Berlin Marathon 2026

"Ich bin ein berliner!"

One day, it will be you shouting this phrase to the world! 🌎 For this, there is only one step... Well, okay, maybe a bit more! 😅 In fact, you have to cover the 42.195 km of the famous and iconic Berlin Marathon. Shame on you if you don't know this race! 🫣 Okay, let's be nice and cut you some slack! 😂 We feel like scolding you because this race is surely one of the most important ones out there! But we at Finishers are nice, so we will content ourselves with giving you a proper summary of everything you need to know about the BMW Berlin Marathon 😏. Founded in 1974, the race winds through the streets of Berlin 🌆, the capital of Germany 🇩🇪, every year towards the end of September. Amateurs and professionals flock to participate in this unmissable event of the global running landscape. The event is always sold out well in advance. So, be ready to use your credit card 💳, because you'll only have one desire at the end of this article: to take part in this legendary race! 🏃‍♂️

To set the scene, you should know that the event is part of the "World Marathon Majors". This international athletics competition brings together the seven major marathons, which are the most beautiful, speedy, and prestigious on the planet 🌟. This list also includes the Boston Marathon, Chicago, London 🎡, New York 🗽, Sydney, and Tokyo 🗼. At the end of each season, the winners (male and female) each receive $500,000... 😳 This race is therefore extremely important for athletes, and it is also very impressive to watch! 👀 The reason (as if there could be just one!) is simple: with its very low elevation gain and sheltered course from the wind, it is the fastest marathon in the world according to experts, with the last seven world records in the discipline having been set on this course 🤯. For your information, the current record for this 42 km is held by the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who completed the race in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds, and by the Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, who achieved this feat in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds. So, can you do better? 😜

Now that the appetizer is done 👄, let's move on to the main course! 🍽️ Berlin, capital and cultural center 🏛️ of Germany, is the playground for this magnificent competition ✨. A city rich in history and art, it offers runners an unparalleled race experience. It is in this incredible atmosphere, amid remarkable architecture both modern and impressive and an electrifying ambiance ⚡️, that 40,000 runners set off each year 🚩. The Berlin Marathon course leads past major tourist sites 🚎, such as the Reichstag, Siegessäule, the Berliner Dom, the Brandenburg, and Potsdamer Platz. This large loop 🔁 through the city concludes with an equally memorable finish: under the Brandenburg Gate 😍. You will agree with us that it sounds enticing, right? 😋

To stay in a historical dynamic, visiting the former Berlin Wall is a must, as is stopping at Checkpoint Charlie 🛑, the most famous border crossing of the Cold War era. The Holocaust Memorial is also a highlight of a Berlin tour to perpetuate the work of remembrance. As for the rest of the city, there's no shortage of activities! 😊 You can, for instance, if you prefer lighter things, see the Reichstag Palace 👑, rediscover the Brandenburg Gate, admire the breathtaking view from the top of the Berlin Television Tower, marvel at Charlottenburg Palace, explore the various museums (and especially the island full of them) and wander through the hidden gardens 🌷 and the Tiergarten park. Think about having a picnic! 🧺 We suggest a good kebab (they say you can find the best ones here 😜) and a pretzel 🥨 to tantalize your taste buds.

Where do you get the tickets?