How to get into the Sydney Marathon

Sydney Marathon ballot results

Results for the 2027 ballot went out by email on November 3, 2026, and successful runners' cards were charged the same day. Anyone who heard nothing by November 6 was told to contact the organizers. Unsuccessful applicants were sent the charity and travel options the same day.

The ballot was free to enter and ran September 29 to October 19, 2026. Entering on the first day gave no advantage, duplicate entries are each charged, and withdrawals had to reach the organizers by October 16. A card that fails when charged forfeits the place.

For the 2026 race, more than 123,000 people applied, up 56% on the 79,083 for 2025, for about 40,000 starting places. 36,295 people took part in 2026. The 2027 total is not published yet.

Sydney Marathon guaranteed entry

The High Performance Program has 1,200 places for 2027, double the year before: 600 Sub-Elite places for the fastest overall and 600 Good for Age places for the fastest in each age and gender group. Applications ran September 14 to 18, 2026, and results came out October 30. Applicants who missed out went into the ballot automatically.

Meeting the standard only lets you apply, because places are ranked. Times must come from a World Athletics-certified marathon run since July 1, 2025, on a course with no more than 457 m of net drop, linked to your own official result or certificate. Watch, Strava and Garmin times do not count.

HPP runners still pay the entry fee. They start in their own group behind the elites, warm up at North Sydney Oval and collect bibs at a dedicated desk. The organizers aim to accept more eligible applicants in 2027, and the standards can change for 2028.

Sydney Marathon charity entry

Charity places skip the ballot. You pick one of more than 50 official charity partners, apply to that charity through Grassrootz, and the charity chooses its runners. The headline partner is Beyond Blue and the foundation partner is the We Run Foundation. Others include Achilles Australia, the American Cancer Society and the Allyson Whitney Foundation.

Each charity sets its own commitment. Beyond Blue asks for at least A$3,000 for a free entry: a A$250 donation to your page confirms the place, the entry code comes from early 2027 once you reach A$2,500, and the full amount is due by August 30, 2027.

Fundraising and registration must be complete by 23:59 AEST on July 15, 2027. Missing it can forfeit the place or move you to the last start group, and a charity entry that is never registered cannot be deferred. Runners raised a record A$15.2 million in 2026.

Sydney Marathon tour operators

The Travel Program has more than 100 Official Travel Partners in more than 65 countries, led by Marathon Tours & Travel as Lead Travel Partner. Selected packages include guaranteed entry, and others are hotel only for runners who already have a place. Partners cannot register for you: you register yourself by 23:59 AEST on June 30, 2027. A package runner who cannot travel can be swapped for another runner until 16:00 AEST on July 31, 2027, and after that the entry is lost, including for injury or a refused visa.

Entry comes only with a hotel package. Marathon Tours & Travel Australia sells 3 nights at the Hyatt Regency or 4 nights with a sightseeing morning and a harbour cruise, plus an optional A$70 course tour, and its entry is A$645 including the carbon levy. 2:09 Events (UK) sells 5 nights at the Grace Hotel with a harbour cruise, no airport transfers. Dream Travel Canada sells 4 nights at one of its contracted hotels, Thursday to Monday. Race Beyond (US) sells 4 or 5 nights at the Kimpton Margot with hosts on site.

Deposits are non-refundable. Marathon Tours & Travel US took $600 per person with the balance by June 1 for 2026, and its UK office 30%. 2:09 Events takes £600 per runner with the balance 10 weeks before departure. Fitness International Travel takes $700 plus the $500 entry at booking. Dream Travel Canada takes C$650, then C$1,200 by December 1, 2026, and keeps 15% to 100% of payments on a cancellation. Travelling Fit asks A$1,350 per runner, A$1,200 more by March 5, 2027 and the balance by June 4, 2027, and Adventure Time Travel A$2,000 per runner.

Past finishers and deferrals

The Candidacy Club gives anyone who finished the Sydney Marathon in 2022, 2023 or 2024 one guaranteed entry, to use in 2025, 2026 or 2027. The full fee applies. If demand for one year exceeds capacity, some may be balloted for their preferred year, and unclaimed entries expire after the 2027 race.

Runners who deferred a 2025 or 2026 entry into 2027 are contacted after the November 2026 draw. Entering the ballot as well cancels the deferral, with no refund of a charged fee.