Last updated: July 2026

Your exhaustive guide to Kerala’s vibrant running scene in 2026! From coastal paths and backwaters to hilly trails and tea estates, we’ve compiled all major and recurring events (confirmed + TBA). Sorted chronologically where dates are known.

Why Run in Kerala?

Kerala offers one of the most diverse and scenic marathon experiences in India. From serene backwaters and golden beaches to misty tea estates and rolling hills, the state combines breathtaking natural beauty with vibrant culture — making every run feel like a mini vacation.

Runners love Kerala for:

Stunning routes — Backwaters in Kochi and Kollam, Arabian Sea views in Kovalam and Calicut, and lush tea gardens in Munnar.
Perfect mix of challenge and joy — Cooler temperatures in the hills and festive, community-driven events in the cities.
Family-friendly atmosphere — Many races include short 5K and 3K fun runs ideal for beginners and kids.
Post-run tourism — Combine your race with houseboat stays, beach relaxation, or hill station getaways.

Total events

Showing

12 Jul

Last completed

3K–71K

Distances

Kerala runner tips: Expect 25–32°C + 70–90% humidity. Coastal routes (Kochi, Kovalam, Kannur) are flat and PB-friendly. Hill events (Munnar, Vagamon) offer cooler temps at 1,000–2,200m altitude. Prioritise pre-dawn starts, electrolytes, coconut water recovery, and lightweight breathable gear. Follow #MarathonKerala on X for real-time updates.

TERRAIN: Road Trail / Hill Ultra Coastal / Beach Community

Jan 2026

Jan

done

Malappuram Half Marathon 2026

Completed

Malappuram

21K10K5K

Varies · local organiserCompleted

Completed — Jan 4. Local Malappuram district community half marathon; a growing addition to North Kerala’s early-season race calendar.

Jan

done

Vagamon ULtrail 2026

Completed

Vagamon, Kottayam–Idukki Border

60K Ultra36K Trail10K Walk

₹900–₹3,750 · vagamonultrail.inCompleted

Completed — Jan 10. Organised by Soles of Cochin. Route through tea estates, meadows & single-track trails of Vagamon (‘Scotland of Asia’). 60K needs prior ultra qualification.

Jan

done

Rubfila Palakkad Marathon 2026 (2nd Edition)

Completed

Palakkad

42K21K10K5K

Varies · palakkadmarathon.comCompleted

Completed — Jan 11. Scenic Palakkad heritage route through the land of lush landscapes; organised by Fort Runners Palakkad.

Jan

done

Mathrubhumi Kozhikode Marathon 2026

Completed

Kozhikode (Calicut)

21K10K5K

Varies · tickets.thekappa.comCompleted

Completed — Jan 11. Organised by Mathrubhumi media house. Celebrates Kozhikode’s sporting spirit with a coastal city route.

Jan

done

Munnar Marathon 2026

Completed

Munnar, Idukki District

71K Ultra42K21K7K

From ₹ varies · munnarmarathon.comCompleted

Completed — Jan 24–25. India’s premier high-altitude trail marathon (1,420–2,200m MSL) through tea estates, Shola forests & Madupetty Dam. Ultra requires proof of 2 prior full/ultra marathons.

Jan

done

Thrissur Cultural Capital Marathon 2026

Completed

Indoor Stadium, Thrissur

42K20 Miler21K10K5K

Varies · thrissurmarathon.comCompleted

Completed — Jan 25. Organised by Endurance Athletes of Thrissur (EAT). Route past temples, heritage sites & Thrissur Pooram landmarks. Kerala’s premier full marathon city event; sold out well ahead of race day in 2026.

Feb 2026

Feb

done

Nammude Run — Kochi South Edition 2026

Completed

Durbar Hall Ground, Ernakulam South, Kochi

21K10K5K3KKids 1K–3K

From ₹100Completed

Completed — Feb 1. Organised by News18 Kerala. Family-friendly festival of fitness; all ages welcome. Strong community spirit.

Feb

done

Kannur Beach Run 2026

Completed

Payyambalam Beach, Kannur

21.1K10K Vets10K Open3K

₹600–₹900 · kannurbeachrun.comCompleted

Completed — Feb 1. Running since 2015. ~60% of the course runs along the Arabian Sea on Payyambalam beach. Generous prize money. Organised by North Malabar Chamber of Commerce.

Feb

done

Federal Bank Kochi Marathon 2026 (4th Edition)

Completed

Kochi (backwaters route)

42K21K10K3K Green Run

Varies · kochimarathon.inCompleted

Completed — Feb 8. Kerala’s iconic backwaters marathon route. Backed by Federal Bank & Aster Medcity. Aims to position Kochi as a global sports tourism hub.

Feb

done

Calicut Half Marathon 2026 (IIM Kozhikode)

Completed

IIM Kozhikode Campus, Kozhikode

21K10K3K Fun Run

Varies · calicutmarathon.inCompleted

Completed — Feb 8. 3,500+ participants. Organised by IIM Kozhikode. 2026 theme: Alzheimer’s & dementia awareness. Route along Kozhikode Beach road.

Feb

done

GTech Marathon 2026

Completed

Infopark, Kochi

21K10K3K Fun Run

Varies · gtechmarathon.comCompleted

Completed — Feb 15. 10,000+ runners from 100+ IT companies. Anti-drugs & fitness message. One of Kochi’s largest community running events.

Apr 2026

Apr

done

Kochi World Health Day Run 2026

Completed

Decathlon Kalamassery, Kochi

10K5K3K

Paid entryCompleted

Completed — Apr 5. World Health Day themed community run at Decathlon Kalamassery, Kochi.

May 2026

May

done

Mother’s Lap 2026 (Soles of Cochin)

Completed

Kochi

5K3K Family Run

Varies · solesofcochin.orgCompleted

Completed — May 3. Annual family run by Soles of Cochin celebrating motherhood. Held on the first Sunday in May.

May

done

Vadakkenchery Harriers Marathon 2026

Completed

Vadakkenchery, Palakkad

21K10K5K

Varies · local organiserCompleted

Completed — May 3. Organised by Vadakkenchery Harriers. 2,500+ runners took part in this fast-growing Palakkad district community event.

Jul 2026

Jul

done

Desinganad Backwaters Marathon 2026 (5th Edition)

Completed

Asramam Ground, Kollam

21.1K10K5K Fun Run

~₹650–₹800 · dbmkollam.comCompleted

Completed — Jul 12. ‘Kollam’s Own Monsoon Marathon’ — route past Ashtamudi Backwaters, Portuguese heritage, Thangassery Lighthouse & Arabian Sea. 4:30 AM start from Asramam Ground.

Sep 2026

Sep

Kovalam Marathon 2026

Next Race

Kovalam Beach, Thiruvananthapuram

42K21K10K5K

Varies · kovalammarathon.com Register ↗

Date confirmed: Sep 13. Organised by Young Indians (Yi) Trivandrum, run alongside the Yi Run for Mental Health awareness campaign. Route past coconut groves, golden shores & the iconic Kovalam Lighthouse. Early-bird registration currently open.

Oct 2026

Oct

Spice Coast Marathon 2026 (Kochi)

GCDA Ground, Marine Drive, Kochi

42K21K5K Fun Run

Varies · spicecoastmarathon.com Register ↗

Date confirmed: Oct 25. Organised by Soles of Cochin since 2014 — now in its 10th+ edition. Flat, fast course from GCDA Ground, Marine Drive through historic Fort Kochi streets, the spice market & coastline.

Nov 2026

Nov

UST Trivandrum Marathon 2026 (3rd Edition)

Flagship

UST Campus, Thiruvananthapuram

42K21K10K5K

From ₹350 · trivandrummarathon.com Register ↗

Date confirmed: Nov 15. Largest marathon in Kerala history — 15,000+ participants expected. Organised by UST & NEB Sports. Starts and ends at UST campus, traversing coastal roads & city landmarks. Registration open till 30 Apr 2026.

Date to be announced

Date
TBA

Munnar Marathon 2027

TBA

Munnar, Idukki District

71K Ultra42K21K7K

Varies · munnarmarathon.com

Registration not yet open. One listing points to late February 2027; the organiser hasn’t confirmed a date on the official site yet, so treat this as provisional. India’s premier high-altitude trail marathon through tea estates & Shola forests up to 2,200m MSL.

Date
TBA

Vagamon ULtrail 2027

TBA

Vagamon, Kottayam–Idukki Border

60K Ultra36K Trail10K Walk

₹900–₹3,750 · vagamonultrail.in

Typically held the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of January (2026 edition ran Jan 10). Organised by Soles of Cochin. Qualification criteria apply for 36K & 60K categories — check the official site before training toward this one.

Date
TBA

Rubfila Palakkad Marathon 2027

TBA

Palakkad

42K21K10K5K

Varies · palakkadmarathon.com

Typically mid-January (2026 edition ran Jan 11). Organised by Fort Runners Palakkad. Scenic heritage route through the land of lush landscapes.

Date
TBA

Mathrubhumi Kozhikode Marathon 2027

TBA

Kozhikode (Calicut)

21K10K5K

Varies · search for latest

Typically mid-January (2026 edition ran Jan 11). Organised by Mathrubhumi media house. Coastal city route celebrating Kozhikode’s sporting spirit.

Date
TBA

Thrissur Cultural Capital Marathon 2027

TBA

Indoor Stadium, Thrissur

42K20 Miler21K10K5K

Varies · thrissurmarathon.com

Typically late January (2026 edition ran Jan 25 and sold out all competitive categories ahead of race day). Organised by Endurance Athletes of Thrissur (EAT). Register early once the portal opens.

Date
TBA

Nammude Run — Kochi 2027

TBA

Ernakulam, Kochi

21K10K5K3K

From ₹100

Typically early February (2026 edition ran Feb 1). Organised by News18 Kerala. Family-friendly festival of fitness open to all ages.

Date
TBA

Kannur Beach Run 2027

TBA

Payyambalam Beach, Kannur

21.1K10K3K

₹600–₹900 · kannurbeachrun.com

Typically early February (2026 edition ran Feb 1). Running since 2015. ~60% of the course hugs the Arabian Sea on Payyambalam beach.

Date
TBA

Federal Bank Kochi Marathon 2027 (5th Edition)

TBA

Kochi (backwaters route)

42K21K10K3K Green Run

Varies · kochimarathon.in

Typically early February (2026 edition ran Feb 8). Kerala’s iconic backwaters marathon route. Backed by Federal Bank & Aster Medcity.

Date
TBA

Calicut Half Marathon 2027 (IIM Kozhikode)

TBA

IIM Kozhikode Campus, Kozhikode

21K10K3K Fun Run

Varies · calicutmarathon.in

Typically early February (2026 edition ran Feb 8, 3,500+ participants). Organised by IIM Kozhikode along Kozhikode Beach road.

Date
TBA

GTech Marathon 2027

TBA

Infopark, Kochi

21K10K3K Fun Run

Varies · gtechmarathon.com

Typically mid-February (2026 edition ran Feb 15, 10,000+ runners). Organised by GTech, Kerala’s IT industry body, around the “Drug Free Kerala” theme.

Date
TBA

Kochi World Health Day Run 2027

TBA

Decathlon Kalamassery, Kochi

10K5K3K

Paid entry

Tied to World Health Day, typically 7 April. Community run at Decathlon Kalamassery, Kochi.

Date
TBA

Mother’s Lap 2027 (Soles of Cochin)

TBA

Kochi

5K3K Family Run

Varies · solesofcochin.org

Held annually on the first Sunday in May, per Soles of Cochin. Family run celebrating motherhood — welcoming to first-time runners.

Date
TBA

Cochin Carnival Marathon

TBA

Vasco da Gama Square, Fort Kochi

5K Fun Run

Varies · search for latest

Typically late December, tied to the Cochin Carnival. Festive 5K through Fort Kochi’s heritage streets. Perfect for first-timers and families.

No events match this filter.

Kerala’s Running Hubs

🏙️ Kochi / Ernakulam

Kerala’s busiest running calendar — Federal Bank Kochi Marathon, Spice Coast Marathon, GTech Marathon and Nammude Run all start and finish along the backwaters and Marine Drive.

🌊 Thiruvananthapuram / Kovalam

Kerala’s largest single event — the UST Trivandrum Marathon — plus the coastal Kovalam Marathon, both anchored around the state capital’s festive season.

⛰️ Munnar / Vagamon (Idukki)

South India’s high-altitude trail circuit — the Munnar Marathon and Vagamon ULtrail run through tea estates and Shola forest at up to 2,200m MSL, both with prior-race qualification rules.

🏛️ Thrissur

The Thrissur Cultural Capital Marathon routes runners past temples and Thrissur Pooram landmarks — Kerala’s most heritage-heavy full marathon course, and one that sells out early.

🏖️ Kannur / Kozhikode (North Kerala)

The Kannur Beach Run and Calicut Half Marathon anchor North Kerala’s calendar, with Rubfila Palakkad and Mathrubhumi Kozhikode adding two more heritage-route races each January.

🛶 Kollam

The Desinganad Backwaters Marathon is Kollam’s monsoon-season signature race, tracing Ashtamudi Backwaters and the Thangassery Lighthouse each July.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to run a marathon in Kerala?

December through February is peak season — temperatures sit in the low-to-mid 20s°C at dawn and humidity is at its lowest for the year. Most of Kerala’s biggest races (Munnar, Thrissur, Federal Bank Kochi, Kannur Beach Run) cluster into this window for exactly this reason.

Which is the biggest marathon in Kerala?

The UST Trivandrum Marathon is expected to be Kerala’s largest by participation, with 15,000+ runners projected for its November 2026 edition. The Federal Bank Kochi Marathon and GTech Marathon are the next largest, each drawing 10,000+ runners.

Are there qualification requirements for any Kerala races?

Yes — the Munnar Marathon Ultra and Full categories, and the Vagamon ULtrail 60K and 36K categories, require proof of prior race distances completed within a set window. Check each organiser’s official site before registering, as requirements are updated most years.

Which Kerala marathon has the coolest weather?

The Munnar Marathon and Vagamon ULtrail, both run through Idukki district’s hill country at 1,000–2,200m altitude, offer the coolest race-day conditions in the state — a welcome break from the coastal humidity most other Kerala races contend with.

How do I stay updated on exact 2027 race dates?

Most Kerala organisers confirm their following year’s date only 2-4 months in advance. This calendar is updated as official dates are announced — check back periodically, or verify directly with the organiser’s website before booking travel.

Note: Always verify dates and registration details directly with event organisers before making travel or race plans. Dates can shift, and several 2027 editions are not yet officially confirmed. Last updated: July 2026.

Kerala Runner Tips – Beat the Heat & Humidity

Average race-day conditions: 25–32°C + 70–90% humidity (monsoon months especially challenging)
Key strategies: Early morning hydration, electrolyte tabs/salt sticks, coconut water recovery, lightweight breathable gear
Coastal flat courses (Kochi, Trivandrum, Kollam) → great for PBs
Hill/trail events (Munnar) → build strength & mental toughness
Always verify final dates & routes closer to event. Follow #MarathonKerala on X for real-time updates.

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