Sydney marathon 2026: route, start-time, how to watch, elite field, channel

How to watch Sydney Marathon 2026: start time today, channel, live stream, route, elite runners, road closures, finish line.

The largest metropolis in Australia, Sydney, once again invites runners and spectators to a unique and festive atmosphere that happens only once a year. In 2026, the TCS Sydney Marathon celebrates its second year as an official member of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors series, joining Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon.

When is the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon date?

The Sydney Marathon will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, 

What time does the Sydney marathon start?

Runners will begin arriving from early morning, with the race starting in waves. Official start times (AEST) are:

6:15 AM AEST – Elite Wheelchair men’s and women’s races 
 

6:30 AM AEST – Elite men and women’s race  

6:31 AM AEST – Start Group / Wave 1  

7:03 AM AEST – Start Group / Wave 2  

7:41 AM AEST – Start Group / Wave 3

Start Line Cut-off: 8:40 AM AEST

Course Cut-off: 7 hours from each runner’s individual start time (latest finish approximately 3:40 PM AEST)

2026 TCS Sydney marathon start-times

Main Elite Start Time: 6:30 AM AEST on Sunday, August 30, 2026

Sydney: August 30, 2026 – 6:30 AM (AEST)  

Tokyo: August 30, 2026 – 5:30 AM (JST)  

New Zealand: August 30, 2026 – 8:30 AM (NZST)  

Hong Kong: August 30, 2026 – 4:30 AM (HKT)  

Singapore: August 30, 2026 – 4:30 AM (SGT)  

Dubai: August 30, 2026 – 12:30 AM (GST)  

New Delhi: August 30, 2026 – 2:00 AM (IST)  

London: August 29, 2026 – 9:30 PM (BST)  

Berlin / Paris: August 29, 2026 – 10:30 PM (CEST)  

New York / Boston / Toronto: August 29, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EDT)  

Chicago: August 29, 2026 – 3:30 PM (CDT)  

Los Angeles: August 29, 2026 – 1:30 PM (PDT)  

Mexico City: August 29, 2026 – 2:30 PM (CST)  

São Paulo: August 29, 2026 – 5:30 PM (BRT)

Key Start Times in Sydney (AEST) 

Elite Wheelchair: 6:15 AM  

Elite Men & Women: 6:30 AM  

Wave 1: 6:31 AM  

Wave 2: 7:03 AM  

Wave 3: 7:41 AM

How to Watch, Stream the 2026 Sydney Marathon

TV channel: 7mate

Live stream: 7plus Sport

The 2026 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 overall course cut-off is seven hours from each runner’s start time, with the latest finish expected around 3:40 PM AEST.

How many runners/people are expecting to attend the Sydney marathon 2026

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 2026 Sydney Marathon?

Start Line: Miller Street, North Sydney  

Finish Line: Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Runners will cross the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge before heading through the Sydney CBD, The Rocks, Martin Place, Taylor Square, Moore Park, and Centennial Park, finishing in front of the Sydney Opera House. The course features approximately 313 meters of elevation gain, making it one of the hillier World Marathon Majors.

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.

2026 Sydney 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), 

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. After finishing, runners will move to a reunite zone in the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens. Phone reception can be limited in the busy finish area, so it is recommended to arrange a meeting point in advance.

Sydney Marathon 2026 prize money, purse for winner

The TCS Sydney Marathon features a record domestic prize pool of $135,000 AUD (payout structure led by $30,000 AUD for first place) established for Australian championship competitors, alongside broader international elite tracking as a World Marathon Major

Prize Money Breakdown

1st Place: $30,000 AUD (~$19,800 USD)

2nd Place: $20,000 AUD (~$13,200 USD)

3rd Place: $10,000 AUD (~$6,600 USD)

4th Place: $5,000 AUD (~$3,300 USD)

5th Place: $2,500 AUD (~$1,650 USD)

Total Pool: $135,000 AUD (~$89,100 USD)

Record Bonus: $10,000 AUD (~$6,600 USD)

Who will be competing in the 2026 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

What is a World Marathon Major?

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

The Abbott World Marathon Majors are the most prestigious marathon series in the world. The current members are:

Tokyo Marathon  

Boston Marathon  

London Marathon  

Berlin Marathon  

Chicago Marathon  

New York City Marathon  

Sydney Marathon

The Sydney Marathon officially joined the series in recent years, elevating its status on the global running calendar.

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