort may be in a different position from an athlete who has built an entire training block around Sydney.
The forecast also matters. Wind, temperature and humidity can change the demands of the race and the chances of a fast winning time. Finally, distinguish between entering the final kilometres in a group and being able to win from it: the 2026 men's race showed how a deep field can stay together until very late.