Dublin Marathon 2026

Overview

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon is Ireland's biggest marathon and one of the most popular autumn marathons in Europe. Held every October in the heart of the Irish capital, it combines a World Athletics certified course with a famously warm welcome from the crowds lining the streets, which makes it a favourite for first-time marathoners as much as for runners chasing a personal best.

Demand now far outstrips supply: entry is allocated through a lottery-based ballot, and for the 2026 edition the organisers received a record 47,000 applications for 22,500 places. Charity places and Good for Age entries are the other routes onto the start line.

Course

Marathon (42.195 km)

The race is a single loop through the city. It starts on Leeson Street Lower and heads past St Stephen's Green and through the Liberties, passing close to St Patrick's Cathedral, before crossing the River Liffey to the north side. Around the 6 km mark runners enter Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe, passing Dublin Zoo before leaving the park near Castleknock and re-entering at Knockmaroon Gate.

The second half swings south through Chapelizod, Inchicore and Dolphin's Barn into the southside suburbs. The toughest stretch comes around Clonskeagh with the climb nicknamed Heartbreak Hill, after which a long, gently descending run along Stillorgan Road, Nutley Lane and Merrion Road brings the field back towards the finish on Mount Street Upper, in front of the Pepper Canister Church.

The course is generally flat with some rolling sections and a handful of testing climbs, for roughly 216 m of total ascent. It is fast enough for elite athletes, yet the late climbs reward runners who pace the first half conservatively.

Race day atmosphere

Runners set off in four waves, allocated according to a previous marathon time or an estimate for first-timers, with wheelchair athletes starting first. The official pacing team runs with large balloons, covering finishing times from 3:00 to 5:00 in ten-minute steps, with each pacer placed in the matching wave.

Aid stations along the route serve water and sports drink, and energy gels are handed out at two stations. The course remains open for seven hours from when the last participant crosses the start line, and tail walkers accompany the final runners, so the race is genuinely accessible to walkers and slower runners.

History and records

The first Dublin Marathon took place in October 1980, set up by a group led by Noel Carroll with the Business Houses Athletic Association. About 2,100 runners started that first edition, which was won by local runner Dick Hooper in 2:16:14. The field has grown steadily since, reaching 22,500 registrants in 2019, including more than 5,000 runners from outside Ireland.

The race moved from the October bank holiday Monday to a Sunday in 2016 to attract more international runners. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course records belong to Ethiopian athletes: 2:06:52 for men, set by Kemal Husen in 2023, and 2:24:13 for women, set by Asmarech Nega in 2024. Olympic medallist Sonia O'Sullivan won the women's race in 2000.

Practical information

• Race packs must be collected in person at the expo at the RDS Simmonscourt in Ballsbridge on the Friday and Saturday before the race; there is no collection on race day.
• Only the clear plastic bag handed out at registration is accepted at the baggage area, and all bags are inspected.
• The expo is served by Dublin Bus and the DART; parking is not available.
• Moving up a wave on race day is not allowed, but runners may drop back to a later wave.