My marathons

World Marathon Majors compared

The 8 Abbott World Marathon Majors side by side: race day, the climb we measured, the field, the time limit and how to get a place.

The Majors side by side

The Abbott World Marathon Majors are 8 big city marathons in one series. Total climb is the metres gained over the whole race, measured along the course line on a bare-earth elevation model and smoothed over 1 km; finishers are the latest count we hold, and entry is the way most places are given out, with its newest window.

Race Next race Total climb Finishers Time limit Entry Film
New York City Marathon New York, United States 104.4 m343 ft 59,226in 2025 7 hours Ballot Not announced. 2026 race: 4 to 25 Feb 2026 Film
Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 16.2 m53 ft Flat 7 hours Ballot Ballot closed. 2027 race: 14 to 28 Aug 2026 Film
Boston Marathon Boston, United States 105.1 m345 ft Qualifying time Registration closed. 2027 race: 14 to 18 Sep 2026 Film
London Marathon London, United Kingdom 42.4 m139 ft Flat 43,965in 2023 Ballot Ballot closed. 2027 race: 24 Apr to 1 May 2026 Film
Cape Town Marathon Cape Town, South Africa 116.2 m381 ft 6 h 30 min Ballot Ballot closed. 2027 race: 10 to 24 Jun 2026
Sydney Marathon Sydney, Australia 188.4 m618 ft Hilly 7 hours Ballot Ballot open. 2027 race: 29 Sep to 19 Oct 2026
Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 35.9 m118 ft Flat 6 h 15 min Ballot Ballot open. 2027 race: 1 Oct to 12 Nov 2026 Film
Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 20 m66 ft Flat 54,383in 2025 6 h 30 min Ballot Ballot open. 2027 race: 8 to 29 Oct 2026 Film

Questions

Which World Marathon Major is the flattest?
Tokyo Marathon, with 16.2 m of climbing in the whole race. Then Chicago (20 m) and Berlin (35.9 m).
Which World Marathon Major is the hilliest?
Sydney Marathon, with 188.4 m of climbing, its highest point 73 m above its lowest.
How do you get into a World Marathon Major?
New York, Tokyo, London, Cape Town, Sydney, Berlin and Chicago give most places by ballot. Boston takes runners on qualifying times. Charity places and official travel packages are other ways in; each race's entry page lists them with the dates.
When is the next World Marathon Major?
New York City Marathon on Sun 1 Nov 2026, then Tokyo Marathon on Sun 7 Mar 2027.

Ground heights: USGS 3DEP (3 courses); GEDTM30 (Ho & Hengl, OpenGeoHub), CC BY 4.0 (2 courses); Geoportal Berlin / ATKIS DGM1 (1 course); 出典：国土地理院ウェブサイト (https://maps.gsi.go.jp/development/ichiran.html) を加工して作成 / Elevation derived from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's digital elevation model (1 course); Contains Environment Agency information © Environment Agency and/or database right (1 course). Course lines © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Each Major, soonest first

8 races

November 2026

1 race New York
  • Film available

    New York, United States

    New York City Marathon

    World Major Big field Point to point

    In 14 days 104 m341 ft climb 59,226 finishers

Later in the year

March 2027

1 race Tokyo
  • Film available

    Tokyo, Japan

    Tokyo Marathon

    World Major Flat Point to point

    In 5 months 16 m52 ft climb

April 2027

2 races London, Boston
  • Film available

    Boston, United States

    Boston Marathon

    World Major Point to point

    In 6 months 105 m344 ft climb

  • Film available

    London, United Kingdom

    London Marathon

    World Major Flat Big field

    In 6 months 42 m138 ft climb 43,965 finishers

May 2027

1 race Cape Town

  • Cape Town, South Africa

    Cape Town Marathon

    World Major Loop

    In 7 months 116 m381 ft climb

August 2027

1 race Sydney

  • Sydney, Australia

    Sydney Marathon

    Ballot closes 19 Oct World Major Hilly Point to point

    In 10 months 188 m617 ft climb

September 2027

1 race Berlin
  • Film available

    Berlin, Germany

    Berlin Marathon

    Ballot closes 12 Nov World Major Flat Loop

    In 11 months 36 m118 ft climb

October 2027

1 race Chicago
  • Film available

    Chicago, United States

    Chicago Marathon

    Ballot closes 29 Oct World Major Flat Big field

    In 12 months 20 m66 ft climb 54,383 finishers

Map data and course lines © OpenStreetMap contributors

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