MarathonLottery OnlyBQ

Irish Life Dublin Marathon

October 25, 2026 · 9:00 AMDublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Save

Race snapshot

Race Day

52°F

45–57°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

682ft

Moderate rolling hills · Net elevation change −20 ft

Participants

20K

Major marathon

Crowd Rating

7/ 10

Excellent spectator turnout

Entry

Lottery Only

Standard Entry

€85

Official Website

Key Dates

1. General Ballot Opens
  Nov 12, 2025
  Registration opens at 7:00 AM
2. General Ballot Closes
  Nov 17, 2025
  Registration closes at midnight
3. Ballot Results Announced
  Nov 25, 2025
  Notifications sent in batches
4. Good For Age Registration Opens
  May 1, 2026
  Entry for qualifying runners
5. Refund Window Opens
  Jul 1, 2026
  Refund period begins
1. Refund Window Closes
  Jul 12, 2026
  Refund period ends
2. Race Expo Opens
  Oct 24, 2026
  Packet pickup at RDS, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
3. Race Day
  Oct 25, 2026
  Irish Life Dublin Marathon
4. Race Expo Day 2
  Oct 25, 2026
  Final packet pickup at RDS, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Found in

Marathons in Europe Half Marathons in Europe Boston Qualifier Marathons in Europe Boston Qualifier Marathons

The Lowdown

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon is Ireland’s premier road race, first held in 1980 and grown into a major international event that each October draws elite athletes, club runners and charity fundraisers from around the world. Over its decades-long history the race has become a showcase for Irish running culture, combining serious competition with a friendly, festival atmosphere. The event is AIMS-certified and serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier, making it popular with athletes chasing fast times and qualifying standards. The mostly flat, city-centre course highlights some of Dublin’s best sights and varied scenery. Runners pass through the leafy expanse of Phoenix Park, sweep along the Grand Canal, and enjoy coastal stretches and sea breezes around Sandymount and the Dublin Bay waterfront. The route also threads through historic neighborhoods and past landmarks such as St. Stephen’s Green and the Georgian streets near Merrion Square, offering a scenic and engaging urban tour over 42.2 km. On race day the atmosphere is electric and welcoming: live bands, local supporters, and neighborhood cheer zones line the course, while post-race celebrations and hospitality at the finish create a strong sense of community. Whether aiming for a personal best, a Boston qualifying time, or simply to experience the camaraderie of one of Europe’s most established fall marathons, participants will find a well-organized event with great crowd support and classic Dublin charm.

Apr 25, 2025: Dublin Marathon contributes €63m to local economy, report finds
A Brand Finance/TCS report found the 2024 Irish Life Dublin Marathon generated €63 million ($71m) for the local economy, ranking the race 19th among the world’s top 50 marathons; the 2024 event drew about 18,100 finishers (22,500 paid entries).
Oct 9, 2025: Organisers announce ballot-only general entry for 2026 and onwards
Irish Life Dublin Marathon organisers confirmed all general entries from 2026 will be allocated by ballot (ending the 48-hour priority window) to increase first-time and female participation; Good-for-Age, elite and charity places are retained and the 2026 ballot was scheduled for 12–17 November with a €5 application fee.

2025 · Marathon

Loading the course…

Course Highlights: 01Fitzwilliam Square – Historic Georgian square near the race start.
02Trinity College Dublin – Home to the famous Book of Kells.
03Christ Church Cathedral – One of Dublin’s oldest medieval cathedrals.
04Guinness Storehouse – Iconic brewery with rich history.
05Phoenix Park – One of Europe’s largest city parks.
06Áras an Uachtaráin – Official residence of the President of Ireland.
07Wellington Monument – Tall obelisk in Phoenix Park.
08Kilmainham Gaol – Historic prison tied to Irish independence.
09UCD Campus – University College Dublin’s leafy surroundings.
10St. Stephen’s Green – Beautiful central park near the finish line.
Also on this race weekend: 5K · 10K · Half marathon
Time Limit: 07:00
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Minimum Age: 18 years
Entry Methods: Online Registration
Ballot (Public Lottery)
Charity Entry
Tour Operator
Club Entry
International/Group Entry
Virtual Entry
Eligibility: Age of 18
Required Documents: Photo ID
Cancellation & Refund Policy: No refunds available.
Refund Window: Participants can request a refund between July 3rd at 9:00 AM and July 16th at 11:59 PM. Refunds are only available during this period.
Refund Process: To initiate a refund, log into your Eventmaster account and select the 'Refund' option. A confirmation email will be sent upon completion.
Refund Fee: A €20 administration fee applies to all refunds.
Post-Refund Status: Once a refund is processed, the entrant is no longer considered a participant in the marathon.
Half Marathon and Race Series: No refund options are available for the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon or any of the Race Series events.
Transfer Window: Participants can transfer their entry to another individual from July 24th at 9:00 AM to August 24th at 11:59 PM.
Transfer Process: Managed via Eventmaster, the person receiving the entry will be charged a €20 fee for the marathon transfer.
Restrictions: Entries can only be transferred once. Attempting to sell or swap race numbers outside the official transfer process will result in cancellation of the entry.
General Deferral: Entries cannot be deferred to the following year.
Pregnancy/Postpartum Deferral: Participants unable to compete due to pregnancy or postpartum reasons can defer their entry to one of the following three years. A deferral request must be submitted at least 14 days before race day to office@dublinmarathon.ie.

01: General entry for 2026 is allocated by ballot only (ballot ran 12–17 November 2025; results notified 25 November 2025).
02: Good For Age entry for qualifying runners opened 1 May 2026, and charity places are also available through registered charities.
03: The 2026 event is the 45th running of the Dublin Marathon (‘road to 50 begins’).
04: Course tips: The roads can narrow in spots (especially entering/exiting Phoenix Park and some older streets), so the first few miles can be crowded – don’t burn energy zigzagging; it will thin out.
05: Fun factor: The race falls on Halloween weekend – the post-race atmosphere continues well into the evening in Dublin’s pubs.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer682ft gain, 52°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

Running this race?

MarathonOS puts your race countdown on your Lock Screen and keeps every race-week checklist on your phone. Checklists and your race report are free for your first race.

Scan to download

Community

Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.

Community Reviews

Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

Race snapshot

The Lowdown

Explore the course

Prepare for This Race

Community

Community Reviews