51st Sapporo Marathon 2026

The 51st Sapporo Marathon takes place on Sunday 4 October 2026 and is one of northern Japan’s largest citizen running events, with the organiser describing a field of more than 14,000 runners. Despite the name, there is no full marathon. The centrepiece is a Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified half marathon, supported by a certified 10K plus 5K, 3K, 2K and 1K community races for adults, juniors, families and wheelchair participants.

The half marathon starts from the Makomanai area in two waves at 09:20 and 09:30. Its city course follows Olympic-dori and other main roads through central Sapporo, passing areas around Horohira Bridge, Odori Park and Ekimae-dori before returning along the Toyohira River corridor to Makomanai Sekisui Heim Stadium. The 10K starts at 09:00 on a shorter certified road course. The afternoon programme moves into Makomanai Park for junior races, fun-pair events, the open and wheelchair 5K races, and the inclusive Anyone 1K.

Half-marathon runners face formal cut-offs at 5K, 8K and 10K, measured from the second-wave start. The event can also shorten the open 5K route if a runner has not reached 2.5K within 40 minutes. Half-marathon and 10K entrants must carry at least one bottle or cup because the event uses a self-service My Bottle/My Cup hydration system. Refill points are placed across the longer courses, with dedicated small-bottle stations for registered and semi-elite runners.

Timing uses disposable bib-tag chips. Net and split times are recorded for the half marathon and 10K, and official results and downloadable web finisher certificates are published after the race. Baggage storage operates beside the west side of the stadium.

General entry ran from 23 May to 11 July, with main caps of 8,000 for the half marathon and 4,000 for the 10K. Both headline categories sold out. A late-entry window for the inclusive 1K continues until race day, subject to capacity. Bibs are collected from selected Sports Depo stores by many local runners, while other entrants receive materials in advance. The event is also part of the Japan Premier Half Series and is a RUN as ONE Tokyo Marathon partner race, with three half-marathon finishers selected by lottery for Tokyo Marathon 2027 entry rights.