About the race
The TCS Sydney Marathon crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes in front of the Opera House. It is the newest of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and is held in late August.
History
The race began on 30 April 2000 as the Host City Marathon, a test event for the Sydney Olympic Games, and has been run every year since as part of the Games legacy. It was a Platinum Label Road Race with World Athletics before it was added to the World Marathon Majors series on 4 November 2024. Its first race as a Major took place on 31 August 2025, after the date moved from mid-September to late August. In 2010 the course was altered to make it flatter and friendlier to spectators.
The course
The route is point to point. It starts in North Sydney, crosses the Harbour Bridge, and passes through Pyrmont and The Rocks. It then runs along Oxford Street and Anzac Parade toward Kingsford before returning to the city through Moore Park and Centennial Park, ending at the Opera House.
Distances
The marathon is the headline event. A 5 km Mini Marathon is run the day before and also finishes at the Opera House. A half marathon and a 10 km were once part of the weekend but were dropped when the event moved toward Major status.
The 2027 edition and entry
The organiser lists the 2027 race for 29 August 2027 and has a ballot open for it. It also offers charity packages, an international entry page and a travel programme with official hotels. The site reported more than 40,000 runners from over 140 countries in 2026.
Where to watch
The organiser's site promotes spectator zones and an official smart map showing viewing spots, road closures, food and transport. It is built into the TRACX app, which can also follow participants. Natural gathering points are the Harbour Bridge approaches, The Rocks and the Opera House finish.
Weather
Late August is the end of winter in Sydney. Mornings can be cool, but the conditions often turn mild as spring approaches, and weather varies from year to year, so check the local forecast close to race day.
SourcesTCS Sydney Marathon home · Wikipedia: Sydney Marathon