Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2026

Sunday, 25 October 2026 · Frankfurt, Germany

The 2026 race has been run. The 2027 details are not out yet.

In the RunningChecked 26 October 2026Read the sources

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Getting to Frankfurt

Frankfurt Airport has its own regional station on the lowest level of Terminal 1. The S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 run from there to the Hauptbahnhof, and the regional transport authority puts the trip at about 15 minutes. A day ticket covering the airport and the city's trains, trams and buses cost €13.50 on its page on 2 October 2026, and it excludes ICE and IC trains.

From the Hauptbahnhof, the start on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage is about 1 km on foot, which is 12 minutes. The organiser asks runners to use public transport on race weekend.

Where to stay in Frankfurt

Staying near the Hauptbahnhof puts you about 12 minutes' walk from the start. The trade fair, where you collect your number and finish the race, is within walking distance too.

On race morning the RMV network is free with your number, so every one of these is a short ride. The race also passes through Sachsenhausen and the Westend.

Collecting your number 2026 details

The marathonmall at the trade fair is where numbers are handed out, in hall 1 on level 2, at Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1. Your start pass arrives by email in mid-October. For 2026 the hours are Friday 23 October 12:00 to 19:00, Saturday 24 October 10:00 to 19:00 and race morning, Sunday 25 October, 7:00 to 9:30. Stations next to it are the S-Bahn Messe (S3, S4, S5, S6) and the U4 at Festhalle/Messe.

Bring your race passport, or give your bib number and show ID. Someone else can collect for you with your passport, or a declaration of consent with a copy of your ID. You receive a number with the timing chip built in, safety pins, a sticker for your clothes bag and a starter bag. The starter bag doubles as the clothes bag on Sunday.

Race morning

The first start is at 10:00 on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. The blocks are set by expected finish time and the logo on the left edge of your number tells you yours. Block 1 is up to 3:00, block 2 up to 3:25, block 3 up to 3:45, block 4 up to 4:00, block 5 up to 4:30, and block 6 is 4:30 and slower plus anyone who gave no time.

There are four start waves, and everyone must cross the line by 10:30. Timing is by net time, so a later wave loses nothing.

Bags go in hall 1, level 1 from 8:00, in the official starter bag with the sticker on it. Other bags cost €4 at the checkroom in hall 1. Anything left in the start area is treated as abandoned and given away. Pacers run for 2:59, 3:14, 3:29, 3:44, 3:59, 4:14, 4:29, 4:44, 4:59 and 5:29.

The course 2026 details

The route starts at Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage near the Messeturm, goes through the city centre and over the Main on the Alte Brücke into Sachsenhausen, then west through Niederrad, Schwanheim and Höchst before returning to the Festhalle, according to Wikipedia. The organiser's course page describes a loop on both banks of the Main, back along Mainzer Landstraße past the Messeturm to the Festhalle.

The organiser's course map is a PDF, and its interactive map on the course page offers no course file to download.

Stations every 5 km, from 5 to 40 km, have water and isotonic drink in cups, sponge troughs, a clock, medical aid and space for your own food, with both sides of the road at 5 and 10 km. Extra water and sponge points are at 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5 km. Organic bananas start at 15 km, Powerbar bars are at 5, 15 and 30 km, Powerbar gels at 10, 20, 25, 35 and 40 km, Vita Cola at 30, 35 and 40 km, and alcohol-free Krombacher 0.0 at 32.5 km. In 2025 toilets were at 5 and 10 km and every 2.5 km after that.

The organiser says the course is flat. Its own measurement is 27.8 m between its lowest and highest points.

Where to watch 2026 details

Weather in Frankfurt in October

The race is at the end of October, so the mornings are cold or cool. These are the last four race days at Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, at 10:00 and at 13:00. Wikipedia lists 2021 as cancelled, and 2026 has not happened yet.

In 2025 it was 6.5 °C at the start and only 1.2 °C warmer by 13:00, with a 20 km/h wind.

Afterwards 2026 details

The finish is in the Festhalle, through its east gate, and its stands seat about 7,000 spectators for free. The finish line is open until 16:45. You receive a medal and a poncho, then walk straight on into the Forum building next door. Changing rooms and showers are in hall 1, on the ground floor. Family can meet you in hall 1, level 2, or at P1 between the Festhalle and hall 1. Your bag is collected in hall 1, level 1 against your number until 17:00, and a massage service runs from 12:00 to 17:00. The organiser asks runners to leave the finish area quickly to avoid jams.

If you drop out, your number is an RMV ticket back to the fair, and return buses ran at 20.5, 23.7, 27.2 and 30 km in 2025.

Other race weekends

Frankfurt Marathon is part of the European Marathon Classics. The series' other races with a guide here are Rome Marathon, Vienna City Marathon, TCS London Marathon, Madrid Marathon, Copenhagen Marathon, Warsaw Marathon and Lisbon Marathon.

Close by, and with guides of their own, are Berlin Marathon and TCS Amsterdam Marathon.

The next races with a guide

Hamburg Half Marathon25 October 2026 · Hamburg, Germany Marine Corps Marathon25 October 2026 · Washington, DC, United States Valencia Half Marathon25 October 2026 · Valencia, Spain

All race weekend guides

Sources

Written from the organiser's published information and the app's own race data, checked on 26 October 2026.

If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us.