Barcelona Marathon 2026
- Next event : Sun, March 15, 2026Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, March 16, 2025
The event in a few words
Ah… Barcelona! 🤤 The capital of Catalonia may not be the Spain 🇪🇸 capital, but it is definitely the one in our hearts! ♥️ The city 🌆, of exceptional beauty, needs no introduction to anyone. However, the Barcelona Marathon, or the official name Zurich Marató Barcelona 🤌, is never highlighted enough! Yet, it is one of the must-attend marathons in Europe 🇪🇺 and one of the most popular. It is in March next that you will have the opportunity to run this iconic race, where the atmosphere is completely crazy 😝 and where performers from around the world gather each year 📍. Come on, enough chit-chat; it's time to tell you everything about the course, its specifics, strengths, landmarks, and its monuments👇.
Before we start, we suggest a quick warm-up 🤸♀️. For that, there's only one permissible music: " El Cant del Barça" 🎶. The FC Barcelona ⚽️ anthem is sure to get you ready to tackle this urban race and achieve great times ⏱️. So, now's the time to try breaking the record held by Tesfaye Deriba (2h 04m 13s) 🤴 and Sharon Chelimo (2h 19m 32s) 👸! The task should be even easier since you'll have the support of your loved ones almost throughout the course 🛣️. If you look at the marathon's structure, you'll see that it concentrates in the city's center, making it easy for supporters 📣 to follow your race progress 📸. Metro stations serve both the start 🏁 and finish points, and the roads allow your loved ones to quickly reach several points along the course. So, call your partner, your kids, your cousins (you have an itinerary to plan!), and they can easily come watch the race start, then see you at km 3, km 6, and km 15. Same for those who want to help you tackle the 30km wall; they can see you at km 28, 38, and at the finish under the Arc de Triomf or at kms 30 and 32 🤷♂️.
Speaking of that famous 30km wall, let's talk about it! 👉 The Barcelona Marathon 2026, entirely urban, offers the chance to take a refreshing breath of sea air 🌬️ thanks to the section located on the seafront, from km 26 to km 30. This change will bless your eyes 😍 and do wonders for your morale but also brings a major challenge: there's no shade, so you'll be under the sun! 🌞 Therefore, you should remember to stay hydrated as you continue. The good news: there's no elevation!, which should make this stage more manageable 😮💨.
Besides the lack of elevation, the Zurich Marathon Barcelona has been designed for performance 🕺. You'll be a rocket on the big day with its course akin to a Formula 1 circuit 🏎️. If you look closely at the layout, you'll see that the first 19 kilometers take place over 6 large straight lines, only intersected by a few 90° turns 📐. You can also maintain your sprint after the marathon's halfway point, as the course remains uniformly flat 👏. 6 more large straight lines await you before you reach the finish line. In between, you'll venture eastward along the seashore and north to Torre Glòries 🗼, (the colorful twin of the famous pickle-shaped skyscraper in London 🏙️). In total, more than 30 km of your marathon will consist of large straight lines! Besides, since the organizers have chosen the city's major avenues, overtaking won't bother you at all! 😌 It means you won't have the chance to cross the city's historic center.
Conversely, the detour leads you past the beautiful Marina ⚓ of Catalonia's capital, before bringing you to the Parc de la Ciutadella 🌳, that you will skirt. Enough will be visible to tempt you to visit this green lung post-event, just like the famous street Las Ramblas, which you won't cross but will only glimpse 👀. But don't think you won't see anything! 🙅♀️ This urban marathon takes you through the city's typical districts and allows you to dive into Barcelonians' living places, especially the Sant Antoni district, loved by tourists or more Poble-Sec, typical and popular 🍻. A few strides away, you will also glimpse the gigantic Christopher Columbus column ⛵. What would a marathon in Barcelona be without the traditional passage at the foot of Sagrada Familia? 🤔 The basilica will be expecting your sneakered feet at km 14, to your delight 🥹.
You will also notice Barcelonians will be at the peak of happiness, given how expected and appreciated the event is! A lively Latin atmosphere 💃should accompany you along the way, supported by entertainment 🎭, bands 🥁, and a crazy crowd 🤪. Remember: every year, over 27,000 runners flock for the occasion, and the crowd is made of 60,000 people! 🥳 Runners worldwide scramble for a race bib 🎽 at this race! The most fun points will be at the city's main landmarks: at Sagrada Familia, at Torre Glòries, this edition's unexpected highlight 💫, and at Arc de Triomf, where the spectator density should be extremely high. This general excitement will undoubtedly provide the energy to surpass yourself... and probably make it one of the best racing experiences of your life! 🫶
To relax post-race and delve deeper into the local culture, we recommend visiting the areas not covered by the race: Camp Nou 🏟️ for soccer fans to follow in the footsteps of Messi, Ronaldinho, and other Cruyff legends, the Catedral de la Santa Cruz ✝️, the mythical Plaça Catalunya, and the splendid buildings by Antoni Gaudí 🎨 such as Casa Batlló and the superb Parc Güell. After thoroughly exploring (or almost) the majestic city of Barcelona, we suggest indulging in local gastronomy 😋. Enjoy: Iberian ham (jamón Ibérico for the bilingual 🗣️), Escalivada, or tasty tapas paired with a savory wine from the Penedès region 🍷, and you'll leave with memories galore! 🤤
Come swirl on a 42.195 km in the Catalan capital 💃, vamos chicos, vamos!
Pssssst 🤫, if you want more running in the City of Gaudí, you can come and run at the Barcelona half marathon in February! 😉
⚠️ Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health, consume with moderation.
6 reasons to join this race
The distance you'll all agree on
MarathonTOP
Kids
- Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM
- Elevation gain : 178mD+
- 20,000+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx42.195 km
A few more words
Let's go! 🏃♂️ It's time to run towards victory. Victory that you should achieve faster than expected thanks to the ultra-fast course of the Barcelona Marathon. Intrigued now, are you? Then stay here, we'll explain everything to you ⬇️.
The marathon of the capital 🌟 of Catalonia will start right in the city center 📍, near the Plaça de Catalunya, at the Passeig de Gràcia. This huge 1.6 km avenue is part of the Eixample (the city's expansion 👐). In fact, you will cover it during your first 2 km. You will probably enjoy admiring the many modern buildings composing it! 😄 As explained earlier, the route is very straight 📏, flat, and only interrupted by a few 90° turns 📐. The first of these turns will bring you to Carrer d’Aragó, another long avenue parallel to Passeig de Gràcia, which you will run on for nearly 3 km. But it's not time to sprint yet 🙅, because the next big street, Carrer de Valencia, is a straight line of 5 km. Run, Forrest! ☄️ Run to the Pont Bac de Roda, built for the 1992 Summer Olympics 🔥, it should give you big ambitions!
And what does this second part have in store for you? Well, you guessed it, it will start with a magnificent straight line! 😂 This one will begin at km 11 and will continue, almost uninterrupted, until km…17! 😅 Carrer de Mallorca will be your playground during this long section. “Pff, the time is going to be long!” 😮💨, you say to yourself. But no, don't worry! You forget that we're in Barcelona and that there's a lot to see 😍. And besides, what is the symbol of Barcelona, Jamy? 🤓 The Sagrada Familia, of course! It will be waiting for you firmly at km 14. A gift from the organizers 🎁. Once past the magnificent basilica, you will continue your journey to the end of the street before turning at Carrer de Calabria and returning towards Plaça de Catalunya. It's not over yet, though, because you will pass the starting line 🚩 and head back towards the sea. But no going through the small streets of the historical center. This race was specifically designed for the record! ⏱️ You will thus take advantage of the large avenues that make up the Sant Antoni and Poble-Sec neighborhoods, including the Avinguda Del Paral-lel. This large avenue connects the former shipyards (drassanes) 🚢 to the Plaça d'Espanya 🇪🇦 (which you will see in the North). Two neighborhoods for two different atmospheres: Sant Antoni, the hipster residential neighborhood, and Poble-Sec, the popular and multicultural area where people go to party 🍾. You will be immersed in Barcelona's culture!
Once you reach the seaside 🌊, you'll enjoy an exceptional panorama thanks to the view of the Marina ⚓, Port Vell on your right, and the historic city on your left 👀. You also can't miss two other legendary sites: La Rambla, the most famous pedestrian street of Barcelona (which you'll surely want to visit later 😉) and the statue of Christopher Columbus 🗽, standing 60 meters high (km 24). You can't miss it! But don't linger too long for photos 📸, because your next stop will be the Parc de la Ciutadella 🌳, which you will circle. The green lung of this great metropolis is located right next to the Ribera, an old neighborhood where a large number of buildings originally dating from the 13th to the 15th century are located. Today, enriched by museums 🏛️, plazas lined with terraces, and cafes ☕️ , this area will probably be your post-race relaxation spot! 😏 In the meantime, it's time to take a deep breath of fresh air! For this, you already have the park, located at km 26, then there's especially the new seaside stage. Imagine... Sandy beaches as far as the eye can see 🏖️, palm trees 🌴, skyscrapers 🌆 in the distance like Miami, and azure blue water... Ah, perfect, you're starting to dream. But it's not time to fall asleep, because you'll have to face the daunting wall of 30, and that's under a bright sun! ☀️ Fortunately, the route remains flat and straight, which should allow you to conserve energy ⚡. But don't delude yourself, this part is probably the most difficult of the marathon. If you come out unscathed (which should be the case if you stayed well-hydrated), you'll then embark on the final 12 km of your event. We believe in you! 💪
This part will start at the end of Avinguda del Litoral, at the Parc del Forum. Indeed, this intersection will mark the beginning of a great 2 km straight-line sprint along the Avinguda Diagonal, which will take you to the Torre Glories 🙄, the monument unexpectedly part of this new route. True highlight of this final part of the race, the tower will take you back into the city before heading back to Parc Diagonal Mar (km 35), a vast, sunny, and modern green space with lush vegetation 🌱. Another large avenue will await you next, Carrer Llull, until km 38. After a short passage by the seaside at km 39, you will head back to the center to finish this urban marathon in good form 🤌. You will only have two turns left, one of which will give you a breathtaking view of the "La Monumental" bullring 😳, before starting the final straight line. We hope you'll still have enough energy to sprint through the Ronda de Sant Pere and pass under the grand Arc de Triomf 🏆.
The finish line 🏁 will be yours, as well as the well-deserved finisher medal!
Races for children / juniors 👶
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
You can pick up your race bibs at the Expo Sports on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 3 PM to 8 PM, and on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, 2026, from 9 AM to 8 PM.
The exact address of Expo Sports will be announced shortly.
Bring your ID and the document containing your race bib number received the week of the event.
You can request to receive it again here.
The race starts at 8:30 AM on Plaça de Catalunya, on Passeig de Gracia, on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The start is organized in corrals, identified by color, and only those with a bib of the corral's color are allowed to enter.
You can change your starting corral by sending an email to the following address: info@zurichmaratobarcelona.es
You can have your name and the time you achieved during the Marathon engraved on your medal, making it a memory etched in stone. In any case, you will receive a finisher's medal and a certificate if you finish the race.
In March, in the capital of Catalonia, the temperatures and weather are quite ideal for pursuing your passion. With temperatures still a bit cool, the sun is likely to be present, and you might even go for a swim in the sea if you're brave enough.
We offer a travel package that allows you to book your hotel and flight ticket along with your race bib. To learn more about our offers, click here.
No worries if you can't be there early, just give a relative your registration receipt, email them the bib number, and a photocopy of your ID, and you're all set.
It's the hub where the event is organized, and you might spend some time wandering around the exhibitor stands or at the equipment store installed there.
The Sports Expo will be open on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 3 PM to 8 PM, and on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, 2026, from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Supporters can reach every point on the course by metro to support their favorite athletes throughout the race. And if you're up for it, you can even walk, giving you the chance to see the beautiful course from another angle.
No, in Spain, a medical certificate is not required to start the race.
You must be at least 18 years old on the day of the event.
Yes, athletes with disabilities are welcome to participate:
If you are visually impaired: You can register online. To be ranked and receive the prize for visually impaired athletes, you must send a copy of your disability accreditation card to promocioesportiva2@bcn.cat after registering. Guides will go without a chip and must be properly identified by registering at info@zurichmaratobarcelona.es, providing their details (name, surname, ID card, date of birth, personal phone number, and email address).
If you have an intellectual disability: You can register online. To benefit from classification and rewards for intellectual disability, it is necessary to send a copy of the disability accreditation card to promocioesportiva2@bcn.cat after completing the online registration.
If you are a wheelchair user: You can register online. You will need to report to the starting line one hour before the start of the race. Please contact the organization at info@zurichmaratobarcelona.es.
You have 6 hours to complete the marathon.
You can drop off your belongings at the cloakroom located on Passeig de Lluís Companys, 1.3 km from the start, on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 7 AM to 4 PM.
Yes, 35 pacers will be there to help you reach your goal:
2h45
3h
3h15
3h30
3h45
4h
4h30
Do you have other questions? You can send an email to this address: info@zurichmaratobarcelona.es
The Barcelona Marathon allows runners with a joëlette. However, each accompanying person must also have a race bib.
You can check the race rules here
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