Race Categories
Event Detail
The 45th Oita International Wheelchair Marathon returns to Oita City on Sunday 15 November 2026. First staged in 1981, this is an internationally recognised road-racing meeting dedicated specifically to wheelchair athletes. It is not an open-entry running marathon for participants on foot. The event brings together Japanese and overseas wheelchair racers for a full marathon and a half marathon, making it a distinctive date on Japan's para-athletics calendar.
A newly designed city course
The major change for 2026 is the course layout. Both the start and finish are located outside the Oita Prefectural Art Museum (OPAM) in central Oita, rather than using the start and finish locations of previous editions. Athletes will race through the city on a redesigned route. The organiser has published a course introduction video, and entrants should consult its latest course information and participant guidance rather than relying on earlier editions' maps.
The full marathon starts at 10:00 am and the half marathon at 10:10 am, both Japan Standard Time. The competitive distances are 42.195 km and 21.0975 km respectively. The organiser's published participation conditions require entrants to be at least 14 years old on race day; specialist wheelchair competition rules and classifications apply.
Race-week arrangements and watching the action
The programme begins with athlete classification activities on Friday 13 November, followed by further classification, participant reception and the opening ceremony on Saturday 14 November. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 pm at OPAM. Competition and awards take place on Sunday. Organiser announcements in October confirm that guidance was sent to registered competitors, particularly important given the changed route.
OPAM is roughly a 15-minute walk from JR Oita Station, offering a practical reference point for spectators. The downtown race will affect local roads, so spectators and support teams should check official access and traffic notices closer to the event. Japanese television coverage is also planned.
Registration for this edition was offered from 1 June to 31 July 2026 and is now closed. Confirm current participant instructions, race classifications and any schedule amendments directly with the organiser before travelling.