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25 Of The World's Most Memorable Marathons
Some marathons are memorable because of the crowds, while others take you across mountains, through vineyards, past ancient monuments or into landscapes that few people will ever experience on foot. The world's most memorable marathons are not necessarily the fastest, biggest or most difficult. What connects them is that the race becomes about much more than covering 26.2 miles.
You might run through all five boroughs of New York, cross part of the Greenland ice sheet, follow trails beneath Mount Everest or stop for wine and oysters in the vineyards of France. Some of these races attract tens of thousands of runners, while others deliberately remain small, with remote adventure races sitting alongside some of the world's most famous city marathons.
If you are looking for a marathon that will stay with you long after you cross the finish line, these are 25 of the most memorable races you can run around the world.
Walt Disney World Marathon: 10 January 2027
Not every marathon needs to take itself too seriously, and the Walt Disney World Marathon in Florida gives runners the opportunity to cover 26.2 miles through Walt Disney World Resort surrounded by Disney characters, entertainment and runners who have embraced the occasion with costumes of their own.
The marathon is part race and part Disney experience. Photo stops and character appearances mean plenty of participants are far less concerned about saving seconds than they would be in a conventional road marathon. The marathon takes place on the final day of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which also includes 5K, 10K and half marathon events.
For Disney fans who also happen to run, there is very little else quite like it. Runners looking for an even bigger challenge can combine multiple races across the weekend.
Marrakech Marathon: 31 January 2027
Marrakech offers something very different from the major European city marathons just a relatively short flight away. The marathon follows a largely flat route through and around the Moroccan city, taking runners alongside historic ramparts and through palm lined areas, with the Atlas Mountains providing a spectacular backdrop on a clear day.
January also makes Marrakech an appealing winter destination, with conditions generally considerably more suitable for distance running than they would be during the hottest part of the Moroccan year. The setting allows runners to experience a very different side of marathon travel without heading into a remote wilderness.
Once the running is finished, the markets, architecture, food and atmosphere of Marrakech make it easy to turn the marathon into a longer city break. It is the combination of race and destination that earns Marrakech its place on this list.
Kilimanjaro Marathon: 7 February 2027
Mount Kilimanjaro provides one of the most dramatic backdrops to any marathon. The Kilimanjaro Marathon is based around Moshi in northern Tanzania, close to Africa's highest mountain, with the course combining roads around the town and surrounding area.
This is not a marathon that requires runners to climb Kilimanjaro itself. Instead, the mountain dominates the wider destination, while hills and potentially warm conditions add to the challenge on race day.
The marathon can become one part of a much bigger Tanzanian adventure, with Kilimanjaro and the country's famous safari destinations providing plenty of reasons to extend the trip beyond race day.
Tokyo Marathon: 7 March 2027
Tokyo takes runners through one of the world's great cities and offers an experience that feels distinctly different from the major marathons of Europe and North America. The route combines the scale of modern Tokyo with historic districts and landmarks, allowing runners to experience different sides of the Japanese capital during a single race.
Its place among the World Marathon Majors has made Tokyo a major target for runners around the world, and securing an entry can be part of the challenge. The organisation, enormous field and excitement surrounding race weekend reinforce its status as one of the world's major running events.
Yet it is the destination as much as the medal that makes Tokyo memorable. For international runners, the marathon can become the centrepiece of a much larger trip to Japan.
Antarctica Marathon: 8 March 2027
For most races, getting to the start involves a train, car or short walk from a hotel. Reaching the Antarctica Marathon is considerably more complicated, with runners travelling to King George Island off the Antarctic Peninsula and one of the most remote environments on Earth.
Conditions can involve strong winds, low temperatures and rough surfaces, while the surrounding landscape bears little resemblance to a conventional road marathon. Antarctica is a place most people will never visit, let alone run a marathon.
The race has become particularly significant for runners attempting to complete a marathon on all seven continents. Even without that challenge, completing 26.2 miles in Antarctica is a running experience that stands almost entirely on its own.
Boston Marathon: 19 April 2027
Boston does not need an unusual location or novelty theme to be memorable because its history provides that distinction. First held in 1897, the Boston Marathon has become one of the most prestigious races in running, and for many participants qualifying for Boston is itself a major achievement.
The point to point course starts in Hopkinton and passes through a succession of communities on its way towards Boston. Along the route are places that have become part of marathon folklore, including Wellesley, the Newton hills and Heartbreak Hill.
Eventually runners turn onto Boylston Street for one of the sport's most recognisable finishes. Boston is a marathon where runners are constantly aware of those who have travelled the same road before them.
London Marathon: 24 And 25 April 2027
London combines a world class elite race with one of the biggest mass participation running events anywhere in the world, but 2027 will be particularly memorable. For the first time, the London Marathon will take place across two days, with around 100,000 participants expected across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April.
Both days will use the familiar London Marathon route from Greenwich and Blackheath to The Mall. Along the way, runners pass landmarks including Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament, with huge crowds creating an atmosphere that has become part of the identity of the event.
Charity fundraising is also deeply embedded in the London Marathon. Thousands of runners take part for causes that matter personally to them, meaning many of the stories unfolding around the course are about considerably more than finishing times.
Great Wall Marathon: 15 May 2027
Marathons are difficult enough without adding thousands of steps, but the Great Wall Marathon does exactly that. Its course combines sections of the Great Wall of China with roads and countryside around the surrounding area, including 5,164 steps on the wall.
The reward is the opportunity to race on one of the world's most recognisable structures. Steep climbs, descents and uneven steps make this a very different challenge from a conventional road marathon, and runners need to approach it accordingly.
It is difficult to imagine many marathon photographs more distinctive than runners climbing along the Great Wall with the surrounding mountains stretching into the distance. This is one race where the course itself is the attraction.
Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon: 29 May 2027
If a memorable marathon should produce a story that lasts for the rest of your life, starting at Everest Base Camp is difficult to beat. The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon begins at more than 5,300 metres above sea level near the Khumbu Icefall.
From there, runners follow Himalayan trails towards Namche Bazaar, descending considerably overall but still facing difficult climbs, rough terrain and the effects of extreme altitude. Reaching the start is an adventure in itself, with international participants needing time to trek through the Everest region and acclimatise before race day.
The race is held on 29 May, commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953. Few marathons can rival the experience of standing at Everest Base Camp knowing that the next 26.2 miles will take you through one of the most famous mountain landscapes on Earth.
Rio de Janeiro Marathon: 30 May 2027
Few major cities can compete with Rio de Janeiro when the surrounding landscape becomes part of the marathon experience. Mountains rise behind the city while long stretches of coastline and famous beaches create a spectacular setting for running.
Rio offers the energy of a major urban event without losing sight of the natural landscape surrounding it. Conditions can add another dimension to the challenge, making preparation for the weather important for runners arriving from cooler countries.
As a destination marathon, Rio is difficult to ignore. It combines running, beaches, Brazilian culture and one of the most recognisable cityscapes in the world.
Midnight Sun Marathon: 19 June 2027
Most runners expect darkness when they race late in the day, but in Tromsø in northern Norway, summer works differently. The Midnight Sun Marathon takes place above the Arctic Circle during the period when the sun does not set, allowing runners to race late into the evening beneath a sky that remains light.
Tromsø is surrounded by mountains, fjords and Arctic scenery, giving the race a spectacular setting even before the midnight sun becomes part of the experience. Crossing the Tromsø Bridge adds another memorable feature to a course unlike most conventional city marathons.
It is the combination that makes this race memorable. Running a marathon in daylight at a time when your body expects it to be night creates an experience that few other races can reproduce.
Iceland Volcano Marathon: 3 July 2027
Iceland already looks as though it was designed for an adventure race, and the Iceland Volcano Marathon takes runners into a landscape shaped by volcanic and geothermal activity around Lake Mývatn in the north of the country.
Runners encounter volcanic sand, lava rock and trails through a landscape containing craters and other geological features. This is not a race built around enormous city crowds, with the extraordinary surroundings providing much of the attraction.
The relative isolation allows runners to concentrate on scenery that can feel almost otherworldly. For runners who choose races partly as an excuse to explore somewhere extraordinary, a marathon through Iceland's volcanic landscape makes a compelling choice.
Victoria Falls Marathon: 4 July 2027
There are not many marathon mornings that involve running close to one of the world's great natural wonders. The Victoria Falls Marathon takes runners through the area around Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, with the course crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge and offering a setting unlike a conventional city marathon.
The African landscape and the setting around the Zambezi all contribute to the experience. Victoria Falls itself provides an obvious reason to stay beyond race day, while neighbouring Zambia and nearby safari destinations open up further possibilities for a longer trip.
It is an event where choosing the marathon can easily mean choosing an adventure holiday as well. The combination of running and one of Africa's most famous destinations gives the race a clear place among the world's most memorable marathons.
Amazing Maasai Marathon: 25 July 2027
The Amazing Maasai Marathon offers something very different from the enormous city races on this list. Held in the Loldaiga Conservancy in Kenya, the event takes runners through rugged trail terrain and Maasai communities in a part of the country where wildlife and huge open landscapes are part of the experience.
This is a small adventure marathon where the surroundings, people and purpose of the event matter at least as much as the finishing time. The race supports the Amazing Maasai Girls Project, helping to provide educational opportunities for Maasai girls and connecting the event directly to the local community.
Add the opportunity to combine the marathon with game drives and a longer trip through Kenya and this becomes the kind of race that can turn 26.2 miles into a much bigger adventure.
Inca Trail Marathon: 24 August 2027 TBC
There are marathon finish lines, and then there is the experience of following the Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail Marathon takes runners through the Peruvian Andes along the historic trail used by the Incas, with archaeological sites, mountain passes and stone paths forming part of an exceptionally demanding route.
The challenge goes well beyond covering 26.2 miles. Runners have to contend with altitude, prolonged climbing, technical terrain and a course that can take considerably longer to complete than a conventional road marathon.
What makes all that effort worthwhile is the journey through one of the world's great historic landscapes. This is closer to a mountain expedition than a normal road race and offers the sort of marathon experience runners are likely to remember for decades.
Marathon du Médoc: 4 September 2027
Most marathon advice tells runners not to try anything new on race day, but the Marathon du Médoc appears to have developed an entire event around ignoring conventional marathon wisdom. Held among the vineyards of the Médoc region near Bordeaux, the race is famous for elaborate fancy dress and refreshment stops that can include wine, cheese, oysters and other local specialities.
The marathon passes some of the region's celebrated wine estates, turning the course into a tour of one of France's great wine producing areas. There is still a marathon to complete, but racing for a personal best rather misses the point.
Médoc is colourful, eccentric and proudly different. There are very few marathon finish lines where your race stories are likely to involve both 42.195 kilometres and wine tasting.
Petra Desert Marathon: 4 September 2027
Few marathons can begin with surroundings as extraordinary as Petra. The Petra Desert Marathon starts in the ancient Nabataean city before taking runners into the desert landscape beyond.
Rocky terrain, hills and exposed sections make the race physically demanding, particularly when combined with the conditions. The experience, however, is about far more than the course profile.
Petra is one of the world's great archaeological destinations, and building a marathon around it creates an extraordinary combination of history and adventure. This is the sort of race where the destination deserves at least as much time as the marathon itself.
Patagonian International Marathon: 4 September 2027
Patagonia is the sort of place that can make runners forget to look at their watch. The Patagonian International Marathon takes place in Chilean Patagonia southwest of Torres del Paine National Park, with mountains and vast open landscapes providing a remarkable setting.
Weather can become part of the challenge because Patagonia is known for rapidly changing conditions and strong winds. Runners cannot necessarily rely on the predictable race morning they might expect from a major city marathon.
That uncertainty is part of its appeal. This is a marathon for runners who want wilderness, space and extraordinary scenery rather than city streets packed with spectators.
Read more about the Patagonian International Marathon here
Jungfrau Marathon: 10 And 11 September 2027
The Jungfrau Marathon demonstrates just how different 26.2 miles can become when the finish is high in the Swiss Alps. Starting in Interlaken, runners initially head through the valley before the route begins its serious ascent towards the mountains.
The course climbs around 1,953 metres from Interlaken towards the Eiger Glacier, turning the marathon into a very different challenge from a conventional road race. The Eiger and surrounding Alpine peaks dominate the landscape as runners make their way towards the finish.
Anyone arriving with ambitions based on their normal road marathon time may need to reconsider them fairly quickly. This is a race where elevation, mountain conditions and extraordinary Alpine scenery matter much more than pace.
Venice Marathon: 24 October 2027
There are obvious logistical difficulties involved in holding a marathon that finishes in Venice, but those difficulties are also part of what makes it special. The race begins outside the historic centre and gradually works its way towards Venice.
In the closing stages, runners encounter the city's distinctive waterways, architecture and bridges before reaching the finish. Temporary ramps help runners negotiate some of those bridges, but tired legs still have to deal with a very different final few kilometres from the flat boulevards found at many city marathons.
Venice is already somewhere that feels unlike almost any other city. Arriving there on foot after more than 20 miles makes the experience even more distinctive.
Polar Circle Marathon: 30 October 2027
The Polar Circle Marathon is one of those races where the surface underneath your feet tells you immediately that this is not a normal marathon. Held near Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, the route combines Arctic terrain with a section on the Greenland ice sheet.
Snow, ice, gravel and freezing temperatures can all become part of the challenge. The field is deliberately small, reinforcing the sense that this is an expedition as much as a race, with no enormous crowds carrying runners through the difficult patches.
Instead, there is ice, open landscape and the knowledge that very few people will ever experience Greenland in quite the same way. It is one of the most distinctive cold weather marathons anywhere in the world.
New York City Marathon: 7 November 2027
There are bigger cities and there are faster marathon courses, but few races can match New York for the feeling of taking over an entire city for a day. The marathon starts on Staten Island before crossing the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and travelling through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.
Each borough brings a different atmosphere, with enormous crowds lining much of the course before runners eventually enter Central Park for the finish. The bridges, skyscrapers and noise make it unmistakably New York.
The final miles through Manhattan create one of the great finishes in marathon running. For many runners, the New York City Marathon is not simply another marathon but one of those races they have imagined running long before they finally reach the start.
Athens Marathon: 14 November 2027
If you are going to run 26.2 miles, there is something special about doing it in the place that gave the marathon its story. The Athens Marathon begins in Marathon and follows a challenging route towards the Greek capital.
Rather than being an easy historical procession, the course includes a long period of climbing that can make it surprisingly demanding. What waits at the end makes the effort worthwhile.
Runners finish inside the Panathenaic Stadium, the marble stadium that hosted events during the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Few races have a stronger connection between the history of the marathon and the experience of running it today.
Queenstown Marathon: November 2027, Date TBC
Queenstown has built its reputation around mountains, lakes and outdoor adventure, making it a natural home for a memorable marathon. The race takes runners through the landscape around Queenstown, with Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains helping create one of New Zealand's most attractive running settings.
The course combines road and hard packed trails, giving the event a different feel from a completely urban road marathon. Queenstown itself provides plenty to do before and after race day, particularly for runners who want to build a wider New Zealand trip around the event.
For international runners looking for an excuse to visit this part of the world, a marathon in Queenstown provides a particularly good one. The race fits naturally into a destination already synonymous with outdoor adventure.
St Helena Marathon: November 2027, Date TBC
Some races are remote, but St Helena takes remoteness to another level. The small volcanic island sits in the South Atlantic, far from the nearest major landmass, and its isolation remains a fundamental part of the experience of visiting today.
The marathon adds steep roads and substantial climbing to that sense of adventure. This is not somewhere to travel in search of a fast personal best, and the journey to the island is part of what makes taking part so unusual.
For runners who increasingly value unusual destinations over enormous fields, St Helena offers something rare. Simply getting there, exploring the island and then running its marathon turns the event into a genuine journey.
What Makes A Marathon Memorable?
There is no single answer. For one runner, it might be hearing the crowds as they enter Central Park in New York or turn onto The Mall in London. For another, it could be watching the midnight sun in northern Norway, climbing thousands of steps on the Great Wall of China or discovering that a marathon refreshment station in Médoc contains wine and oysters.
Adventure races take that idea further. Greenland, Antarctica, Patagonia, the Inca Trail and Everest require runners to think about the journey, climate and terrain as much as the marathon itself. In these events, finishing time can become secondary to simply experiencing where running has taken you.
That is one of the great attractions of marathon running. The distance stays the same, but what happens between the start and finish can be completely different. A marathon can take you through one of the world's greatest cities, across an Arctic landscape, high into the Andes, through the African countryside or among vineyards in France.
You only need to decide where you want your next 26.2 miles to take you.
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