40th NAHA Marathon 2026

The 40th NAHA Marathon returns on Sunday, 6 December 2026 as one of Okinawa's best-known mass-participation sporting events. The race began in 1985 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Naha and Honolulu, and the 2026 edition marks its 40th running. The organiser caps the field at 30,000 runners, and entries closed early after demand reached capacity.

The race uses the JAAF-certified 42.195 km Peace Memorial Park course across five municipalities in southern Okinawa: Naha, Haebaru, Yaese, Itoman and Tomigusuku. Runners start at Onoyama Park at 09:00 and finish inside Onoyama Athletics Stadium. The course is not flat throughout. The official elevation profile shows a steady build through the first half, including a substantial climb approaching the midpoint, before a generally faster second half with smaller late rises on the return towards Naha.

Race management includes two formal course cut-offs: 21.3 km inside Peace Memorial Park at 12:15 and 34.3 km near Naha Nursing School at 14:10, with the finish closing at 15:15 for an overall limit of 6 hours 15 minutes. The organiser also publishes intermediate advisory withdrawal times at several locations. Current race information states that nine official water stations, seven sponge stations and temporary toilets are planned along the course.

Runners are assigned start blocks using declared expected times, and faster entrants are asked to provide a recent marathon best when registering. Timing is handled using a bib-mounted electronic tag, with mats at the start, finish and multiple intermediate points.

Athlete check-in takes place the day before the race at the Okinawa Prefectural Budokan arena inside Onoyama Park. The event is strongly integrated with the city and southern Okinawa communities, with the course centred on the Peace Memorial Park route and the race's long-running focus on participation, international friendship and local sport.