Preparing for the Sydney Marathon 2027: date, ballot and training plan

How do you enter the Sydney Marathon 2027?

General entry is by ballot, open from 10 a.m. on September 29, 2026 to 10 a.m. on October 19, 2026, Sydney time, on the organizer's official website. It is not first come, first served: every application has the same chance, whichever day it is submitted. Entering the ballot is free; the entry fee is only charged to runners who are drawn, on November 3, 2026, the day every applicant gets their answer.

Demand far exceeds supply: the organizer reports more than 123,000 applications for the 2026 race, for more than 40,000 starting places. Unsuccessful applicants can still get a bib through the charity partner program or a travel package from an official partner; check the amounts and conditions on the official website.

A course from the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House

Sydney is not a flat marathon: the organizer lists 1,027 ft of climbing, with a finish 272 ft lower than the start. The course, which holds a World Athletics Platinum Label, starts on Miller Street in North Sydney, a nod to the Sydney 2000 Olympic marathon, crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge, loops through Centennial Park, passes Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden and finishes at the Opera House.

• — Date: Sunday, August 29, 2027 (the 5 km Mini Marathon is the day before).
• — Cut-off: 7 hours.
• — Elevation: 1,027 ft of climbing, finish 272 ft below the start.

On a course that rises and falls, chasing a perfectly even pace is costly: think in terms of effort, accept losing a few seconds per mile on the climbs and don't try to win them all back on the descents. The Running Workout marathon plan does not include hill sessions by default; your connected assistant can create one and send it to your watch.

When should you start training?

For a marathon on August 29, 2027, a 16-week plan starts on May 9, 2027 and a 12-week plan on June 6. For runners in the Northern Hemisphere, the heaviest training falls in June, July and August, with summer heat and holidays, for a race held in the late southern winter. Plan for the long trip and the time difference in the final week too.

The Running Workout marathon plan builds marathon pace in blocks that get longer week after week, and sends each workout to your watch through Garmin Connect. On race day, the Race workout on your watch carries your pace range. Your connected assistant (Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini) reads your actual sessions from Garmin and can adjust what comes next after a missed or unusually hot week.

• — May–June: gradual volume and long runs at easy pace.
• — July–August: marathon-pace blocks and hilly long runs, in the cooler hours.
• — Late August: taper, travel and race.

Frequently asked questions