🇮🇪Dublin, Ireland
Irish Life Dublin Marathon
Oct 25, 2026
Race facts
Next edition · 2026
Oct 25, 2026
ScheduledStart
Leeson Street Lower by St Stephen's Green — wheelchairs 8:40am, Wave 1 8:45am, then 9:05, 9:25 and 9:45am
Course
130 melevation gain
- Distance · surface
- 42.2 km · Road
- Layout
- Point-to-point city route, one lap, moderate climbs
- Profile
- Downhill start on Leeson Street, an early climb past St Patrick's Cathedral to Christchurch, a rise near Castleknock, then the long Clonskeagh–Roebuck climb at ~35 km before a downhill run-in
Entry
Public ballot (lottery) for most places; Good for Age times, official charity places via realbuzz, club and tour-operator allocations
- Status · last recorded
- Ballot closed
- Registration
- The ballot for the next edition opens in mid-November, a few weeks after the race, and stays open for under a week (2027 ballot: 12–17 November 2026)
Dates and entry details change. Confirm with the organiser before you book.
PB potential
Good conditions for a solid performance
Beginner friendly
Perfect first marathon — supportive, accessible, and well-structured
About this race
Dublin has earned a reputation as the friendliest marathon in Europe, and it lives up to it completely. The looped course starts and finishes near Merrion Square and passes through Dublin's Georgian architecture, Phoenix Park (Europe's largest enclosed city park), and along the Grand Canal. The 130m of elevation is manageable with steady gentle gradients. What makes Dublin special is the atmosphere: the Irish crowd makes every runner feel like a local hero, with impromptu music, pub supporters offering orange slices and encouragement, and a finish line atmosphere that regularly reduces first-timers to tears of joy. Entry is straightforward, international slots are available, and the October weather is typically mild and merciful.
Typical race-day weather
Temperature
9–14°C
Humidity
75–85%
Conditions
Variable Irish weather — can be mild or rainy
Wind
10–25 km/h, unpredictable
Who this race suits
First-timers and anyone who wants a big-city marathon with small-town warmth: the crowds are famous, the pacing team covers 3:00 to 5:00, and the course stays open for seven hours.
Honest rather than fast. Mostly steady running with a downhill start, but the 3 km climb up Clonskeagh and Roebuck roads — the 'Irish Heartbreak Hill' at ~35 km — costs time late on. A PB is possible on a good day; it is not a Berlin-style course.
Overview
- Field size
- ~22,500 places, 17,200 of them through the public ballot
- Cut-off time
- Course open for 7 hours from the last starter; official timing ends at 4:55pm
- Pace support
- Official pacing team from 3:00 to 5:00 across all four waves
- When
- Last Sunday of October, on the bank-holiday weekend; the 2027 edition is confirmed for Sunday 24 October 2027
Course intelligence
- Highlights
- Georgian Dublin, the Liberties, Phoenix Park (Europe's largest enclosed city park), Kilmainham, the RDS and the Pepper Canister Church finish
- Surface
- Asphalt city roads
Registration
- Entry cost
- €130 plus platform fees for 2027 (€110 + €5.50 in 2026); entering the ballot costs €4
- Note
- Entries are non-transferable to another event; deferrals are granted only for pregnancy or postpartum
Race weekend
- Finish
- Pepper Canister Church on Mount Street, near Merrion Square
- Expo
- RDS Simmonscourt on the Friday and Saturday before the race; race numbers are collected in person
- Bag drop
- Only the clear bag issued at registration is accepted in the baggage area
Travel & logistics
- Best airport
- Dublin (DUB), ~30 minutes from the city centre by bus or taxi
- Getting around
- Walkable centre; Luas trams, DART and Dublin Bus cover the start and finish areas
- Where to stay
- Around St Stephen's Green or Merrion Square for a short walk to both start and finish
Runner tips
- Wave allocations are emailed in early October — check yours before planning your start-line arrival.
- Save something for 35 km: the Clonskeagh–Roebuck climb arrives exactly when the legs are tired.
- Late-October Dublin can be mild, wet and windy in the same hour; pack a throwaway layer and a cap.
Pace Band
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