Malaga Marathon 2026

The Malaga Marathon is an almost entirely flat, World Athletics and RFEA-certified circuit designed for fast times. Start and finish are at Paseo del Parque, right in front of the University of Malaga's Rectorate building (the former Post Office), in the heart of the historic city center next to the port. The opening kilometers wind through the city, crossing the Puente de la Aurora and passing the iconic Farola lighthouse before joining the seafront promenade.That's where the course's real highlight begins: nearly half the marathon — around 20 km — runs right alongside the Mediterranean Sea, hugging the beaches of La Malagueta, La Caleta, Baños del Carmen, Pedregalejo, Acacias and El Palo. You won't be running on sand — it's all paved promenade with constant sea views, making it one of the most scenic and photogenic stretches of any city marathon in Spain. It's an out-and-back section (with a 180° turn around km 15 in El Palo), so you'll cross paths with fellow runners, which keeps the energy up. The one catch: being so exposed to the sea, wind can genuinely affect your pace here, especially headwinds.The route then briefly heads north along the Guadalmedina river, passing the Martiricos park, the Football Museum and La Rosaleda stadium — a treat for football fans — before completing a second coastal loop south, past San Andrés and Misericordia beaches.The closing kilometers are, by every runner's guide's account, the best part of the race: you re-enter Malaga's historic center, passing landmarks like Plaza de la Merced, the Roman Theatre at the foot of the Alcazaba fortress, the Cathedral and Calle Larios, with crowds lining the streets on a festive weekend. You close the loop at Paseo del Parque, with Gibralfaro Castle as the backdrop.In short: a flat, fast marathon with an extended seaside middle section and a spectacular historic-center finish. The real performance variable here is wind on the seafront, not elevation.Bib collectionBibs can only be collected at the Marathon Expo, held at the Malaga Cruise Terminal in the days before the race (no bibs are handed out on race day). You must bring your registration confirmation and an official ID document. Bibs include a disposable timing chip and must not be folded or altered, and must be worn visibly on the front of the torso throughout the race. Registration — and the bib — is personal and non-transferable: handing your bib to someone else is strictly forbidden and results in disqualification.RegistrationRegistration opens on December 30, 2025 and closes on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:00 pm, or earlier if the 12,000 bibs allotted to this distance sell out. Registration is online-only through the official website. At sign-up, runners can optionally purchase cancellation insurance, allowing a partial or full refund (or deferral to the 2027 edition) if they can't race, provided it's requested before October 15. Outside of that insurance, no entry is refundable or transferable under any circumstances.