Race Categories
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Timing-chip race bib - Finisher medal for finishers within 6 hours
- Downloadable result certificate
- Timing-chip race bib
- Finisher medal for finishers within 6 hours
- Downloadable result certificate
Event Detail
The 2026 Shanghai Marathon is the 30th edition of one of Asia's most important city marathons and a decisive race in Shanghai's bid to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The event has passed the first stage of the AbbottWMM candidate assessment, with the 6 December 2026 race serving as the next evaluation. The full marathon field expands to 30,000 runners for this anniversary edition.
The 42.195 km road course starts at the Bund Bull Plaza on Zhongshan East First Road in Huangpu District and finishes at Xujiahui Sports Park on Zhongshan South Second Road. The published route takes runners through central Shanghai landmarks including the Bund, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Jing'an Temple, Huaihai Road, Xintiandi, the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Huangpu Riverside, Longteng Avenue, Longhua Temple and Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery. The organiser notes that final route details remain subject to the pre-race release.
The wheelchair marathon starts at 06:45, followed by the mass marathon in waves from 07:00. Timing is chip-based for the mass field, with timing mats at the start, every 5 km, halfway, turning points and the finish. The road closure ends at 13:30, giving the marathon a 6 hour 30 minute overall course limit, with intermediate cut-offs also used. Runners who retire after a cut-off may use organiser recovery vehicles or public transport.
Race-day assembly opens from 05:30. Baggage must be deposited in the organiser-issued bag by 06:45 and can be collected at the finish until 14:30. Aid stations, fixed medical posts and mobile medical support operate along the route, and the organiser has stated that multilingual services will be available for international participants.
General entry used a lottery, with pre-registration from 29 April to 29 May and results announced on 30 June. Direct entry was also available to leading finishers from selected 2026 Shanghai Marathon series half marathons. Race packs must be collected in person at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from 3 to 5 December; original identification matching the registration is required, there is no proxy collection or postal delivery, and race-day collection is not offered.
A separate 5 km fitness run is being staged as its own event on 5 December and is not included as a distance in this ARC record.
Race Pack Information
Personal collection only. Bring the original ID/passport matching registration. No proxy collection, postal delivery or race-day pickup.
What's Included
- Timing-chip race bib
- Finisher medal for marathon finishers within 6 hours
- Downloadable result certificate
Prizes
Top 8 men and women by gun time; separate Chinese-athlete awards; USD 20,000 Shanghai Marathon course-record bonus for the record-breaking winner. Champion prize is reduced by 50% if the men's winner is slower than 2:07:30 or the women's winner is slower than 2:23:00.