Sydney marathon 2025: route, start-time, how to watch, elite field, channel

How to watch Sydney Marathon 2025: start time today, channel, live stream, route, elite runners, road closures, finish line.

The largest metropolis area in Australia, also known as Sydney, invites you to a unique and festive atmosphere that happens only once a year. This year, the event celebrates its 26th edition. But more importantly, It’s the first time the Aussies city will be part of the exclusive club of World Marathon Majors, alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York – and runners are in for a treat.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon as they celebrates its first year as a World Majors! 

When is the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon date?

The Sydney Marathon will be held on Sunday, August 31, 2025, while its around evening time in USA, Canada.

What time does the Sydney marathon start?

Things are going to be different as the course weaves its way through the city. Runners will begin arriving from 5am and the race starts at 6.30am AEST sharp, with waves of runners heading out until just after 7.40am. The elite wheelchair race will begin 15 minutes earlier, at 6.15am.

6:15 a.m. AEST— Elite wheelchair men's and women's races  – USA 4:30 PM ET (Aug 30, 2025)

6:30 a.m. AEST— Elite men & women's race

6.31am (9.31pm BST) (Start Group 1), 

7.03am (10.03pm BST) (Start Group 2) 

7.41am (10.41pm BST) (Start Group 3). 

2025 TCS Sydney marathon start-times

Sydney Aug 31, 2025 – 6:30 AM (AEST)

Tokyo Aug 31, 2025 – 5:30 AM (JST)

New Zealand    August 31, 2025 – 8:30 AM (NZST)

Boston Aug 30, 2025 – 4:30 PM (EDT)

New York Aug 30, 2025 – 4:30 PM (EDT)

Chicago Aug 30, 2025 – 3:30 PM (CDT)

London Aug 30, 2025 – 9:30 PM (BST)

Berlin Aug 30, 2025 – 10:30 PM (CEST)

Los Angeles Aug 30, 2025 – 1:30 PM (PDT)

Dubai Aug 31, 2025 – 12:30 AM (GST)

Hong Kong Aug 31, 2025 – 4:30 AM (HKT)

Singapore   Aug 31, 2025 – 4:30 AM (SGT)

Paris   Aug 30, 2025 – 10:30 PM (CEST)

Toronto Aug 30, 2025 – 4:30 PM (EDT)

Mexico City Aug 30, 2025 – 2:30 PM (CST)

São Paulo Aug 30, 2025 – 5:30 PM (BRT)

New Delhi Aug   31, 2025 – 2:00 AM (IST)

How to Watch, Stream the 2025 Sydney Marathon

TV channel: 7mate

Live stream: 7plus Sport

The 2025 Sydney Marathon is available for live telecast in Australia on 7mate. Streaming options are available on 7plus Sport.

The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS will air live and free across Australia on the Seven Network, with coverage running from 6:00 am to 10:00 am AEST on Sunday, August 31 via 7mate and 7plus Sport, along with highlights and replays available on 7plus.

United Kingdom Viewers can watch the Sydney Marathon live on TNT Sports 4, with coverage on the channel from 9pm BST on Saturday 30 August. A live stream will be available via discovery+.

USA - The event will be live televised on FloTrack (subscription required) starting at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

AROUND THE WORLD:  The marathon live stream can be watched on the Sydney Marathon YouTube

Live updates and real-time tracking of runners can also be found on the TCS Sydney Marathon app.

How long is the Sydney Marathon?

The Sydney Marathon kicks off Sunday with wheelchair athletes at 6:15am, before runners cross the start line at 6.30am.

The 42-km long Sydney marathon with a running time of seven hours that spans from North Sydney to the CBD this Sunday.

A five-kilometre mini-marathon will take place on Saturday morning from 7:30am to 8:10am, spanning from Macquarie Street to the Sydney Opera House.

What is the Sydney Marathon Cut-off time?

The marathon cut-off time is 3.15pm, with a running time of seven hours.

How many runners/people are expecting to attend the Sydney marathon 2025

This weekend's marathon is set to be the most culturally diverse in Australia's history as over 35,000 runners from 156 countries will compete in the main event.

What is the route of the 2025 Sydney Marathon?

The Sydney Marathon will begin at North Sydney Oval and conclude at the Sydney Opera House.

Participants will start the marathon on Miller Street in North Sydney before crossing the Harbour Bridge, as well as The Rocks, Martin Place, Taylor Square, and Moore Park, before concluding the 42.195km footrace at the Sydney Opera House.

How do I track friends and family running in the Sydney marathon?

The marathon offers an app that provides live tracking of runners. You can search for competitors’ names, add them to your list of favourites and see where multiple people are on the course at any one time.

The app will also give spectators estimates as to when they should expect runners to reach certain milestones or the finish line.

Live updates and real-time tracking of runners can also be found on the TCS Sydney Marathon app.

2025Sydney Marathon road closures list

Due to the expected high traffic and road closures across North Sydney and the CBD, organisers and the North Sydney Council are recommending that Sydneysiders use public transport and plan their trips in advance to avoid delays.

Major road closures will run from 2am Saturday to 4pm Sunday, with significant detours in place.

North Sydney Council has also urged motorists to avoid non-essential travel.

4am to 4pm: Macquarie St closed from the Opera House to Hyde Park, including closures of College St, St Mary's Rd, Art Gallery Rd and Mrs Macquarie Rd. No access to or from Macquarie St via Cahill Expressway

4am to 10.30am: Hickson Rd, Sussex St, Barangaroo Ave, Barton St, Lime St, Shelley St, Erskine St, Napoleon St, Wheat Rd. 4am to 11am: Hickson Rd, Windmill St, Pottinger St, Watson Rd, sections of Argyle St and Kent St, George St and Essex St.

4am to 11.30am: Roads between George St and Macquarie St in the city centre and Circular Quay including sections of Bridge St, Grosvenor St, Pitt St, Young St, Phillip St, Bent St, Hunter St, Elizabeth St, Castlereagh St, and surrounding local streets. King St closed between York St and Elizabeth St from 4am to 11am.

5am to 3pm: Park St and William St closed between Elizabeth St and Crown St.

Best Ways/Spots to watch Sydney Marathon Live

There are several key spots for spectators to watch the marathon this year. Those who want to see the gun go off at the start line should aim to be at Miller Street in North Sydney by 6.15am. Other key viewing areas are Barangaroo (from 6.30am), Martin Place (from 6.40am), Randwick (from 7.30am), and Moore Park (from 7.55am).

There will be several fan sites along the course, complete with DJs, face painters and even drag queens watching on when the race passes through Taylor Square.

Where is the Sydney marathon finish line?

The race finishes at the Sydney Opera House forecourt but the area will be extremely busy. It should take about 30 minutes for runners to transit from the end of the race to the reunite zone in the Botanic Gardens to meet up with their nearest and dearest.

Phone service may be limited with so many people crowded together in one area, so the advice is to agree on a meeting point to “avoid the reception black hole”.

The course cutoff time is 3.15pm.

Sydney Marathon 2025 prize money, purse for winner

The expanded Australian Elite Athlete Program features a record prize pool of AU $135,000, the largest ever for Australian marathon runners. The top male and female finishers will each claim $30,000, with $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 awarded to second through fifth place, respectively.

Meanwhile, an additional $10,000 bonus is on offer for anyone who breaks the national records currently held by Andy Buchanan (2:06:22) and Sinead Diver (2:21:34).

Sydney Marathon 2025 route

Who will be competing in the 2025 Sydney Marathon, Elite field

This weekend's marathon is set to be the most culturally diverse in Australia's history as over 35,000 runners from 156 countries will compete in the main event.

- Olympic gold medallists Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan headline the Sydney Marathon this weekend as the 25-year-old race welcomes its best-ever field to celebrate its elevation to the World Marathon Majors series.

Rio and Tokyo marathon winner Kipchoge and Hassan, the reigning women's Olympic champion, will lead 35,000 runners across the Harbour Bridge on Sunday as Sydney joins New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin on the elite circuit.

Kipchoge's younger compatriot Vincent Ngetich and Ethiopian stablemate Birhanu Legese, the seventh fastest marathon runner of all time, will also be vying for the title on the last day of the Australian winter.

Women

Sifan Hassan (NED) 2:13:44

Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04

Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:17:55

Ashete Bekere (ETH) 2:17:58

Meseret Belete (ETH) 2:18:21

Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:35

Sichala Kumeshi (ETH) 2:19:53

Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:20:22

Gladys Chesir (KEN) 2:20:30

Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:20:31

Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:20:33

Pascalia Chepkosgei (KEN) 2:22:11

Anchialem Haymanot (ETH) 2:22:23

Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:22:56

Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:23:15

Leanne Pompeani (AUS) 2:24:53

Men

Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:01:09

Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48

Vincent Ngetich (KEN) 2:03:13

Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48

Bernard Koech (KEN) 2:04:09

Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:35

Kenneth Kipkemoi (KEN) 2:04:52

Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat (KEN) 2:04:54

Samuel Fitwi (GER) 2:04:56

Addisu Gobena (ETH) 2:05:01

Afewerki Berhane (ERI) 2:05:22

Mulugeta Asefa (ETH) 2:05:33

Laban Korir (KEN) 2:05:41

Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:05:43

Edward Cheserek (KEN) 2:05:43

Felix Kirwa (KEN) 2:05:44

Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:06:08

Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:18

Enock Kinyamal (KEN) 2:06:32

Eyob Faniel (ITA) 2:07:09

Kento Kikutani (JPN) 2:07:26

Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:07:27

Brett Robinson (AUS) 2:07:31

Masato Arao (JPN) 2:08:05

Kosei Machida (JPN) 2:08:17

Mustapha Houdadi (MAR) 2:08:24

Shadrack Kimining (KEN) 2:08:29

Liam Adams (AUS) 2:08:39

Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46

How to apply for the next year Sydney Marathon 2026 ballot

Previously, all you needed to do to run the Sydney Marathon was to sign up and pay the entry fee. (Yes, it really was as simply as that.)

However, for the 2025 race, a ballot system has been introduced to cope with increased demand. There are two ballots in place: the Candidacy Club and the general ballot.

The Candidacy Club is for those who have completed the TCS Sydney Marathon during its candidacy period (2022, 2023 and/or 2024). All of these runners will be offered guaranteed entry in one of the next three events (2025, 2026 or 2027) now that the TCS Sydney Marathon is an Abbott World Major.

The general ballot opened on 10 December and closes on 30 December. All successful applicants will be notified and charged between 8-9 January 2026 AEDT, with a confirmation email to follow. You can enter the ballot here.

What is a World Marathon Major?

The World Marathon Majors are the seven largest Marathons in the world.

The Sydney Marathon was announced as a Major in November last year, with this race being its first since joining the other six marathons.

The other World Marathon Majors include the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and New York City Marathon.

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