The Edinburgh Marathon is the centrepiece of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, a weekend of races in Scotland's capital in late May. Its point-to-point route descends almost 90 metres from the city centre to near sea level, and Runner's World voted it the fastest marathon in the UK. It is the second largest marathon in the UK, behind only London, and it has sold out every year for well over a decade.
There is no ballot. Entries are sold first-come, first-served and close once the race reaches capacity, with no waiting list. For the official entry and all details, head to the Edinburgh Marathon website.
Key dates
- Registration WindowOpen until full
- Race dayMay 30, 2027
Windows are shown to the month until the organiser confirms them. Subscribers get the exact day, by email, on the morning it opens.
Registration is open right now. Entries for the Edinburgh Marathon are open as you read this, and windows like this close with little warning. Set up a BibsAlert and we'll email you before it closes, and again the moment the next registration opens.
How to enter the Edinburgh Marathon
Every entry is made through the official website, on the MyRunning platform. There is no ballot.
1. General Registration (First-Come, First-Served)
Choose a standard entry on the official website. Standard entry starts at around £85. Entries close as soon as the race reaches capacity, and there is no waiting list. Runners must be 18 or older on race day.
2. Charity Entries
Macmillan Cancer Support is the official charity, alongside a long list of affiliate charities. A charity place has no entry fee, though the charity may ask for a registration fee, and you commit to raising the minimum sponsorship it sets.
3. Good for Age and Top Club Entries
Runners with a recent qualifying marathon or half marathon time can apply for a Good for Age entry. British runners who are faster still can claim a free Top Club entry. Choose the entry type during registration and link proof of your time; the event team checks it, usually within a week.
The course
A point-to-point route from Edinburgh's city centre to the East Lothian coast, with a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level.
- Start: Potterrow, by the University of Edinburgh's McEwan Hall
- Finish: Musselburgh, East Lothian
- Distance: 42.195 km (26.2 miles), measured by an AIMS-certified measurer
- Start Time: 10:00
The route passes Greyfriars Kirkyard, crosses the Royal Mile and heads down the Mound into New Town and through Princes Street Gardens. It turns back up to the Royal Mile, past the Scottish Parliament, the Palace of Holyrood and Arthur's Seat, then heads east to the sea air of Portobello promenade. Beyond Musselburgh and the oldest golf course in the world, it runs out on the flat to Gosford House before turning back along the coast to the finish. The cut-off is 6 hours 30 minutes, with a sweeper bus at that pace.
Why run the Edinburgh Marathon?
- Built for a PB: Runner's World voted it the fastest marathon in the UK, and the route drops almost 90 metres from start to finish.
- A qualifying time that counts: The course is AIMS-measured, so your time can be submitted to other marathons that ask for one.
- City, then coast: Old Town landmarks in the first miles, then the seafront at Portobello and the East Lothian coastline.
- A whole festival: The weekend also has a half marathon, a four-person team relay over the marathon course, a 10K, a 5K and junior races.
Missed out?
Spots for the Edinburgh Marathon sell out fast. If you missed this year's window, you still have options:
- Charity & partner entries: Many races reserve guaranteed places with charity partners and official tour operators, even after general entry sells out. Check the official website for partners.
- Try a similar race: Check the related races below for races with similar entry types, dates, or locations.
- Be ready next year: Set up a BibsAlert so you don't miss the moment registration opens.
Questions runners ask
Is there a ballot for the Edinburgh Marathon?
No. There is no ballot: you buy an entry once the next race opens, first-come, first-served. Entries close when the race reaches capacity, and there is no waiting list.
Can I transfer or defer my entry?
Entries cannot be deferred. You can transfer your place to another runner through MyRunning until the transfer deadline, usually in March or April; the new runner pays a £20 transfer fee. Good for Age entries cannot be transferred.
What's the time limit?
The cut-off is 6 hours 30 minutes. A sweeper bus follows the race at that pace, and runners it passes are taken to the finish area.
Can I use my Edinburgh time to qualify for other marathons?
Yes. The course is measured by an AIMS-certified measurer, so your time can be submitted as a qualifying time for other marathons, though each race has the final say on what it accepts.
Looking ahead
Entries for the next Edinburgh Marathon usually go on sale in spring, around a month before the current year's race. Places are first-come, first-served and the race sells out every year, so set up a BibsAlert to hear as soon as registration opens.