The biggest race in Ireland returns in 2026.
A general view of the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon(Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Andrew Conan)
The 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon took place a couple of weeks ago, but for many focus has already shifted to next year’s race.
This year, over 22,000 people took to the streets of the capital to compete in the grueling race, and there is expected to be a similar number next year.
There have been a number of changes to the entry process for the 2026 race, and a new ballot entry process has been introduced.
Take a look below to see all the information you need to know about the 2026 Dublin Marathon.
What date is it on?
It is just 347 days away!
The race takes place on October 26, 2026.
Where will the race start?
The race will start on Leeson Street Lower.
Ann-Marie McGlynn of Strabane AC on her way to crossing the finish line to finish second in the Women’s national title at the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon(Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)
End of 48 hour priority period
The previous 48-hour priority entry window, which allowed participants of the current year’s marathon to register for the following year’s marathon before the ballot opened, will no longer be in effect.
However, runners who have participated in the Dublin Marathon before will still be well represented, as those entering the ballot can indicate if they have previously participated in the Dublin Marathon since 2016.
The early entry opportunity previously offered to women who participated in the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon will also transition into the general ballot system, as organisers focus on increasing female participation to a higher number than achieved through this initiative.
Ballot process in place this time
*Per the official Dublin Marathon website
A €5 administration fee will apply to ballot entries to cover processing and verification costs.
This fee will be redeemable against the full €110 entry fee if you are successful, or non-refundable if you are unsuccessful.
Only one ballot entry is permitted per person.
Applications for entry to the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon via the ballot system will open for six days at 7 am on Wednesday, 12th November, and close at midnight on Monday, 17th November, at www.irishlifedublinmarathon.ie.
Ballot results will be communicated to applicants on Tuesday, 25th November, and Wednesday, 26th November, with notifications released in batches over both days.
Women’s national title winner Ava Crean with Ann-Marie McGlynn (Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)
So, how exactly does the ballot process work?
For 2026, all entries will be allocated via a ballot process.
The goal is to ensure that there is a fairer balance between first time participants and experienced Dublin Marathon goers.
For the past few years, as much as 70% of the spots have been taken up by previous runners, with only 36% of the field being women, so, there is a clear goal to get both of these numbers trending in different directions.
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