Best Marathons in Australia for 2027: Dates, Costs, Routes

Australia's biggest marathons run from April to October. Hobart opens the 2027 season on 4 April, Canberra follows a week later, and Sydney, the only World Marathon Major in the country, is on 29 August. Melbourne usually closes the big-city calendar in October.

This guide covers nine of the best-known races in date order, plus a note on Perth. For each one you will find the rough date, when entries open, the cost, the route and the shorter distances on offer. All prices are in Australian dollars and were checked on 11 November 2026. Hobart and Brisbane raise prices in stages, and the Sunshine Coast offers an early-access discount, so entering early can save money. For every marathon listed on KeepActive, use our marathon search.

2027 marathons at a glance

• Hobart: Sunday 4 April 2027. Entries open now, $220 until 30 November.
• Canberra: Sunday 11 April 2027. Entries open now, $210 early bird until 3 December.
• Adelaide: Sunday 2 May 2027. Early-access sign-up open now, prices on the official website.
• Great Ocean Road (44km): Sunday 16 May 2027. Entries open now, $175.
• Brisbane: Sunday 6 June 2027. Entries open now, $250 in the current release.
• Gold Coast: weekend of 3–4 July 2027. Entries expected in early December, $235 in 2026.
• Sunshine Coast: Sunday 1 August 2027. Waitlist open now, general entries later.
• Sydney: Sunday 29 August 2027. Ballot closed, but you can still apply for a charity place.
• Melbourne: October (11 October in 2026). Entries not open yet (waitlist open), $235 in 2026.

Hobart Marathon Festival

• Date: The Hobart Marathon is on Sunday 4 April 2027, with a 6am start.
• Registrations: Entries opened in July 2026 and are open now.
• Cost: The current release is $220 until 30 November 2026. It then rises to $240 from 1 December and $260 from 2 February 2027.
• Route: The course starts and finishes at Princes Wharf 1. It follows the River Derwent past Salamanca Place, through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and around the waterfront. The organisers say the multi-loop course gives runners plenty of support along the way. The full route map is listed as coming soon.
• Other distances: Half marathon, 10km, 5km run, 5km walk and a 2km mini marathon.

The cut-off is 6 hours 10 minutes, and runners must be 17 or older on race day. The organisers mention rolling hills and cool autumn conditions, and say the course tests your legs.

Canberra Times Marathon Festival

• Date: The Canberra Marathon is on Sunday 11 April 2027, with a 6:15am start on closed roads. It is part of a two-day festival on 10 and 11 April.
• Registrations: Entries for 2027 are open now. You can also run for a charity, such as the Australian Cancer Research Foundation's Team ACRF.
• Cost: Early bird entry is $210 until 11:59pm on Thursday 3 December 2026.
• Route: The race starts on King George Terrace and loops Parliament House. It then runs through Telopea Park and along Parkes Way before climbing Anzac Parade towards the Australian War Memorial. Later it heads out to Weston Park and along Lake Burley Griffin before finishing on King Edward Terrace. The course is AIMS-certified.
• Other distances: Half marathon on Sunday, plus a 10km, 5km and 2km kids' dash on Saturday.

The organisers bill Canberra as Australia's oldest marathon. Marathoners have until 2pm to finish, which gives about 7.5 hours, and runners must be 18 or older. The April date is only a week after Hobart, so pick one rather than trying both. You can see which marathons KeepActive lists in Canberra.

Adelaide Marathon Festival

• Date: The Adelaide Marathon is on Sunday 2 May 2027.
• Registrations: Early-access sign-up for 2027 is open on the official website. Signing up gets you the entry-opening news first.
• Cost: 2027 prices will be listed on the official website when entries open. Runners who have finished 10 Adelaide marathons get half-price entry, and 20 finishes earns free entry.
• Route: The race starts and finishes at Pinky Flat, opposite Adelaide Oval. The two-lap course follows the River Torrens past the Botanic Gardens and the zoo, with a stretch along War Memorial Drive. Total climbing is only about 160 metres. The course is AIMS-certified, which means the distance is measured to international standards.
• Other distances: Half marathon, 10km and 5km, plus a free kids' dash.

The South Australian Road Runners Club, a not-for-profit club run by members and volunteers, organises the race. More than 5,000 people take part each year across the four distances. The organisers say the course suits first-timers as well as runners chasing a personal best. In 2026 the marathon started at 6:30am and the cut-off was 6 hours. The two laps also mean supporters can see you twice from the same spot.

Great Ocean Road Marathon

• Date: The Great Ocean Road Marathon is on Sunday 16 May 2027 at 8am. It is part of a two-day festival on 15 and 16 May.
• Registrations: Entries for 2027 are open now and close at 5pm the day before, unless the race sells out first.
• Cost: Adult entry is $175. Because the course is one-way, you may also need a shuttle bus pass, which you buy during registration.
• Route: This is a one-way coastal run from Lorne to Apollo Bay. It passes Wye River, Kennett River and Skenes Creek. Note that it is 44km, not the standard 42.2km.
• Other distances: The festival has nine events. They include a 60km ultra, a half marathon, a 14km run and a 12km trail run. There are also 10km and 6km runs, a 5km walk and a 1.5km kids' run.

The cut-off is 6 hours 30 minutes and the minimum age is 18. The extra 1.8km means this is not the race for a personal best.

Brisbane Marathon Festival

• Date: The Brisbane Marathon is on Sunday 6 June 2027, with a 6am start.
• Registrations: Entries are open now. Online entries close at 4pm on Saturday 5 June 2027, unless the race sells out earlier.
• Cost: The two cheapest prices, $225 and $230, have sold out. Entry now costs $250. It will then rise to $270, and finally $290.
• Route: The course starts in the CBD and crosses the fully closed Story Bridge. It then follows the river through Kangaroo Point and New Farm before finishing inside the City Botanic Gardens.
• Other distances: Half marathon, 10km, 5km run, 5km walk and 2km.

The cut-off is 6 hours 15 minutes and the minimum age is 17. The organisers call the course predominantly flat. The organisers promote the Story Bridge crossing at sunrise.

Gold Coast Marathon

• Date: The organisers list the 47th Gold Coast Marathon weekend for Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July 2027. In 2026 the marathon ran on the Sunday.
• Registrations: Entries are expected to open in early December 2026. There is no ballot, so places go first in, first served, and past marathons have sold out within 48 hours.
• Cost: The 2026 marathon entry was $235. The 2027 price will be listed on the official website when entries open.
• Route: The race starts and finishes at Broadwater Parklands in Southport, with a 6:15am start in 2026. The flat course follows the surf beaches, including Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
• Other distances: In 2026 the Saturday programme included a half marathon, 10km, 5km, wheelchair races and a 2km junior dash.

The 2026 cut-off was 6 hours 40 minutes, and the minimum age was 18. About 15,000 people ran the marathon in 2025, so expect a big crowd. Our 2026 guide to the Gold Coast weekend explains how each distance suits different fitness levels. You can also see which marathons KeepActive lists on the Gold Coast.

Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival

• Date: The Sunshine Coast Marathon is on Sunday 1 August 2027 at Alexandra Headland.
• Registrations: General entries have not opened yet. A 2027 waitlist gives early access to registration 48 hours before the general public.
• Cost: Prices will be listed on the official website when entries open. The first 900 early-access entries get up to $70 off.
• Route: In 2026 the road races followed the Alexandra Headland coastline on a mostly flat route. The course is AIMS-certified.
• Other distances: Half marathon, 10km, 5km run, 5km walk and a 2km mini marathon.

The cut-off is 6 hours 15 minutes. If family members want a shorter race that weekend, our beginner guide covers the 5km and 2km events.

Sydney Marathon

• Date: The Sydney Marathon is on Sunday 29 August 2027. Mass start is at 6:30am. A mini marathon runs on Saturday 28 August.
• Registrations: General entry is by ballot. The 2027 ballot ran from 29 September to 19 October 2026, so it has closed. If you missed out, you can still apply for a guaranteed place through a charity partner. Travel packages with a guaranteed bib are listed as coming soon.
• Cost: Successful ballot entrants paid $285 (Australian and New Zealand residents) or $340 (international), plus a mandatory carbon levy. Check the costs and conditions of charity and travel places before you apply.
• Route: The race starts on Miller Street in North Sydney and crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It includes a loop of Centennial Park and passes Mrs Macquarie's Chair before finishing at the Sydney Opera House.
• Other distances: There is only a mini marathon, held on the Saturday. Details are due in the first quarter of 2027.

The 2026 ballot drew 123,000 applications, so demand is very high. The cut-off is 7 hours. If you missed the ballot, our guide to Sydney alternatives covers other options. You can also check our Sydney marathons search.

Melbourne Marathon

• Date: The 2027 date has not been announced. The Melbourne Marathon is held in October, and the 2026 race ran on Sunday 11 October.
• Registrations: A 2027 waitlist is open on the official website. Entry dates have not been announced yet.
• Cost: In 2026, entry was $235 for Australian residents and $295 for international entrants. Expect 2027 prices to be confirmed when entries open.
• Route: The 2026 course started on Batman Avenue, looped Albert Park Lake, passed Flinders Street Station and the St Kilda foreshore, and finished inside the MCG. The 2026 redesign removed the climb from Birdwood Avenue to Domain Road at about 36km.
• Other distances: Half marathon, 10km, 5km, 3km, a 1km mini marathon and a wheelchair marathon.

Melbourne's 7 hour 45 minute cut-off is the longest in this guide. Every runner must enter the MCG by 2pm. If you start near the back, plan on about 7 hours 20 minutes, because the start can take up to 25 minutes to clear. The minimum age is 18. Finishing on the MCG turf is a big part of the appeal. Our Melbourne marathons search lists other races in the area.

What about Perth?

The Perth Running Festival includes a marathon alongside shorter family-friendly events. In 2026 the course ran through Burswood Park and along the Swan River, and every event finished inside Optus Stadium. The 2027 date has not been announced yet, so check the official website for dates and entries. Our Perth marathons search lists other races in Western Australia.

Which marathon suits a first-timer?

Cut-off times matter most if you expect to walk some of the course. Melbourne gives you 7 hours 45 minutes, Canberra about 7 hours 30 minutes and Sydney 7 hours. The Gold Coast allowed 6 hours 40 minutes in 2026, and Great Ocean Road allows 6 hours 30 minutes for its longer 44km course. Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast allow 6 hours 15 minutes, Hobart 6 hours 10 minutes, and Adelaide allowed 6 hours in 2026.

Course shape matters too. Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide all describe their courses as flat, and Adelaide has only about 160 metres of climbing. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast courses were also mostly flat in 2026. Hobart warns runners to expect a harder day, and Great Ocean Road adds distance. Sydney's 2027 ballot has closed, so most runners can now enter only through a charity or travel place.

Timing is the last factor. Allow several months of steady running before a marathon. An April or May race, such as Hobart, Canberra or Adelaide, leaves less time to train from now than an August or October race. Hobart, Canberra, Great Ocean Road and Brisbane are already taking entries. The Gold Coast is expected to open in December, and Adelaide, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne open later.

Prices and release dates can change, so check each race's website before you enter.