World Marathon Calendar 2026: 7 Majors & 75+ Races

The 7 Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2026 are: Tokyo Marathon (March 1), Boston Marathon (April 20), TCS London Marathon (April 26), TCS Sydney Marathon (August 30), BMW Berlin Marathon (September 27), Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October 11), and TCS New York City Marathon (November 1). Completing all six original Majors earns runners the prestigious Six Star Medal.

The next upcoming Abbott World Marathon Major is the TCS Sydney Marathon on August 30, 2026, followed by the BMW Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2026. Tokyo, Boston and London have already been completed in 2026.

The Valencia Marathon in Spain (December) is widely regarded as the world's fastest marathon course, with a flat point-to-point route ideal for PB attempts. The BMW Berlin Marathon (September) holds the men's world record course and is another top choice. Both races attract thousands of runners chasing personal bests each year.

The BMW Berlin Marathon 2026 is scheduled for September 27, 2026. It is an Abbott World Marathon Major and finishes at the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The race is held annually on the last Sunday of September and is known as the world's fastest marathon course, having hosted multiple world records.

The TCS New York City Marathon 2026 is scheduled for November 1, 2026. It is the world's largest marathon with approximately 50,000 finishers running through all 5 boroughs of New York City from Staten Island to Central Park. Entry is by lottery — applications typically open in January each year.

The Six Star Medal is awarded by Abbott World Marathon Majors to runners who complete all six original World Major Marathons — Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. Sydney was added as the seventh Major in 2024 but the Six Star finisher medal remains the established goal. There is no time limit — runners can complete the six races over any number of years.

For Indian runners targeting a World Major, the Tokyo Marathon is the most accessible from India — direct flights, no extreme time zone shift, and charity entry options bypass the competitive lottery. Berlin and Chicago are popular for PB attempts due to their flat courses. The ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon (December) is the closest Major-calibre race to India with no visa required for Indian passport holders.

Several races stand out for uniqueness: the Antarctic Ice Marathon (December) is run on the frozen continent at Union Glacier and is the southernmost marathon on Earth; the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø, Norway (June) is run at midnight under the Arctic sun; and the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon (May) starts at Everest Base Camp at 5,364m, making it the world's highest marathon.