October 2026: Top 8 · Rookie
October 2026 marathons: which of the eight courses suits which runner?
Eight races between October 4 and 25, 2026: a single flat loop through Ljubljana, a finish under a roof in Frankfurt, a descent toward Cardiff Bay and 29 Chicago neighborhoods. The course comes first; the entry deadline and fee appear at the end of each section.
October is when marathon courses show their strongest features—and when entry windows close at the same time. Amsterdam goes under the Rijksmuseum, along the Amstel and through Vondelpark, with the highest point on the entire course just 10 meters above sea level.
In Lisbon, the race starts on the Atlantic coast at Carcavelos and finishes 42.195 kilometers later at Praça do Comércio. Beijing starts on Tian'anmen Square, between the Mao Mausoleum and the National Museum, and offers only one distance.
Eight races fall between October 4 and 25, 2026, including two in Germany: the Franklin Meilenlauf in Mannheim and the Frankfurt Marathon. Their differences are not mainly about the date, but about what each course offers—a loop with virtually no elevation change, a finish straight inside an exhibition hall, an Atlantic coastal road, an Olympic stadium where the race starts and finishes on the track.
The course determines which race to run; the deadline determines whether a place is still available. The deadlines are short: Ljubljana closes entries on September 15, Mannheim on September 30 and Frankfurt on October 18.
Starting with the calendar and looking for the course afterward is the wrong order.
1Ljubljana: A Flat Loop Course With a 2:45 Cut-Off at 20K
Ljubljana's course is a single loop, and that is the whole concept. The start is on Slovenska cesta near Trg Ajdovščina; the finish is on Kongresni trg, a few minutes away on foot. Between them, the course loops through the city center with virtually no elevation change—no turnaround where the same street appears twice, and no ramp to disrupt pace planning.
On Sunday, October 18, the marathon and half marathon start together at 9 a.m. The 10-kilometer race follows at 4:30 p.
m., while the 200-meter race for the youngest runners starts at 9:30 a.m.
For the city center, that means a full weekend of closures: Slovenska cesta is closed from about 6 a.m. to 8 p.
m. on race day, while other central roads close in stages between 7:45 a.m.
and 3 p.m. One number matters before registration: runners who pass the kilometer-20 checkpoint slower than 2:45 hours gross are diverted to the finish route and listed in the results for half marathon.
The time limit for the marathon is six hours, but the decision comes at halfway. The race is Slovenia's largest running event. In 1996, 673 runners stood on the start line; in 2024, there were 21,242.
The record is 24,372, set in 2015. It carries the world governing body's Gold Label and is measured by AIMS. Ljubljana averages a high of 16.1 degrees and a low of 7.9 degrees in October, with around 150 millimeters of rain during the month—a layer is useful for the wait before the 9 a.
m. start, but not afterward. Registration opened on October 20, 2025, and closes on September 15, 2026.
The marathon costs 70 euros, half marathon costs 65 and the 10-kilometer race costs 45; from September 1, the marathon price rises to 75 euros. Race materials are available only at the expo in Gospodarsko razstavišče, 18 Dunajska cesta, from October 15 to 17, in person and not on race day.
NLB Ljubljana MarathonSun, October 17, 2027 · D-336 · Ljubljana, SloveniaSee race details
Mannheim, Germany
2Mannheim: A Half Marathon Through a Former U.S. Military Base
The Franklin Mile Run winds through the greenbelt in northern Mannheim and across the former U.S. military conversion site.
This is not a backdrop but a neighborhood under construction: As the district changes from year to year, individual sections of the course shift slightly, too. The race runs through a city quarter that is still taking shape. The course is mostly flat, and the distances are manageable.
The six-mile race starts at 11:15 a.m., followed by the half marathon at 11:35 a.
m.; both start on Franklin Field-Platz. The finish closes at 3 p.
m. The late start is unusual but practical—those traveling to the race do not have to get up in the dark. The 2026 race marks the 10th edition, following the ninth in 2025.
Getting there is a tram ride: Line 5 stops at Käfertal Platz der Freundschaft, directly beside the start and finish. On-site parking is scarce. The overflow option is the customer lot at a hardware store, about a seven-minute walk away.
The bib is handled differently from most races. There is no advance mailing and no expo: Pickup is available only on race day, October 11, from 8 a.m.
until 30 minutes before the relevant start, at Franklin Field-Platz in 68309 Mannheim. Having the registration confirmation ready on a phone speeds things up. Online registration closes on September 30 at noon.
In the pricing tier that ends that day, the half marathon costs 50 euros and the six-mile race costs 40 euros.
Franklin Meilenlauf MannheimOctober 2027 · expected · Mannheim, GermanySee race details
3Frankfurt: A Festhalle Finish and a 6-Hour Time Limit
Frankfurt has the most unusual finish of these eight courses: It does not finish on a road but inside the Festhalle. The final meters lead beneath the arena roof, into light and noise, and that finish is what makes the race better known to many runners than its intermediate splits. The race starts October 25 at 10 a.
m. at Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, and the finish remains open until 4:45 p.m.
; the course therefore has to be completed within six hours net. The organizer lists the course as the third-fastest marathon in the world, and it carries the World Athletics Platinum Label. Wind is part of the equation, however: Reports from the field identify strong headwinds in some years—not the profile—as the factor that cost runners their finish times.
One detail rarely found elsewhere makes the second half less stressful: Free buses are available for runners who have to drop out, at kilometers 23.7, 27.2 and 30, along with a sweeper bus at the back of the field. Those who stop can also take local public transportation back to Messe Frankfurt free of charge. The three fixed pickup points mean a bad day does not have to end with a long walk.
More than 25,000 people take part, so road closures across the city are extensive. Anyone wearing a bib can travel throughout the RMV network on race day without buying a separate ticket. The entry fee rises by bib number: 111 euros for places 1 through 1,000, then 126, 136 and 146 euros; from place 9,501 through the October 4 closing date, the fee is 156 euros.
Late entries from October 5 through 18 and on-site from October 23 through 25 cost 166 euros. Online registration remains open through October 18. Race packets are available at the Marathonmall in Hall 1 of Messe Frankfurt on Friday from noon to 7 p.
m., Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 7 p.m. and on race day from 7 to 9:30 a.
m.—30 minutes before the start, enough time if everything goes smoothly, but with no margin.
Frankfurt MarathonSun, October 31, 2027 · D-350 · Frankfurt, GermanySee race details
4Amsterdam: A Flat Course Starting and Finishing in the Olympic Stadium
The TCS Amsterdam Marathon starts and finishes in the Olympic Stadium. Runners set off on the track, leave the stadium, loop around the city and return to that same track—a setting few road marathons can match. Along the way, the course passes beneath the Rijksmuseum, follows the Amstel and runs through Vondelpark.
The elevation profile explains the rest. The course's highest point is 10 meters, and it comes only after kilometer 37. That is why the race is considered one of the fastest in the world, carries the Platinum Label and is measured by AIMS; in 2025, Jeffrey Toroitich lowered the men's course record to 2:03:31.
The race was founded in 1975 to mark the city's 700th anniversary, and 2025 was its 50th edition. Gerard Nijboer has the most victories, with four in the 1980s, followed by Wilson Chebet with three. The weather is the real unknown.
In mid-October, Amsterdam averages a high of 14.7°C and a low of 7.7°C, and a significant share of the year's 133 rainy days falls during these weeks. Most precipitation comes as passing showers; more important is the prevailing westerly wind from the North Sea, which can blow hard on exposed sections. A Dutch pacing team is organized by target finish times, which is more valuable on a course without elevation than it is elsewhere.
The race starts October 18 at 9 a.m.; the time limit is six hours, and the finish closes at 5 p.
m. Registration has been open since December 20, 2025—the marathon costs 145 euros, the Mizuno half marathon costs 43.50 euros, and both races typically sell out early. For this edition, the expo moves from Sporthallen Zuid to RAI Amsterdam, running from October 15 through 17; nothing is distributed on race day.
For getting there, the sensible choice is clear: Take the metro or train to Amsterdam Zuid, then follow the signs to the Olympic Stadium.
Amsterdam MarathonSun, October 31, 2027 · D-350 · Amsterdam, NetherlandsSee race details
5Cardiff Half Marathon: flat except for miles 6 and 12
The start is directly in front of Cardiff Castle, and the finish is beside the grandstand in the Civic Centre. Between them, 13.1 miles pass the Principality Stadium and continue down to Cardiff Bay, entirely on closed roads with course marshals. The course is flat apart from two sections, and both are worth knowing.
At Mile 6, a ramp drops toward the bay—downhill, but steep enough to take a toll on the thighs later. At Mile 12 comes the real test: a steep climb on Fairoak Road, one mile from the finish. The race grew out of a charity event.
At the first edition in 2003, 1,500 people started; today, more than 27,500 are registered, with separate elite races for men, women and wheelchair athletes. The Welsh half marathon Championship is held here every year; the half marathon World Championship followed in 2016, and the Commonwealth Championship in 2018. The course records stand at 59:22 minutes for men and 1:05:52 hours for women, set by Edith Chelimo in 2017.
The race is part of the Super Halves series, alongside Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen and Valencia. On October 4, wheelchair athletes start at 9:50 a.m.
; the elite field and the white, green and red pens start at 10 a.m., followed by the blue, violet and yellow pens at 10:10 a.
m. Pacemaker are on the course in every wave. The time limit is four hours, after which the roads reopen.
Places for 2026 were allocated by ballot, with a UK ballot starting at 58 pounds and an international ballot starting at 70 pounds; the listed closing date is September 1. Those who miss out can secure a bib through a charity partner, an authorized tour operator or a business package.
Cardiff Half MarathonSun, October 3, 2027 · D-322 · Cardiff, United KingdomSee race details
6Lisbon: Atlantic coast, the Tagus and a finish in Praça do Comércio
This course has a simple progression: first the ocean, then the river, then the city. The start is on Estrada N6-7 in Carcavelos, on the Atlantic coast west of Cascais. From there, the course follows the shoreline through Oeiras before turning along the Tagus toward the old city.
The finish is on Praça do Comércio, the broad open square beside the river. The organizer describes the entire course as running alongside sea and river, with bands playing at several points along the route. Getting to the start means taking the train: From Cais do Sodré in Lisbon, the trip to Carcavelos takes about 30 minutes, followed by a walk of roughly one kilometer.
Public transportation is free for all participants on race day between 5:30 a.m. and 5 p.
m. Race packets are available at the expo at Feira Internacional de Lisboa on October 8 and 9; another person can collect them with the registration confirmation. Entry fees start at 70 euros and rise in stages to 130 euros.
The registration period should be checked on the official website before booking flights and accommodation. The race has been held since 1986, carries the World Athletics Gold Label and is measured by AIMS. The following day, the half marathon uses the same finish on Praça do Comércio—a weekend that makes it possible to run one event and watch the other.
The race starts October 10 at 8 a.m., and the time limit is six hours.
The early start serves a purpose: In October, Lisbon averages 23 degrees during the day and 12 to 13 degrees at night, and temperatures as high as 35 degrees have been recorded. The daily range is wide and the air is dry—at 8 a.m.
it is cool; four hours later, it is not.
Lisbon MarathonOctober 2027 · expected · Lisbon, PortugalSee race details
7Beijing: starts in Tiananmen Square, marathon only, from 200 yuan
Kaum eine Strecke der Welt beginnt an einem größeren Ort. Der Start des Peking-Marathons liegt auf dem Tian'anmen-Platz, zwischen dem Mao-Mausoleum und dem Nationalmuseum, auf dem breiten Steinboden. Von dort quert die Strecke die Stadt nach Norden und endet auf dem Festplatz im Olympic Green, unmittelbar nördlich von Vogelnest und Nationalem Schwimmzentrum.
Und es gibt nur eine Distanz: 42,195 Kilometer. Kein Halbmarathon, keine 5 Kilometer, kein Familienlauf. Das Rennen war das erste in China, das ausschließlich die volle Distanz anbietet, und das erste, das seine Teilnehmenden auslost.
Seine Geschichte erklärt den Rang. 1981 war es die erste internationale Sportveranstaltung, die in China ausgetragen wurde. 1997 diente es als nationale Meisterschaft der Männer, 2005 als Marathonwettbewerb der Nationalspiele, bei dem Sun Yingjie das Frauenrennen gewann; im selben Jahr verließ Benson Kipchumba Cherono im Männerrennen auf rund 800 Metern wegen einer falschen Streckenführung den Kurs und wurde wegen seines großen Vorsprungs trotzdem als Sieger gewertet.
2006 kamen die asiatischen Meisterschaften dazu. Die Streckenrekorde stehen bei 2:07:06 Stunden, gelaufen 2019 von Matthew Kisorio, und bei 2:19:38 Stunden von Sun Yingjie aus dem Jahr 2003, zugleich chinesischer Landesrekord. Der Kurs trägt das Gold-Label des Weltverbands.
Zwei Dinge sind vorher zu klären. Erstens die Luft: Der Herbst schwankt von Jahr zu Jahr, 2014 wurde das Rennen in dichtem Smog ausgetragen, weshalb sich ein Blick auf die Luftqualität am Renntag lohnt. Zweitens der Kalender: 2020 fiel das Rennen aus, 2021 wurde es verschoben, im November 2022 kam es mit rund 30.000 Teilnehmenden zurück.
Gestartet wird am 18. Oktober. Die Teilnehmenden werden ausgelost — eine Anmeldung ist also keine Startzusage, und der Termin der Auslosung ist vorab zu prüfen. Die Startgebühr beginnt bei 200 Yuan, ein Anmeldezeitraum ist nicht angegeben.
Zur Anreise: Linie 2 bis Hepingmen, Ausgang B, dann 20 bis 30 Minuten zu Fuß, weil die Straßen am Platz ab 22 Uhr des Vorabends gesperrt sind.
Beijing MarathonOctober 2027 · expected · Beijing, ChinaSee race details
8Chicago: 20 aid stations, with 2026 entry available through the tour program
Start und Ziel sind der Grant Park, dazwischen liegen 29 Stadtteile auf einem flachen Kurs. Nach Angaben des Veranstalters sind auf dieser Strecke sieben Weltrekorde gefallen; sie trägt das Platinum Label und ist AIMS-vermessen. Versorgt wird das Feld an 20 Stellen im Abstand von etwa ein bis zwei Meilen, und jede ist gleich aufgebaut: zuerst das Sanitätszelt mit Anschluss an den Transport, dann die Toiletten, dann Gatorade Endurance, dann die Ansage, dann das Wasser.
Wer diese Reihenfolge einmal kennt, muss unterwegs nicht mehr suchen. Medizinisch betreut wird an 22 Punkten — den 20 Verpflegungsstellen plus je einem Zelt zwischen Meile 14 und 15 und auf der letzten Meile. Zwischenzeiten werden am Start, alle fünf Kilometer, bei Meile 13,1, zwischen Meile 20 und 25, bei Meile 25,2 und im Ziel genommen.
Das Wetter ist hier der eigentliche Gegner, und das sagen die Teilnehmenden selbst am deutlichsten: In den Rückmeldungen dominieren Hitze und Luftfeuchtigkeit, geplatzte Zielzeiten, Krämpfe. Ein Läufer beschreibt, wie er nach sechs Meilen sein Tempo aufgab, nach Gefühl weiterlief und am Ende schneller wurde als erwartet — und wie er bei Meile 25 mit den Zuschauern gemeinsam rief. Die Unterstützung am Straßenrand wird durchgehend als das Beste an diesem Rennen genannt, mit Angaben von bis zu 1,7 Millionen Menschen an der Strecke.
Der Zeitplan ist eng getaktet. Gear Check und Startkorrals öffnen um 5:30 Uhr, das Rollstuhlrennen beginnt um 7:20 und 7:21 Uhr, die Handcycles um 7:23, die Profis um 7:30, dann Welle 1 um 7:35, Welle 2 um 8 und Welle 3 um 8:35 Uhr. Pace-Teams laufen von 2:55 bis 6:00 Stunden.
Das Zeitlimit beträgt 6:30 Stunden, was 15 Minuten pro Meile entspricht; ein Fahrzeug hinter dem letzten Starter hält dieses Tempo und gibt die Straßen wieder frei. Wer nach 16 Uhr ankommt, wird unter Umständen nicht als offizieller Finisher geführt. Trinkrucksäcke sind in jeder Form verboten, Flaschengürtel und Handflaschen erlaubt.
Die reguläre Anmeldung ist geschlossen. Für 2026 führt der Weg laut Veranstalter nur noch über das offizielle Tourprogramm, ab 250 US-Dollar.
Chicago MarathonSun, October 10, 2027 · D-329 · Chicago, United StatesSee race details
Editor's pick
Anyone still looking for a full marathon this October and able to decide at short notice should consider Ljubljana. It is a single flat loop, starting on Slovenska cesta and finishing on Kongresni trg, for 70 euros—but the deadline is September 15, and the 2:45-hour gross-time checkpoint at kilometer 20 is a real barrier, not a formality. For a personal best, Amsterdam is the clearer choice.
The elevation difference is 10 meters, and the highest point comes after kilometer 37. Add a course record of 2:03:31 and pacing teams organized by target finish time. Registration is open, but the marathon and half marathon fill early; here, demand matters more than the deadline.
Runners staying in Germany have two very different options. Frankfurt allows six hours net, finishes under a roof and has three marked recovery points at kilometers 23.7, 27.2 and 30—but the final price tier is 166 euros. Mannheim offers no marathon, but half marathon and six miles on a flat course through a neighborhood still being rebuilt.
Registration runs until September 30, with fees of 50 and 40 euros, respectively. For a course chosen for more than its time potential, Lisbon starts on the Atlantic and finishes in a riverside square; Beijing starts on Tian'anmen Square and offers only the full distance. Both are Gold Label races, and in both cases the entry process is the unknown.
The course comes first; the calendar is next, and this October's calendar is tight. The deadlines arrive in this order: Ljubljana on September 15, Mannheim on September 30, Frankfurt with entries closing on October 4 and online registration available until October 18.
Four of the eight races cannot simply be booked. Cardiff used a lottery for 2026, with entries closing on September 1; for Chicago, this year's entry is available only through the official tour program; Beijing assigns places by lottery and lists no entry period; and Lisbon advises checking the official site for the entry process before booking.
For these four, the first question is whether a race place is available—not the flight and hotel. Amsterdam has no fixed closing date at all, but a queue: registration opened in December 2025, and the field is filling long before any date arrives.
Entry period · Accommodation
| Races | Itinerary | Entry period | INFO. |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLB Ljubljana Marathon | Sun, October 17, 2027 | Mon, October 19, 2026 ~ — | Accommodation · See race details |
| Franklin Meilenlauf Mannheim | October 2027 · expected | Not yet open | Accommodation · See race details |
| Frankfurt Marathon | Sun, October 31, 2027 | — ~ Sun, October 24, 2027 | Accommodation · See race details |
| Amsterdam Marathon | Sun, October 31, 2027 | Sat, December 19, 2026 ~ — | Accommodation · See race details |
| Cardiff Half Marathon | Sun, October 3, 2027 | Thu, October 1, 2026 ~ Sun, October 18, 2026 | Accommodation · See race details |
| Lisbon Marathon | October 2027 · expected | Not yet open | Accommodation · See race details |
| Beijing Marathon | October 2027 · expected | Not yet open | Accommodation · See race details |
| Chicago Marathon | Sun, October 10, 2027 | Thu, October 8, 2026 ~ Thu, October 29, 2026 | Accommodation · See race details |
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