🇪🇸Barcelona, Spain
Zurich Barcelona Marathon
Expected March 2027
Photo: Jorge Jaramillo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Race facts
Next edition · 2027
Expected March 2027
Date not yet confirmedEstimated from the usual calendar slot. Last edition: Mar 15, 2026.
Course
155 melevation gain
- Distance · surface
- 42.2 km · Road
- Layout
- Loop through central Barcelona, with one notable climb
- Profile
- Rolling, with a defining ~2 km climb up Montjuïc around km 16
Entry
Direct paid registration
- 2027 entry
- Not yet recorded. Check the official site for dates and status.
- Registration
- Opens well ahead; generally accessible
Dates and entry details change. Confirm with the organiser before you book.
PB potential
Good conditions for a solid performance
Beginner friendly
Great for newcomers — manageable course, strong support
About this race
Barcelona's marathon course is an architectural tour de force. Runners pass the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (Gaudí's masterpieces), the Arc de Triomf, Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas, the Olympic stadium on Montjuïc hill, the beachfront Barceloneta, and the Port Olímpic marina. The 155m of elevation includes the Montjuïc ascent at km 16 — a 2km climb that is a defining feature of the race. March temperatures of 12–18°C are pleasant, and the chance of rain is modest. Barcelona's crowd support is outstanding — the city genuinely embraces its marathon, and the Spanish passion for running (and celebration afterwards) is infectious. This is one of Europe's most rewarding marathon experiences.
Typical race-day weather
Temperature
11–18°C
Humidity
55–70%
Conditions
Mediterranean spring — warm, sunny, slight chance of rain
Wind
10–20 km/h off the sea
Who this race suits
Runners who want a spectacular, architecture-rich city marathon with easy open entry. The Montjuïc climb makes it a scenic experience race more than a flat PB course.
Fast in parts, but the ~2 km Montjuïc climb around km 16 and rolling sections cost time. Pleasant March conditions and great crowds make it hugely enjoyable.
Overview
- Field size
- ~18,000–20,000 finishers
- Entry
- Open paid entry
Course intelligence
- Highlights
- Sagrada Família, Gaudí's Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, Las Ramblas, Montjuïc, and the seafront
Travel & logistics
- Best airport
- Barcelona El Prat (BCN)
- Getting around
- Metro and buses cover the city; a T-casual multi-ride ticket is handy
- Where to stay
- Eixample or near Plaça d'Espanya for course and metro access
Runner tips
- Save energy for the Montjuïc climb around km 16 — don't spend it on the fast early kilometres.
- March sun off the sea warms up quickly; plan hydration for the later, more exposed miles.
Entry information
Next edition date estimated — confirm exact date with the official site.
Pace Band
Generate a free elevation-adjusted pace band for Zurich Barcelona Marathon. Print it, wear it, hit your splits.
Build my pace band →Compare
Stack Zurich Barcelona Marathon against another race side-by-side.
- vs Zurich Maratón de Sevilla
- vs Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon
- vs Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid
Find your next race
Races runners like you consider
Similar to Zurich Barcelona Marathon
Seville, Spain
Zurich Maratón de Sevilla
Feb 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 58 m
February's fastest marathon — a flat loop through Seville's old town and riverside promenades in crisp Andalusian winter conditions.
Race intelligence verified
Valencia, Spain
Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon
Dec 6, 2026
Registration open- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 36 m
December's perfect PB race — flat, fast, and held in ideal cool Mediterranean conditions that produce faster times than almost any course on earth.
Race intelligence verified
Madrid, Spain
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid
Apr 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Rolling · ↑ 220 m
Spain's capital offers a rolling marathon through royal parks and grand boulevards — Retiro Park, the Prado district, and Paseo de la Castellana all on the route.
Great for a first marathon
See all →
World MajorBerlin, Germany
BMW Berlin Marathon
Sep 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Lottery
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 61 m
The world's fastest marathon course — dead flat, perfectly organised, and the site of more world records than any other race.
Race intelligence verified
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Eindhoven Marathon
Oct 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 12 m
One of Europe's fastest marathon courses — a dead-flat loop through Philips' hometown with aggressive pacers, elite competition, and near-zero elevation gain.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
NN Rotterdam Marathon
Apr 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 15 m
Statistically the world's fastest marathon course — virtually no elevation, sea-level altitude, perfect spring climate. Come to Rotterdam to run your best.
Race intelligence verified
More spring marathons
See all →Riga, Latvia
Rimi Riga Marathon
May 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 35 m
The Baltic's fastest and largest marathon — essentially flat along Riga's Art Nouveau boulevards, through Jūrmala's beach resort, and across the Daugava River bridges.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen Marathon
May 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 10 m
One of the flattest marathons in the world — a welcoming, beautifully organised race through the Danish capital's canals, parks, and harbour in ideal May conditions.
Race intelligence verified
Kraków, Poland
Cracovia Marathon
Apr 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 60 m
Poland's most historic city hosts a flat spring marathon past Wawel Castle, the medieval Cloth Hall, the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and along the Vistula River.
Explore the region
More Europe marathons
World MajorBerlin, Germany
BMW Berlin Marathon
Sep 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Lottery
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 61 m
The world's fastest marathon course — dead flat, perfectly organised, and the site of more world records than any other race.
Race intelligence verified
Rotterdam, Netherlands
NN Rotterdam Marathon
Apr 2027 (est.)
- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 15 m
Statistically the world's fastest marathon course — virtually no elevation, sea-level altitude, perfect spring climate. Come to Rotterdam to run your best.
Race intelligence verified
Amsterdam, Netherlands
TCS Amsterdam Marathon
Oct 18, 2026
Open- Entry
- Open entry
- Course
- Flat · ↑ 45 m
One of Europe's flattest and fastest marathons — looping through Amsterdam's iconic canals and Vondelpark for world-class PB conditions.
Race intelligence verified