2026 Hengqin Life Hengqin Marathon

The 2026 Hengqin Life Hengqin Marathon returns to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin on Sunday, 27 December. The 2026 edition expands to 20,000 runners, with 5,000 places in the marathon and 15,000 in the half marathon. The organisers are applying for Chinese Athletics Association Class A technical certification, with the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee as host and Zhuhai Huafa Group and Nam Kwong Group as co-organisers.

Both distances start and finish at Central Park on Hengqin Financial Island. The published marathon route makes a broad circuit via Huandao East Road, Hengqin Avenue, Central Avenue, Huandao West Road and Qinhai North Road before returning to the park. The half marathon shares much of the eastern section before a shorter return. Official current-edition material highlights Hengqin Port, the University of Macau's Hengqin campus, wetland areas, the Flower Corridor and views towards Macao. The course is coastal, so runners should be ready for sea breeze, sun and humidity even in late December.

The overall start is 07:30 China Standard Time. The organiser says runners will be released in separate waves, with exact wave arrangements to be advised later. The half marathon has a 3-hour limit and the marathon a 6-hour limit. Timing chips are issued with race bibs, with mats at the start, every 5 km, turn points and the finish. Water, sports drink and later-course energy support are provided at regular intervals, while fixed medical stations begin from 5 km and baggage storage is available at the start.

Pre-registration ran from 18 August to 12 September, followed by a ballot. Results opened on 21 September, and successful runners must complete payment by 8 October at 22:00. Both distances cost CNY 200. Marathon entrants must show a recent marathon finish or two recent half-marathon finishes; half-marathon entrants need two recent finishes of 10 km or longer. Race materials will be collected between 24 and 26 December, with the detailed venue and hours still to be announced.

The 2026 participant package includes an event shirt, storage bag, reusable raincoat and sports tape, while finishers receive a finisher medal, bag, towel and recovery slides. Eligible sub-three marathoners and runners meeting the published PB conditions receive additional commemorative apparel. Prize money goes to the top eight men and women in both races, headed by CNY 30,000 for the marathon winners and CNY 15,000 for the half-marathon winners.