The elite fields for the 2026 Sydney Marathon feature major international distance running champions and notable debutants. Among the competitors is 33-year-old Simbu, a Tanzanian athlete who enters the race nearly a year after becoming the first athlete from his country to win a World Athletics Championships title, according to Olympics. Simbu arrives in Australia following a second consecutive runner-up finish at the Boston Marathon.
Elite Field and Global Stars Set for Sydney
Simbu will face competition from East African runners led by Lemma, whose most recent Major victory occurred in Boston in 2024. Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet, noted as the second-fastest 5000m runner in history, has chosen the Sydney course for his marathon debut. Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, who finished second behind Eliud Kipchoge when the world record was set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, will also make his first appearance on Australian soil.
In the women’s division, Jepchirchir will test her form after missing the London Marathon due to a stress fracture. The Kenyan athlete is targeting a fifth Marathon Major podium finish. The field also includes Rio 2016 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, returning for her third marathon in as many years, and fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai, who won her marathon debut in Hamburg in 2024.
Event Schedule and Course Details
According to Marathon Handbook, the Sydney Marathon is holding its second running as a World Marathon Major. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, with the elite wheelchair start at 6:15 a.m. AEST and the mass start at 6:30 a.m. AEST on Miller Street in North Sydney. The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed to traffic for three and a half hours prior to the start, and the race concludes at the Sydney Opera House.
Organizers have set a field target of more than 40,000 runners from over 140 countries, following a ballot that drew 123,000 applications—a 56 percent increase over the previous year. The course covers the standard 26.2-mile distance (42.195K) and passes through suburbs including North Sydney, the central business district, Pyrmont, Moore Park, and Kingsford. The event window closes at 3:40 p.m., with the recovery village closing at 4 p.m.
Broadcast and Viewing Options
Viewers can watch the race through various regional broadcasters. In Australia, Marathon Handbook reports that SBS will carry the race free to air from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. AEST, while SBS On Demand will stream coverage from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A full replay will follow on demand.
For viewers in the United States, the race is available on FloTrack, which requires a paid subscription. Because Sydney operates on AEST (10 hours ahead of UTC) without daylight saving time in August, the broadcast begins on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. Eastern and 1 p.m. Pacific, and at 9 p.m. in the United Kingdom. Live tracking and event alerts are provided through the official race app, while transport and road closure details are hosted on a Smart Map via the TRACX app.
Registration and Weekend Events
Packet pickup and bib collection take place exclusively at the expo located at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park. The expo operates from Thursday, Aug. 27, through Saturday, Aug. 30, requiring photo identification and a QR code from confirmation emails. The Sydney Mini Marathon takes place on Saturday, Aug. 29, covering a 5K distance from Macquarie Street around the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain to the Sydney Opera House finish.
