2026 Dublin Marathon - Oct 25 Countdown

Q: How do I enter the Dublin Marathon 2026?

Entry is by ballot (lottery). For 2026 the organisers dropped the old early-access window for returning runners and ran a single general ballot (applications Nov 12-17, 2025; results Nov 25-26, 2025). The 2026 ballot has now closed, so the remaining routes into this year's race are charity places or an official Good for Age entry. The standard entry fee was &euro;110 plus a &euro;5.50 handling charge.

Q: How hard is the Dublin Marathon course?

It is a moderate course, not pancake-flat but far from brutal. Total elevation gain is about 208m (685ft) over a single city loop. The defining feature is geography, not steepness: the gradual rise through the Phoenix Park in the first half and a final climb near Roebuck Road around 22-23 miles arrive when legs are tired. Even paced runners post solid times here.

Q: What is the course like and where does it start and finish?

It is a single anticlockwise loop of the city &mdash; one full 42.195km marathon, with no concurrent half on race day. Since the 2024 route change the race starts on Leeson Street Lower beside St Stephen's Green at 08:45 and finishes on Mount Street Upper, just past the Pepper Canister Church; Merrion Square is now the baggage and assembly area, not the finish line. The route passes through the Phoenix Park, the Georgian core, and southside suburbs, run entirely on closed tarmac roads.

Q: What is the Dublin Marathon time limit?

The course stays open for 7 hours, timed from when the last runner crosses the start line. Official timing closes around 16:55 local. There is no sweeper bus, but tailwalkers support 7-hour participants; once the limit passes, anyone still out is moved to the footpaths so roads can reopen.

Q: Is the Dublin Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is AIMS/World Athletics certified and BQ-eligible, and Dublin is an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifying race. No qualifying time is needed to enter &mdash; entry is by open ballot &mdash; but a finish here counts toward Boston and the Majors Wanda Age Group rankings.

Q: What should I wear for late-October Dublin weather?

Plan for cool, damp, breezy conditions: race-day highs near 11&deg;C (52&deg;F), lows around 7&deg;C, roughly 87% humidity, and a 37% chance of rain. A light water-resistant shell or vest, a cap, and throwaway layers for the corrals work well. Wind averages 23 km/h and is most noticeable in the open Phoenix Park.

Q: How many runners finish the Dublin Marathon?

About 18,508 runners finished the 2025 race. Because Dublin is a single-distance event with no concurrent half, that figure is marathon-only &mdash; the Dublin Half is a separate Race Series date, not run on the same day. It is one of Europe's largest single-distance marathons.

Q: When are the Dublin Marathon results published?

Chip results are posted to the official results portal on race day, usually within minutes of each finish, and finalised that evening. You can search by name or bib number, and finisher certificates are available online afterward. Times count toward Boston and Abbott Majors qualification.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Dublin Marathon - Oct 25
City	Dublin
Date	2026-10-25 at 08:45
Field Size	~18,508 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Course speed	Fast course Speed index 0.94 — median of the last 4 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
Timezone	Europe/Dublin
Official Site	Dublin Marathon Group
Registration	Register · 110 EUR
Fee trend	2023 €1102025 €1102026 €110(3-yr +0.0%)· below industry avg (+0.0% vs +4.9%/yr)

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	10.9°C / 52°F
Humidity	90%
Wind	31.8 km/h
Rain Chance	63%
Typical Conditions	Late-October Dublin is cool and damp, with race-day highs near 11°C (52°F), lows around 7°C (45°F), about 87% humidity, and a 37% chance of a wet day. Wind off the Irish Sea averages 23 km/h and can stiffen across exposed stretches like Phoenix Park.

What to Prepare: Dress for 11°C with throwaway layers at the Leeson Street Lower corrals by St Stephen's Green, since the 08:45 start is chilly. A peaked cap and a light water-resistant shell beat overdressing, and the crowd-lined city streets warm up fast once you are moving.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 31.8 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	8.1°C	11.2°C	13.5°C
Dew point	5.8°C	9.6°C	12.3°C

Wet-day chance: 63% Runnability: 63/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Single-loop city course
Elevation Gain	208m
Terrain	Closed tarmac roads through central Dublin, the Phoenix Park, and Georgian suburbs, finishing on Mount Street Upper just past the Pepper Canister Church. Surfaces are smooth city asphalt throughout.
Profile	Net rolling with about 208m (685ft) of total climb; the main test is the long drag up through the Phoenix Park and the climb past Roebuck Road near 22-23 miles, both gentle but late.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Finisher Trend

Year	Finishers	vs prev.
2023	16,347	—
2024	17,719	+8.4%
2025	18,224	+2.9%

Runners who crossed the line, not the registered field size.

Prepare for 2026 Dublin Marathon - Oct 25

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enter the Dublin Marathon 2026?

Entry is by ballot (lottery). For 2026 the organisers dropped the old early-access window for returning runners and ran a single general ballot (applications Nov 12-17, 2025; results Nov 25-26, 2025). The 2026 ballot has now closed, so the remaining routes into this year's race are charity places or an official Good for Age entry. The standard entry fee was €110 plus a €5.50 handling charge.

How hard is the Dublin Marathon course?

It is a moderate course, not pancake-flat but far from brutal. Total elevation gain is about 208m (685ft) over a single city loop. The defining feature is geography, not steepness: the gradual rise through the Phoenix Park in the first half and a final climb near Roebuck Road around 22-23 miles arrive when legs are tired. Even paced runners post solid times here.

What is the course like and where does it start and finish?

It is a single anticlockwise loop of the city — one full 42.195km marathon, with no concurrent half on race day. Since the 2024 route change the race starts on Leeson Street Lower beside St Stephen's Green at 08:45 and finishes on Mount Street Upper, just past the Pepper Canister Church; Merrion Square is now the baggage and assembly area, not the finish line. The route passes through the Phoenix Park, the Georgian core, and southside suburbs, run entirely on closed tarmac roads.

What is the Dublin Marathon time limit?

The course stays open for 7 hours, timed from when the last runner crosses the start line. Official timing closes around 16:55 local. There is no sweeper bus, but tailwalkers support 7-hour participants; once the limit passes, anyone still out is moved to the footpaths so roads can reopen.

Is the Dublin Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is AIMS/World Athletics certified and BQ-eligible, and Dublin is an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifying race. No qualifying time is needed to enter — entry is by open ballot — but a finish here counts toward Boston and the Majors Wanda Age Group rankings.

What should I wear for late-October Dublin weather?

Plan for cool, damp, breezy conditions: race-day highs near 11°C (52°F), lows around 7°C, roughly 87% humidity, and a 37% chance of rain. A light water-resistant shell or vest, a cap, and throwaway layers for the corrals work well. Wind averages 23 km/h and is most noticeable in the open Phoenix Park.

How many runners finish the Dublin Marathon?

About 18,508 runners finished the 2025 race. Because Dublin is a single-distance event with no concurrent half, that figure is marathon-only — the Dublin Half is a separate Race Series date, not run on the same day. It is one of Europe's largest single-distance marathons.

When are the Dublin Marathon results published?

Chip results are posted to the official results portal on race day, usually within minutes of each finish, and finalised that evening. You can search by name or bib number, and finisher certificates are available online afterward. Times count toward Boston and Abbott Majors qualification.