Best Fall Marathons in 2026 (Sep-Nov)

Which fall 2026 marathon suits you? Compare September to November races by course profile, weather, and entry deadlines for peak-season racing.

Autumn is the golden season for marathon running. After months of summer training, you're at peak fitness. Temperatures have cooled to ideal racing range. And the world's most prestigious races — including three World Majors — take place between September and November. Here are the best fall marathons for 2026.

How We Selected These Marathons

  • September-November race date
  • Cool autumn temperatures (5-16°C)
  • Peak training season alignment
  • Strong competitive field
  • Festive autumn atmosphere
  • Good travel logistics

Our Top Picks

# Race DateAvg TempElevationCutoffBQ Course
1 Jungfrau Marathon September 5, 202612°C1953 m6.5hNo
2 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon September 12, 202613°C75 m6.55hYes
3 Erie Marathon September 13, 202618°C25 m6hYes
4 Berlin Marathon September 27, 202614°C20 m6.25hYes
5 Loch Ness Marathon September 27, 202612°C310 m6.5hYes
6 St. George Marathon October 3, 202614°C152 m7.25hYes
7 Isle of Wight Marathon October 4, 202613°C350 m6.5hYes
8 Kielder Marathon October 4, 202610°C480 m7hNo
9 Portland Marathon October 4, 202613°C266 m6.55hYes
10 Twin Cities Marathon October 4, 20268°C175 m6.5hYes
Show all 46 races
# Race DateAvg TempElevationCutoffBQ Course
11 Hartford Marathon October 10, 202611°C229 m6hYes
12 Lisbon Marathon October 10, 202618°C85 m6hYes
13 Chelmsford Marathon October 11, 202613°C180 m6hYes
14 Chester Marathon October 11, 202611°C80 m6hYes
15 Chicago Marathon October 11, 202612°C35 m6.5hYes
16 Long Beach Marathon October 11, 202617°C143 m7.5hYes
17 Nike Melbourne Marathon October 11, 202614°C185 m7.75hYes
18 Mohawk Hudson River Marathon October 11, 202612°C144 m6hYes
19 Munich Marathon October 11, 202614°C100 m6.5hYes
20 Steamtown Marathon October 11, 202611°C157 m7hYes
21 Baltimore Marathon October 17, 202612°C297 m7hYes
22 Dramathon October 17, 20269°C211 m7hNo
23 Kansas City Marathon October 17, 202613°C365 m6hYes
24 Amsterdam Marathon October 18, 202610°C10 m6hYes
25 Columbus Marathon October 18, 20268°C159 m6.5hYes
26 Detroit Free Press Marathon October 18, 20269°C118 m6.5hYes
27 Mount Desert Island Marathon October 18, 202610°C518 m6.5hYes
28 Yorkshire Marathon October 18, 202611°C150 m7hYes
29 Beachy Head Marathon October 24, 202613°C1150 m9hNo
30 Snowdonia Marathon Eryri October 24, 202611°C840 m7hNo
31 Beijing Marathon October 25, 202610°C55 m6hYes
32 Kanazawa Marathon October 25, 202614°C70 m7hYes
33 Marine Corps Marathon October 25, 202612°C120 m6hYes
34 Yokohama Marathon October 25, 202617°C45 m6.5hYes
35 Hangzhou Marathon November 1, 202613°C131 m6.25hYes
36 NYC Marathon November 1, 202610°C250 m8hYes
37 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon November 7, 20266°C92 m7hYes
38 Athens Marathon November 8, 202614°C383 m8hYes
39 Charlotte Marathon November 14, 20268°C318 m6hYes
40 Richmond Marathon November 14, 20268°C208 m7hYes
41 Kobe Marathon November 15, 202613°C55 m7hYes
42 Madison Marathon November 15, 20264°C259 m6hYes
43 Nanjing Marathon November 15, 202610°C55 m6.25hYes
44 Philadelphia Marathon November 22, 20266°C226 m7hYes
45 Route 66 Marathon November 22, 20268°C250 m6.5hYes
46 Seattle Marathon November 29, 20268°C249 m7hYes

Built from official course data for 349 races · as of July 6, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is fall the best time for a marathon?

Fall marathons benefit from peak summer training fitness, cooling temperatures, and lower humidity. Your body reaches peak aerobic capacity after months of progressive training, and the weather transitions from summer heat to ideal racing conditions (8-15°C).

Which fall marathon has the best weather?

Berlin (September, 12-18°C) and Chicago (October, 10-16°C) consistently offer the best fall racing weather. Amsterdam (October, 8-14°C) is slightly cooler. Check specific conditions with our Weather Score Calculator.

Can I run two fall marathons?

Running two marathons in one fall season is possible but requires careful planning. Allow minimum 4 weeks between races, ideally 6-8 weeks. A common approach: use the first as a 'training marathon' at 85% effort, then race the second all-out. Use our Recovery Planner to assess readiness.

When should I start training for a fall marathon?

Most 16-20 week plans start in June-July for September-November races. This means building base miles through spring and starting formal marathon training as summer begins. Use our Training Start Date Calculator for precise timing.

What if fall weather turns unexpectedly warm?

Have a backup pace strategy for warm conditions. If race-day temperature exceeds 18°C, slow your goal pace by 1-2 minutes per degree above optimal. Use our Heat Adjustment Calculator to recalculate your target on race morning.

Useful Training Tools

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