Curated event
Athens Marathon 2026: race weekend, the Panathenaic Stadium finish and where to stay
The Athens Marathon. The Authentic runs over the weekend of 7 and 8 November 2026, from the town of Marathon to the finish inside the Panathenaic Stadium. The marathon itself is on the Sunday, the 5 km and 10 km races and the family runs fill the weekend around it, and central Athens hotels near the stadium fill months ahead.
- Dates: 7–8 November 2026
- Venue: Panathenaic Stadium, Athens
- Organised by: SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation
- Admission: Registration required
- Checked: 12 September 2026
If you are running, sleep in Pangrati, Syntagma or Plaka so the stadium finish and the metro are on foot, and collect your number at the expo before the weekend. If you are visiting, treat Sunday morning as a closed-roads morning in the centre and watch the finish from the stadium stands.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Saturday, 7 November 2026 | Road races weekend: 5 km and 10 km races, the Universities Night Run and the family and kids' runs; start times on the organiser's site |
| Sunday, 8 November 2026 | The marathon: start in the town of Marathon, finish inside the Panathenaic Stadium |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Registration opened on 24 April 2026 on a first-come basis with entry fees from 75 to 165 euros; the marathon fills long before race day.
The event
The Athens Marathon is run on the route of the legend: from the town of Marathon, past the tomb of the Athenian dead, over the long climb through the Attica hills and down into the city to finish inside the Panathenaic Stadium, the marble arena of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The 2026 edition, the 43rd, takes place on the weekend of 7 and 8 November.
The marathon is on the Sunday. The 5 km and 10 km road races, the Universities Night Run and the family and kids' runs spread across the weekend, so the stadium and the streets around it are busy from Saturday.
Race weekend in the city
The marathon route closes Marathonos Avenue and the avenues into the centre on Sunday morning, and the metro carries the crowds to the stadium. Pangrati, beside the stadium, and the Syntagma and Plaka blocks a short walk away are the useful bases, for runners and spectators alike.
November is one of Athens’s appealing months for walking: cooler than summer, with changeable weather and possible rain. Marathon weekend brings extra demand for central hotels and restaurants near the stadium, so plan accommodation and your post-race meal ahead.
Entering and watching
Registration for 2026 opened on 24 April on a first-come, first-served basis, with fees from 75 to 165 euros; the organiser notes that registration often stays open for less time than the race takes to run. The organiser publishes the start times and the expo details for number collection.
For spectators, the stadium stands are the place: the finish is inside the marble curve, and the last kilometres down Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are lined with crowds from mid-morning.
Good to know
- Central hotels within walking distance of the stadium can fill for marathon weekend; book once your entry is confirmed.
- Sunday morning road closures affect taxis and buses in the centre; the metro is the reliable way to the finish.
- Confirm race start times, the expo schedule and any route change on the organiser's site in race week.
Where to stay for marathon weekend
Pangrati, Syntagma and Plaka put the finish and the metro on foot. These guides compare the central neighbourhoods and open live availability for November dates.
- Athens neighbourhoods: choosing a base The choice of where to stay, with live stays for your dates.
- Athens neighbourhoods in depth Pangrati and the centre in more detail.
Make a day of it
Sources and transparency: This is Athens (official city guide): registrations open for Athens Marathon. The Authentic 2026 (checked 2026-09-12) This Is Athens — weather (checked 2026-09-12) Not a paid listing. Editorial policy Full agenda