2026 Oslo Marathon - Sep 12 Countdown

Q: What is the Oslo Marathon course like?

It is a two-loop waterfront course that starts and finishes at Radhusplassen, the square beside Oslo City Hall on the Oslofjord harbor. The route runs through central Oslo as two scenic loops, hugging the fjord-side promenade. It is paved city running throughout, so there is no trail or gravel to worry about.

Q: How much elevation gain does the Oslo Marathon have?

The organiser puts the marathon at 350m of climbing (about 1,150 ft) and the half at 175m, which is the same lap done twice: marathon runners cover the 21.1 km half-marathon loop two times. At roughly 8m per kilometre this is a rolling city course, not a flat one, but the climb comes in short repeated rises rather than one long hill.

Q: Is the Oslo Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Oslo Marathon runs on an AIMS-certified course and is listed as a Boston-qualifying (BQ) race. You do not need a qualifying time to enter Oslo itself, but if you hit your Boston standard here, the time counts toward your BQ application.

Q: What is the time limit for the Oslo Marathon?

The overall limit is 6 hours. There is also an intermediate cutoff: you must pass the halfway point in under 3 hours to avoid being stopped. Pacers run target times from roughly 3:00 up to 5:30, and aid stations with water and sports drink sit about every 5 km.

Q: What should I wear and expect for weather on race day?

September mornings in Oslo are cool, around 11°C (52°F) at the 09:00 start, warming toward 15°C. September is one of the rainier months, with about a 33% chance of showers and a light fjord breeze. Wear short sleeves or a singlet, add a thin throwaway layer or cap for the start, and pack a light waterproof.

Q: When and where does the Oslo Marathon start?

The full marathon starts at 09:00 on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from Radhusplassen by Oslo City Hall, which is also the finish. The same day hosts a half marathon, the "10 for Grete" 10K, and mini distances, so the full field of about 4,000-4,200 marathon finishers is part of a larger all-event crowd of roughly 25,000 across all distances.

Q: How do I get to Oslo, and what travel paperwork do I need?

Fly into Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), about 50 km north of the city. The Flytoget airport express train reaches Oslo Central in around 22 minutes, and the start at Radhusplassen is a short walk or metro ride from there. Norway is in the Schengen Area, so many nationalities (including US, UK, Canada, Japan) can enter visa-free for short stays; the EU's new ETIAS travel authorization (an online pre-approval, not a visa) is expected to become required for visa-exempt visitors in late 2026, so check ETIAS status before booking. The whole race weekend, including bib pickup, is English-friendly.

Q: Where do I pick up my bib, and can someone collect it for me?

Bib pickup is at the Expo, which for 2026 has been moved from Rådhusplassen to Tøyen (the circus square by the old Munch Museum, Monrads gate 11) because of the funeral of His Majesty the King. Hours: Thursday and Friday 09:00-20:00, Saturday 07:00-15:30; Tøyen metro station is about a five-minute walk. Bibs cannot be collected at Rådhusplassen. Someone else can collect for you with your start card and a copy of your ID, but running under another person's number means disqualification.

-- DAYS

-- HRS

-- MIN

-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Sold out

See entry dates for other marathons →

Race Information

Race	2026 Oslo Marathon - Sep 12
City	Oslo
Date	2026-09-12 at 09:00
Field Size	~4,180 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Course speed	Challenging course Speed index 1.05 — 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/Oslo
Official Site	DNB Oslo Maraton

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	11.3°C / 52°F
Humidity	87%
Peak Wind	8.9 km/h
Rain Chance	40%
Typical Conditions	Cool, often overcast early-autumn morning around 11°C (52°F) at the 09:00 start, climbing toward a daytime high near 15°C. Humidity sits around 78% and September is one of Oslo's rainier months, with roughly a 33% chance of showers and a light breeze off the fjord.

What to Prepare: Dress for 11°C with rain in mind: a singlet or short sleeves plus a thin throwaway layer or cap at the start. Pack a light waterproof for the bag drop and expect damp cobblestones along the harbor.

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

Winds peaking around 8.9 km/h — the typical daily maximum for this date — can affect your pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer in exposed stretches. 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	8.3°C	11.1°C	14.5°C
Dew point	5.2°C	9°C	12.7°C

Wet-day chance: 40% Runnability: 75/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Two-loop waterfront city course
Elevation Gain	350m
Terrain	Paved city streets and harbor promenade along the Oslofjord, starting and finishing at Radhusplassen by Oslo City Hall, run as two scenic loops through central Oslo.
Profile	Rolling rather than flat: the organiser lists 350m of gain for the marathon and 175m for the half, since the full is the same 21.1 km loop run twice.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Oslo Marathon - Sep 12

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 ...

Use Calculator →

Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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

Use Calculator →

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-...

Use Calculator →

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...

Use Calculator →

Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

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

Use Calculator →

Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

Use Calculator →

View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the Oslo Marathon 2026?

Entry for 2026 is closed. The marathon sells first-come with no lottery and filled well before race week: the official waiting list ended on August 3, and the organiser's bib marketplace closed on September 1, with resale prices capped at what the seller originally paid. The organiser has published September 18, 2027 as the next race date, with a 1,350 NOK marathon entry on a new registration system. The base marathon entry is 1,200 NOK (plus a 40 NOK administration fee and a 50 NOK one-time license). Note that Norway is outside the euro zone, so you pay in Norwegian kroner (NOK).

What is the Oslo Marathon course like?

It is a two-loop waterfront course that starts and finishes at Radhusplassen, the square beside Oslo City Hall on the Oslofjord harbor. The route runs through central Oslo as two scenic loops, hugging the fjord-side promenade. It is paved city running throughout, so there is no trail or gravel to worry about.

How much elevation gain does the Oslo Marathon have?

The organiser puts the marathon at 350m of climbing (about 1,150 ft) and the half at 175m, which is the same lap done twice: marathon runners cover the 21.1 km half-marathon loop two times. At roughly 8m per kilometre this is a rolling city course, not a flat one, but the climb comes in short repeated rises rather than one long hill.

Is the Oslo Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Oslo Marathon runs on an AIMS-certified course and is listed as a Boston-qualifying (BQ) race. You do not need a qualifying time to enter Oslo itself, but if you hit your Boston standard here, the time counts toward your BQ application.

What is the time limit for the Oslo Marathon?

The overall limit is 6 hours. There is also an intermediate cutoff: you must pass the halfway point in under 3 hours to avoid being stopped. Pacers run target times from roughly 3:00 up to 5:30, and aid stations with water and sports drink sit about every 5 km.

What should I wear and expect for weather on race day?

September mornings in Oslo are cool, around 11°C (52°F) at the 09:00 start, warming toward 15°C. September is one of the rainier months, with about a 33% chance of showers and a light fjord breeze. Wear short sleeves or a singlet, add a thin throwaway layer or cap for the start, and pack a light waterproof.

When and where does the Oslo Marathon start?

The full marathon starts at 09:00 on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from Radhusplassen by Oslo City Hall, which is also the finish. The same day hosts a half marathon, the "10 for Grete" 10K, and mini distances, so the full field of about 4,000-4,200 marathon finishers is part of a larger all-event crowd of roughly 25,000 across all distances.

How do I get to Oslo, and what travel paperwork do I need?

Fly into Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), about 50 km north of the city. The Flytoget airport express train reaches Oslo Central in around 22 minutes, and the start at Radhusplassen is a short walk or metro ride from there. Norway is in the Schengen Area, so many nationalities (including US, UK, Canada, Japan) can enter visa-free for short stays; the EU's new ETIAS travel authorization (an online pre-approval, not a visa) is expected to become required for visa-exempt visitors in late 2026, so check ETIAS status before booking. The whole race weekend, including bib pickup, is English-friendly.

Where do I pick up my bib, and can someone collect it for me?

Bib pickup is at the Expo, which for 2026 has been moved from Rådhusplassen to Tøyen (the circus square by the old Munch Museum, Monrads gate 11) because of the funeral of His Majesty the King. Hours: Thursday and Friday 09:00-20:00, Saturday 07:00-15:30; Tøyen metro station is about a five-minute walk. Bibs cannot be collected at Rådhusplassen. Someone else can collect for you with your start card and a copy of your ID, but running under another person's number means disqualification.