Photo: © SEGAS / Athens Marathon. The Authentic▶Athens Marathon. The Authentic
Athina, Greece43rd editionChoose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Athens Marathon. The Authentic 2026 takes place on 7 November 2026 – 8 November 2026 in Athina, Greece. Distances: 42.195 km, 10 km, 5 km, 1.2 km. Start at 08:00 from Marathon (Marathonas), centro sportivo della partenza.
- Date
- Saturday, 7 November 2026 – Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Location
- Athina, Greece
- Start
- Marathon (Marathonas), centro sportivo della partenza
- Finish
- Stadio Panathinaiko (Panathenaic Stadium), Athina
- Distances
- Marathon · 42.195 km · Competitive
- 10 km · Competitive
- 5 km · Competitive
- 5km Universities Night Run · Competitive
- Kids run · 1.2 km · Non-competitive
- Start times
- Maratona 08:30 · 10 km 08:00 · 5 km 17:00 · 5km Universities Night Run 20:00 · Kids run 16:00
- Entry fees
- €0
- Registration
- Sold out
- Official website
- athensauthenticmarathon.gr ↗
- Edition
- 43rd edition
Last updated: 19 October 2026
The race
Athens Marathon. The Authentic is run on the original course: from Marathon, site of the battle of 490 BC, to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the same route used for the marathon of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It is organised every year by SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation, under World Athletics and AIMS rules, and since 1982 it has been dedicated to Grigoris Lambrakis, the athlete, scientist and member of parliament who became a symbol of human rights.
The 43rd edition takes place on Sunday 8 November 2026: 25,000 marathoners start at 8:30 in 15 blocks and have 8 hours to finish; the same morning, at 8:00, the allwyn 10km with 17,000 entrants starts on Vas. Amalias Avenue and also finishes in the stadium. Saturday 7 November is the day of the short races in central Athens: the 1,200 m Kids Race at 16:00, the Telekom 5km with 30,000 runners at 17:00 and the 5km Universities Night Run for students at 20:00.
All races are sold out. Bibs and race kits are collected from 4 to 7 November at the Runners' Center in Faliro, home to the allwyn Marathon EXPO.
Videos
Course
The race starts at the Marathon sports centre: the first 200 metres run downhill out of the venue and the first 4 km descend gently along Marathonos Avenue. At km 4 the course turns onto Marathonomachon Street and for about 2.2 km makes an almost circular loop around the Tomb of the fallen of the Battle of Marathon. From km 6 to km 10, towards Nea Makri, it is flat; between km 11 and km 17 there are uphill sections, then a steep descent to just before the Rafina junction, after which the toughest climb so far runs to km 20.
Through Pikermi climbs and flatter stretches alternate up to the long rise at km 25; Pallini (km 27-28) is uphill too. From Gerakas the hardest part begins: the long, intense climb to the Stavros junction (km 30-31), followed by a steep descent to Agia Paraskevi square. On Messogeion Avenue, through Chalandri and Cholargos, flat and downhill sections alternate, the most marked descent running from the Ministry of National Defence to the Katechaki junction (km 37.5).
Then come Michalakopoulou and Feidippidou streets, Vas. Sofias Avenue past the US Embassy, the Athens Concert Hall and Eleftherias Park (km 40, last aid station), Irodou Attikou Street (km 41.2) beside the Presidential Palace and the National Garden, and the final 170 metres on the tartan of the Panathenaic Stadium.
Aid stations along the course
| Km | Water | Sports drink | Cola | Gels | Bananas | Salty snacks | Sponges | Medical support | Physio and massage | Toilets | Timing point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| 5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| 7.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| 10 | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| 12.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| 15 | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| 17.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| 20 | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | no | yes | no |
| 21.1 | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| 22.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
| 25 | yes | yes | no | no | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 27.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
| 30 | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 32.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
| 35 | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| 37.5 | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
| 40 | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Finish | yes | yes | no | no | yes | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
- StartWater, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- Km5Water, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- Km7.5Water, Sponges, Toilets
- Km10Water, Sports drink, Gels, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- Km12.5Water, Sponges, Toilets
- Km15Water, Sports drink, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- Km17.5Water, Sponges, Toilets
- Km20Water, Sports drink, Gels, Bananas, Medical support, Toilets
- Km21.1Timing point
- Km22.5Water, Sponges, Medical support, Toilets
- Km25Water, Sports drink, Bananas, Medical support, Physio and massage, Toilets, Timing point
- Km27.5Water, Sponges, Medical support, Toilets
- Km30Water, Sports drink, Cola, Bananas, Salty snacks, Medical support, Physio and massage, Toilets, Timing point
- Km32.5Water, Sponges, Medical support, Toilets
- Km35Water, Sports drink, Cola, Bananas, Salty snacks, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- Km37.5Water, Sponges, Medical support, Toilets
- Km40Water, Sports drink, Cola, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
- FinishWater, Sports drink, Bananas, Medical support, Toilets, Timing point
Other drinks are also available at the finish. Personal drinks are only for elite athletes and runners in the National Marathon Championship; organisers' vehicles pick up runners who drop out.
Source: athensauthenticmarathon.gr ↗Entry fees
- Until 25 September 2026Sold outAdvanced Registration Level (esaurito): riservato a cittadini e residenti dell'Unione Europea. Kit: maglia tecnica e giacca termica impermeabile usa e getta.€75
- Until 25 September 2026Sold outFull Registration Level (esaurito): l'unico livello per chi non è cittadino o residente UE. Kit: anche zaino, tessera dei trasporti OASA, asciugamano in microfibra, cappellino, portachiavi e priorità per il livello Full 2027.€165
What's included
- Race pack
- Technical shirt
- Finisher medal
- Chip timing
- Aid stations
- Sponge stations
- Bag drop
- Shuttle bus
- Medical assistance
- Finisher certificate
- Race photos
- Race expo
- Toilets
Rules and requirements
The marathon is open to runners aged 20 or over (born in 2006 or earlier); the 10km requires 15, the Telekom 5km 12 and the 5km Universities Night Run 17, reserved for students with a valid university ID or ISIC card and academic staff. No medical certificate is requested: by entering you declare you are fit and have had your condition checked by a doctor, and you run at your own risk; the Greek anti-doping agency may test any participant.
The 2026 fees had two levels: Advanced (marathon €75, 10km €45, 5km €40, Night Run €25), reserved for EU citizens and residents, and Full (€165, €90, €85, €45), the only option for everyone else; the Kids Race is free. Entries closed on 25 September and are sold out. The marathon starts at 8:30 in 15 blocks assigned by finish time; the time limit is 8 hours, with cut-offs at every aid station (for example km 21.1 at 13:45, km 30 at 15:25, km 40 at 17:25) and the finish closing at 18:15.
Racing or manual wheelchairs are not allowed. World Athletics, AIMS and SEGAS rules apply. Bibs and kits are collected only at the Runners' Center in Faliro from 4 to 7 November, with ID and the bib email (a representative may collect them); nothing is posted.
Cancellation until 25 September with a €5 (Advanced) or €15 (Full) deduction; no deferrals; name changes until 25 September for a €5 fee.
