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World’s best marathons and running festivals in 2025

Best marathons in 2021 / 30-day challenge running

Running a marathon is a monumental achievement, requiring months of preparation, discipline, and mental resilience. Covering a distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres), it tests both physical endurance and mental strength. Marathon training typically involves a structured plan of gradual mileage build-up, interval training, long runs, and proper nutrition to optimise performance and minimize injury risks.

For runners seeking the ultimate challenge, the world’s most prestigious marathons offer unforgettable experiences. The seven biggest marathons in the world – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Sydney – form the Abbott World Marathon Majors series and there’s also hundreds of other running events to choose from on any given month throughout the year. 

From events in major cities and snow to vineyards and African safari, here’s our pick of the best marathons around the world in 2024. All events and dates are subject to change.

Travel agencies

A number of travel agencies offer packages to various marathons and running events around the world, including:

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Marathons and running events in 2025

PolarNight Marathon

  • When: 4 January 2025
  • Where: Tromsø, Norway
  • Events: Ishavskraft Marathon (42km), PolarNight Half Marathon (21km), Mørketidsmila (10km), Mørketidstrimmen (5km)
  • Website: msm.no

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

  • When: 8-12 January 2025
  • Where: Orlando, Florida, US
  • Website: rundisney.com

Hong Kong Marathon

Tokyo Marathon

Run Rome The Marathon

Los Angeles Marathon 

Manulife Danang International Marathon

  • When: 23 March 2025
  • Where: Bien Dong Park, Danang City, Vietnam
  • Events: marathon; half marathon; 10k; 5K; 1.5k run categories for children
  • Website: rundanang.com

Côte Chalonnaise Wine Marathon

  • When: 29 March 2025 
  • Where: Burgundy, France
  • Events: marathon, half marathon, 10km, and MARA3 (race with three runners – the first runner on the 42km, the second for the 21km and third on 10km. All three runners will then finish together)
  • Website: marathondesvinsdelacotechalonnaise.fr

Brighton Marathon Weekend

NN Marathon Rotterdam

Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris 

ABP Newport Marathon Festival

  • When: Sunday 13 April 2025
  • Where: Newport, Wales, UK
  • Events: marathon, half marathon, 10K, mile races
  • Website: newportwalesmarathon.co.uk

Run the Great Wall – Jinshanling Great Wall

  • When: 20 April 2025
  • Where: Jinshanling Great Wall Scenic Area, China 
  • Events: 10km, half marathon and full marathon
  • Website: rungreatwall.com

Boston Marathon

  • When: Monday 21 April 2025 
  • Where: Boston, USA
  • Website: baa.org 

Nashville Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series

  • When: 26-27 April 2025
  • Where: Nashville, Tennessee, US
  • What: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile, Kids Rock, Doggie Dash
  • Website: runrocknroll.com

London Marathon

The Sierra Leone Marathon

  • Organisers: Street Child UK (registered charity)
  • When: 30 April 2025 
  • Where: Northern Sierra Leone
  • Website: street-child.co.uk

Belfast City Marathon

Great Ocean Road Running Festival

Edinburgh Marathon

Icefjord Midnight Marathon

Stockholm Marathon

Iceland Volcano Marathon

KLM Aruba Marathon

  • When: 7-8 June 2025
  • Where: Aruba
  • What: marathon, half-marathon, 10km, 5kn
  • Website: klmarubamarathon.com

Comrades Marathon

Big Five Marathon

Midnight Sun Marathon

  • When: 21 June 2025
  • Where: Tromsø, Norway
  • Events: Marathon; Mizuno Half Marathon; Coop Mila (10km); Mini-marathon (4.2km); Children’s race (800 m)
  • Website: msm.no

Zagori Mountain Running 2024

  • When: 18-20 July 2025
  • Where: Zagori, Greece
  • Events: 80km, 44+km marathon, 21km, 10km
  • Website: zagorirace.gr

Australian Outback Marathon

San Francisco Marathon

  • When: 26-27 July 2025
  • Where: San Francisco, California, US
  • Events: marathon; half marathon (bridge half/city half); 10k; 5k; family 1k
  • Website: thesfmarathon.com

TCS Sydney Marathon

  • When: Sunday 31 August 2025
  • Where: Sydney, Australia 
  • Events: marathon, 10km, 4.2km
  • Website: tcssydneymarathon.com

Tallinn Marathon

  • When: 12-14 September 2025
  • Where: Tallinn, Estonia 
  • Events: marathon; half marathon; 10k; 5k 
  • Website: jooks.ee

Petra Desert Marathon

Médoc Marathon

  • When: 6 September 2025
  • Where: the vineyards of the Médoc in the Gironde, France
  • Website: marathondumedoc.com 

Berlin Marathon

13 Valleys Ultra

  • When: 26-28 September 2025
  • Where: Lake District National Park, England
  • Events: 2 Valleys (21km); 5 Valleys (55km); 7 Valleys (110km); 13 Valleys (180km)
  • Website: 13valleysultra.com

Loch Ness Marathon

Kosice Peace Marathon

Budapest Marathon

  • When: 11-12 October 2025
  • Where: Budapest, Hungary
  • Events: marathon, marathon relay, 30km, 15km, 10km, 5km
  • Website: marathon.runinbudapest.com

Chicago Marathon

Amsterdam Marathon

  • When: 19 October 2025
  • Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands 
  • Events: Marathon, Half Marathon, Mini Marathon – De Borcht, Kids Run Olympisch Kwartier, Mini Marathon – Galileïplantsoen, Mini Marathon – Olympiaplein 
  • Website: tcsamsterdammarathon.eu

Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Palma Marathon Mallorca

Venice Marathon

  • When: 26 October 2025
  • Where: Venice, Italy
  • Events: marathon; half marathon; 10k; family run
  • Website: venicemarathon.it

Dublin Marathon

EVA Air Marathon 

  • When: 26 October 2025
  • Where: Taipei, Taiwan
  • Events: marathon; half marathon; 10km; 3km
  • Website: evaairrun.com 

New York City Marathon

  • When: 2 November 2025
  • Where: New York City, USA
  • Website: nyrr.org

Lake Maggiore Marathon

  • When: November 2025 (TBC)
  • Where: Arona, Italy 
  • Events: marathon; 33km; half-marathon; 21km; 10km 
  • Website: lagomaggioremarathon.it 

Athens Marathon: The Authentic

Philadelphia Marathon Weekend

  • When: 21-23 November 2025
  • Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
  • Events: marathon; half marathon; 8k; kids fun run
  • Website: philadelphiamarathon.com

Torino City Marathon

  • When: December 2025 (TBC)
  • Where: Turin, Italy 
  • Events: marathon, half-marathon
  • Website: torinocitymarathon.it

Run Barbados Marathon Weekend

  • When: December 2025 (TBC)
  • Where: Barbados 
  • Events: Garrison Savannah Fun Mile; fun run; Sleeping Giant 5k; Sand Dunes 10k; Farley Hill Half; full marathon; Joe’s River coastal walk
  • Website: visitbarbados.org

Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon 2025

Honolulu Marathon

Main image: pxhere.com

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