San Francisco Marathon 2026

The San Francisco Marathon has run since 1977 (with only 3 exceptions: 1988, 1993, and 2020 due to the pandemic), originally organized by the Pamakid Runners Club. Fewer than 900 people ran the inaugural race; the marathon's all-time finisher record was set in 1983, with 7,231. In 2025 (the 48th edition) it sold out for the first time in its history, with over 33,000 registrations across all distances combined. It currently ranks as the 13th-14th largest marathon in the U.S. by finisher count, and Runner's World named it one of the 12 best summer marathons in America. According to the organizers' own rankings, it holds #2 in the U.S. and #7 globally for course beauty, and #3 in the U.S. and #8 globally for brand value. It's also an official Boston Marathon qualifier and part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Ranking.An interesting footnote from recent history: in 2024 organizers had to publicly admit to a measurement error in one of the two half marathons, which turned out to be 0.5 miles short (12.6 miles instead of 13.1) — it caused considerable controversy among runners. Worth keeping an eye on course certification in future editions.Race weekendThis isn't just a single race day, it's a full weekend:Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, 2026: Health and Fitness Expo at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion (2 Marina Blvd) — Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm. This is where you pick up your bib, timing chip, official shirt, and gear-check bag (unless you paid for bib mailing). Runner reviews consistently describe this as one of the best expos in U.S. marathon racing, with fast pickup and hassle-free corral changes.Saturday, July 25: 5K races (morning and afternoon sessions).Sunday, July 26: the big day — Marathon (5:15am), 1st Half (6:30am), 2nd Half (8:30am), 10K and more 5K waves.The Ultramarathon (52.4 miles / two loops of the marathon course) starts Saturday night at 10:15pm — yes, runners go through the entire night.Third-party bib pickup: if you can't attend yourself, a friend or family member can pick up your bib with your bib number and a copy of your ID. You're required to pick up the shirt size printed on your own bib (though size exchanges are available at the T-shirt tent on race day).Corral changes: requested at the Expo itself — to move up to a faster corral, you need your bib stamped at the Pacer booth or Solutions table (likely requiring proof of a qualifying time); to move down to a slower corral, no paperwork is needed.Transportation and logistics (a genuinely relevant detail for the U.S., unlike the Spanish races you've documented so far)Since the Marathon starts at 5:15am, regular public transit (BART) isn't running yet at that hour. That's why the organizers run free shuttle buses from six Bay Area BART stations: Walnut Creek, El Cerrito Plaza, MacArthur, Bay Fair, Daly City, and Millbrae, departing between 3:50am and 4:05am and arriving by around 4:30am at the start line on the Embarcadero (you need to purchase the bus ticket in advance, though no physical ticket is needed — you'll just be checked off a list). The ticket doesn't include the BART ride home.There are also dedicated free shuttles connecting the 1st and 2nd Half Marathon start/finish points to the main finish line festival on the Embarcadero.For drivers: parking is limited, carpooling or public transit is strongly recommended; there's a discounted parking reservation service (SpotHero) near the start/finish. For locals biking in, there's a free self-serve bike parking area right by the main start line, available from 4:30am to 1pm on Sunday (any bikes not picked up by 1pm are removed and transported at the owner's expense and risk).Road closures: affect a large part of the city that weekend — including a full closure of the Embarcadero/King St. in both directions between 3rd St. and Broadway, plus closures on Jefferson St. while runners pass through. Note: the Golden Gate Bridge remains open to vehicle traffic in both directions throughout the marathon (runners use the sidewalks/pedestrian lanes; the bridge isn't closed to cars). Many Muni bus lines are rerouted that weekend.Typical weatherJuly in San Francisco is cool for summer — the organizers themselves boast that "you're not gonna find any cooler weather in California" during the summer months. Average temperature is around 15-18°C (60-66°F), though it can start with thick fog (the famous "Karl the Fog") at the early morning start and clear up as the morning progresses.Aid stations and awardsThe marathon has 14 aid stations (water, electrolyte drink, energy gels/chews from Skratch Labs — the official nutrition sponsor —, medical assistance, and toilets), the 1st Half has 6, and the 2nd Half has 10. For sustainability reasons, heat sheets are not distributed at the finish line unless the medical team deems them necessary due to cold or fog — runners are encouraged to bring their own lightweight warm layer in their gear-check bag.As for awards: the top 3 finishers (men, women, and non-binary division) receive a set of 4 custom slate coasters engraved with their results — there's been no cash prize since 2005 due to a lack of major sponsors (there was once a $35,000 purse back in 1998). Age division winners also receive an individually engraved coaster.CommunityThe 2025 edition had over 1,200 volunteers. The race also has a strong inclusive component: a non-binary division has existed across all distances since 2022.