Athens Authentic Marathon 2026

The Athens Authentic Marathon is an annual marathon road race held in Athens, Greece, normally in early November. The 2026 edition takes place on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The race is inspired by the legendary run of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens after the Battle of Marathon. The course begins in the town of Marathon, passes the tomb of the Athenian soldiers, and traces a path near the coast through Nea Makri. It is considered one of the most difficult major marathons, with an uphill climb from the 10 km mark to the 31 km mark. The race finishes at the Panathinaiko Stadium, a historic site for athletics competitions in ancient times and the finishing point for both the 1896 and 2004 Olympic marathons. The event also features concurrent 5 km and 10 km road races and a racewalking contest. An international marathon symposium is held the day before the race in Marathon town.