In partnership with the TCS Sydney Marathon, presented by ASICS.
Cross the Harbour Bridge, finish at the Opera House, earn the Sydney star. The ballot is open for three weeks only.
There are marathons you run, and marathons you remember. The TCS Sydney Marathon, presented by ASICS, is firmly the second kind. Since joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025, Sydney has become one of only two Majors in our part of the world, alongside Tokyo.
Demand has followed. 123,000 people applied for the 2026 race, and around 40,000 runners from more than 140 countries lined up on race day. For 2027, the door opens again, briefly.
The Sydney Marathon 2027 ballot is open now and closes on Monday 19 October at 7am Singapore time. Here is everything you need to apply.
Sydney Marathon 2027 ballot: key dates in Singapore and Malaysia time
| Sydney time | SGT / MYT | |
|---|---|---|
| Ballot opens | Tue 29 Sep, 10:00 AEST | Tue 29 Sep, 08:00 |
| Ballot closes | Mon 19 Oct, 10:00 AEDT | Mon 19 Oct, 07:00 |
| Results emailed | Tue 3 Nov 2026 | Tue 3 Nov 2026 |
| Race day | Sun 29 Aug 2027, 06:30 start | Sun 29 Aug 2027, 04:30 |
Note the close: because Sydney moves to daylight saving in October, the ballot shuts at 7am on a Monday for us. In practice, treat Sunday 18 October as your last day.
How the ballot works
- It is free to apply. You’re only charged if your name is drawn.
- It is a random draw, not a race to click. Every application submitted before the close has the same chance, so there is no advantage in applying at 8:01am — only in not missing the window.
- International entry is AUD 330 (domestic AUD 280), charged automatically to your card if you are selected on 3 November. Make sure the card will still be valid.
- Results arrive by email on 3 November. Whitelist the organiser’s address so it does not land in spam.
- Duo teams and non-elite racing wheelchair athletes apply through a separate process, not the public ballot.
Five-minute application checklist
- Your details exactly as they appear on your passport.
- An email address you check daily — double-check the spelling, because confirmations go there.
- A credit card valid through at least November 2026.
- Your estimated finish time. The course closes after 7 hours.
- Apply on the official entry page linked below.
Why Sydney belongs on your Majors list
The course is the postcard. You start on Miller Street in North Sydney, cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge, loop through Centennial Park, pass Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden, and finish at the Sydney Opera House. Elevation gain is about 313m with an 83m net drop — honest, rolling, and very fair to a well-trained runner.
It is one of the easiest Majors to reach from here. Sydney is roughly eight hours from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and only two hours ahead in August. No brutal jet lag, no week of adapting. Fly in Thursday, race Sunday.
Late-winter racing. The race runs in late August, when Sydney mornings are cool and dry — a welcome change for runners who train in 30°C humidity.
Come for the marathon, stay for Sydney
This is a race you build a holiday around. Swim at Bondi or Manly the day before. Walk the coastal path from Bondi to Coogee once your legs forgive you. Eat your way through Surry Hills, take the ferry past the Opera House at sunset, and spend race week at the Motion Festival on Circular Quay. Most Majors give you a medal and a city you never really saw. Sydney gives you both.
More than 6,000 Six Star Finishers have already run Sydney and earned their seventh star. In 2027 you could be one of them.
What comes with your entry
- Finisher medal and finisher T-shirt
- 12 months free ASICS Runkeeper Go, the personalised training platform powered by ASICS
- Access to Marathon State of Mind, the event’s AI-powered sports psychology and mental training program
See the course before you apply
One of the most unforgettable moments for me was running under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, surrounded by the energy and cheers of the spectators. Approaching the finish line with the Sydney Opera House in view was such a special moment and made all the effort feel worthwhile. I also loved how supporter friendly the course was, with easy access for friends and family to cheer us on at different points.
Wendy, Malaysia — 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon finisher
If you miss out
Not drawn on 3 November? Full details of guaranteed-entry routes through the official Travel Partner and Charity Programs are shared with unsuccessful applicants on results day.
The most memorable moment was not actually crossing the finish line, but the people who carried me there. Around the 37km point, when I was really struggling with a severe cramp in my calves, a complete stranger from the supporting crowd came up to me, picked me up and helped me stretch out. We probably shared less than a minute together, but I will remember that kindness for a very long time. By the time I reached the Opera House, I realised I had not really run those 42.195 kilometres alone.
Prahchaya, Thailand — 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon finisher
The only way to lose is not to apply
The draw does not reward speed; it rewards being in it. It takes five minutes — do it today.
Race facts from the TCS Sydney Marathon official website and the event’s 2027 campaign brief, September 2026.
