2026 EVENT RULES

1. Eligibility & Participation 

• You must be 18 years or older on race day to enter the Marathon (42.195km). 

• No prams, scooters, skateboards, handcycles or crank cycles are permitted. 

• Push day wheelchairs are permitted. Event Organisers will assign specific starting groups to ensure participants in wheelchairs are starting from the appropriate location.  

• Racing wheelchairs are restricted to qualified elite athletes and athletes with a. qualifying time of sub-2hrs 45mins (qualifying period being 1 year before event registration date). 

• The sale, exchange, or transfer of event entries or bib numbers is strictly prohibited. Any individuals involved may be disqualified and/or barred from participating in future events. 

• Anyone that participates with someone else's bib or who provides their bib to someone else will be disqualified and banned from future events. Any non-registered runner who modifies or produces their own bib for participation will be banned from future events. 

• All participants must provide accurate information, including age, gender, and emergency contact information, when registering for an event. Event organisers reserve the right to cancel any entry with false information without refund at any time.  

 

2. Conduct & Behaviour 

• Participants must behave respectfully and follow official instructions at all times. 

• All participants are expected to behave professionally and respectfully throughout the event. This includes strictly prohibiting alcohol consumption, public urination or defecation (outside of designated toilet facilities), and obstructing other participants on or near the course. Aggression towards staff and volunteers will not be tolerated. Any breach of this code of conduct will result in disqualification and removal from the event. 

• Only registered participants and authorised event staff are permitted on the race course. Unregistered individuals may not accompany participants or provide assistance or refreshments during the event without prior approval from event management. Anyone not wearing an official event bib will be asked to leave the course. 

• Offensive conduct or clothing is strictly prohibited. This includes: 

  • Clothing or signage with obscene, discriminatory, or politically offensive messages. 

  • Any behaviour or messaging that could be deemed divisive, provocative, or inappropriate for a public, family-friendly event.  

• Participants violating this rule may be disqualified or removed from the course at the discretion of race officials. 

• Participants must dispose of all waste, including gel wrappers and cups on course, in the designated bins provided. Deliberate littering on the course is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply may result in time penalties or disqualification at the discretion of race officials. 

 

3. Timing, Cut-Offs and Redirection 

• The marathon has a 7-hour time limit (starting from the closure of the start window). Runners must finish by the cut-off time to be considered official finishers. Note that the start window and / or the cut-off times may vary due to safety reasons.  

• Any participant that skips part of the course will be disqualified. More information on course cut-offs will be available on the Course Cut-Off and Redirection Page closer to event day. 

 

4. Equipment & Accessibility 

• No motorised or geared assistance devices (e.g. e-scooters, powered wheelchairs) allowed. 

• Wheelchair athletes must complete the course under their own power. They may not receive assistance or be pushed by other participants. 

• Subject to event organisers approval, non-motorised assistive devices such as walkers or crutches may be used by athletes with a disability. Please share an image and description of your device to accessibility@sydneymarathon.com.

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5. Start Waves & Bib Collection 

• Participants are assigned to a start group/wave based on valid registration details and cannot change waves after assignment. 

• Race bibs must be collected in advance by the registered runner, with valid government issued photo ID matching registration. Bib swapping is not allowed. 

 

6. Participant Safety 

• Participants are responsible for understanding and recognising all event signage and symbols, including those related to maps, facilities, and directional guidance. 

• Authorised medical personnel may examine any participant who appears to be in distress. If, in their professional judgment, continued participation could compromise the individual's health or safety, they may remove the participant from the event.  

• Participants must immediately withdraw from the race if instructed to do so by event officials, medical staff, or relevant authorities, including police or fire personnel. 

• Participants should familiarise themselves with the Event Alert System (EAS) and adjust their Event plans accordingly. 

 

Amendments / reservations / acknowledgements 

• Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the Event rules at any time. 

• Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the Event rules published prior to the Event. 

• Failure to follow these Event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification, loss of prizes and removal from official results. 

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