KOBE MARATHON 2026

KOBE MARATHON 2026 is a major Japanese city marathon built around Kobe's long-running theme of Thanks & Friendship, linking the event with the city's recovery story after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The 2026 race is part of the MGC Series 2026-27 and is run under World Athletics Label Road Race rules on a JAAF, World Athletics and AIMS-certified marathon course.

The 42.195 km route starts in front of Kobe City Hall, runs west through Kobe toward Akashi, turns around near Okura Coast, and returns to a waterfront finish at Kobe Harborland on Gas Lamp Street. The official 2026 course profile is notably flat, with a height difference of about 10 metres. The field is capped at 20,000 marathon runners, with a seven-hour event limit measured from the first gun. Entrants are expected to be capable of completing the marathon within 6 hours 30 minutes.

Race morning uses two waves: the first starts at 09:00 JST and the second at 09:15 JST. Baggage acceptance operates before the start, and checked bags are transported to the finish area. The organiser publishes kilometre markers, multiple aid points and intermediate cut-off gates across the course, with the event finishing at 16:00.

Runner check-in takes place at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall No. 1 on Friday 13 November and Saturday 14 November. There is no standard race-day check-in. The same venue hosts the KOBE MARATHON EXPO 2026.

Entry for the 2026 edition is now closed. Overseas applications ran through 31 August 2026. Finishers receive a downloadable official record certificate, and overall, age-group and other performance awards are recognised by the organiser.