The Dublin Marathon was first held in 1980 and has since grown dramatically in popularity and global prestige. Today, it is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s biggest annual sporting events, with thousands of runners taking to the streets of the Republic of Ireland’s capital.
Known as the “Friendly Marathon,” the Irish Life Dublin Marathon winds through Dublin’s historic streets and picturesque parks, offering a mix of mostly flat terrain with a few testing climbs. Each year, the race attracts elite athletes, charity runners, and first-time marathoners alike, all cheered on by tens of thousands of spectators lining the route.
This article will provide you with everything you need to know about the Dublin Marathon in 2026, from date and start times to the route, course profile, logistics, and race-day tips. Let’s get stuck in!
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2026 will take place on Sunday, 25th October 2026.
During the month of October, the weather in Ireland can be a bit unpredictable. However, the average temperature for the race is said to be between 12-14°C. These are perfect temperatures for longer-distance running, such as marathons.
The official start time of the Dublin Marathon 2026 is 8:45 am.
However, the marathon will have four different wave start times, which are based on projected marathon times. The times for each wave will be as follows;
Wheelchair participants: 08:40 am
Wave 1: 08:45 am
Wave 2: 09:05 am
Wave 3: 09:25 am
Wave 4: 09:45 am
The marathon begins with a downhill start on Leeson Street Lower in central Dublin, then winds through the city and historic streets before finishing at Pepper Canister Church. The course is a single-lap city loop.
The route is mostly flat with some rolling sections and a few challenging climbs. After Phoenix Park, there are undulating sections as the route approaches Dolphin’s Barn, including a challenging climb around Clonskeagh/Roebuck Roads. Quickly following behind the last climb, at the 35K mark, it’s time to tackle the infamous “Heartbreak Hill”, before a final descent and flat run along Stillorgan Road, Nutley Lane, and Merrion Road into the finish.
The overall Dublin Marathon elevation gain stands at around 208 meters and is reasonably flat and fast. This means that it can be a great event for first-time marathon runners and runners looking to achieve their personal bests.
The 2026 Dublin Marathon route passes several of Dublin’s iconic sights, giving runners a city-meets-park marathon experience. Highlights include:
During the Dublin Marathon, there are typically 4 different types of running stations that are dotted several times around the course. These 7 stations are:
Water Stations: Mile 2/3, Mile 5, Mile 7, Mile 9/10, Mile 11/12, Mile 13, Mile 16, Mile 19, Mile 22, Mile 24/25
Lucozade Sport Drink Stations: Mile 9/10, Mile 13, Mile 19, Mile 22
High 5 Gel Stations: Mile 16, Mile 22
Toilet Stations: Mile 2/3, Mile 5, Mile 7, Mile 9/10, Mile 11/12, Mile 13, Mile 16, Mile 19, Mile 22, Mile 24
Medical/Ambulance Stations: Mile 5, Mile 7, Mile 9/10, Mile 11/12, Mile 13, Mile 16, Mile 19, Mile 22, Mile 23, Mile 24
The organisers of the Dublin Marathon 2026 announced that all general entries will be secured through a ballot system, rather than first-come, first-served. Here are a few key things you need to know about this new ballot system:
This system makes early planning essential! Securing a guaranteed entry via a charity place can be a reliable way to ensure participation (that’s where we come in).
The ballot window usually opens in mid-November of the previous year and stays open for just a few days. If you miss the window or don’t get lucky in the draw, don’t worry, securing a charity place is a fantastic way to guarantee your spot while doing something incredible for a cause you care about.
Here at realbuzz, we have been helping runners enter the Dublin Marathon through our charity places since 2022. Because of this, we have enlisted our runners to help us put together three different tips and tricks to help ensure you ace race day.
The Irish weather is notoriously hard to predict. In fact, the only predictable thing about the Irish weather is its unpredictability. This means that despite weather forecasts, you can never be 100% sure how the weather will be on race day.
It is therefore extremely important to make sure you have a range of clothing options for different weathers and then check the weather when you wake up on race day. This will help to ensure that you are covered no matter whether it is warm, windy, cold, wet, or any other weather conditions.
As with every marathon and every running race, it can be very tempting to go out the blocks quickly. After all, the first 5-10k of the race should feel pretty amazing if you have trained properly. However, it is super important to make sure that you avoid this.
As we touched on earlier, the Dublin Marathon course is very fast and is mostly flat. However, between miles 21 and 23, there are inclines that can be a real challenge if you have started the race too quickly. We would recommend ensuring that you save up enough energy to push through those inclines deep into the race and then ‘empty the tank’ in the last 3 miles. The crowd at the Dublin Marathon is famous around the world and the race carries the hashtag the #powerofsupport so use the momentum from these amazing spectators to help you conquer the course.
Proper fueling is crucial for running a strong Dublin Marathon, as it helps maintain energy levels and prevents hitting the dreaded "wall." Runners should start the race well-fueled with a carb-rich breakfast about 2-3 hours before the start. During the marathon, consuming energy gels, chews, or sports drinks is essential to replenish glycogen stores and stay hydrated.
The best strategy is to fuel consistently throughout the race. Most runners take their first gel around Mile 5 (Km 8) and continue every 30-45 minutes to avoid fatigue. Water and electrolyte drinks are available at aid stations every few miles, so it's important to sip fluids regularly, especially after taking a gel. Proper fueling ensures runners stay strong and finish the marathon feeling their best.
Are you looking to run the Dublin Marathon 2026 for an incredible charitable cause and make your 26.2 miles mean more?
Here at realbuzz, we offer guaranteed entry into the world’s biggest running events in exchange for you raising money for incredible charity causes. So, if you are looking to run the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and fundraise for a cause close to your heart, we can help! Plus, all runners get a complimentary invite to our exclusive Charity Champions Finisher Party as part of their race entry in celebration of the amazing impact you’ll make for your chosen cause.
Apply to tun the Dublin Marathon 2026
The Dublin Marathon 2026 is a combination of accessibility, challenge, and atmosphere, suitable for first-time marathoners, charity runners, and experienced athletes. With early planning and support from realbuzz, runners can focus on training, pacing, and fundraising to make their 26.2 miles truly meaningful. We currently only have team places available, so round up your team of runners and apply for a space below.
Team application for the Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2026
