Sun Moon Lake Marathon 2026

Sun Moon Lake Marathon 2026 is an AIMS full-member road race and an Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group Qualifier staged at Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County. The current edition has a 6,000-runner field across the 42.195K marathon, 29K challenge and 6K walking event, all based at Xiangshan Visitor Center. The 42K starts at 06:30, followed by the 29K at 06:35 and the 6K walk at 06:40.

The marathon is a demanding scenic circuit rather than a flat city course. From Xiangshan, runners head through Shuishe and continue around the lake past areas including Wenwu Temple, the ropeway precinct, Xuanzang Temple and Syuanguang Temple before continuing beyond Tosha to the Road 21 turnaround and returning to Xiangshan. The organiser lists roughly 948 metres of total ascent for the marathon. The 29K follows the lake circuit to Tosha before returning, with about 615 metres of climbing. The 6K uses a shorter Xiangshan, Shuishe Dam and Shuishe Visitor Center route.

The marathon has a 6 hour 30 minute limit, while the 29K has 4 hours 30 minutes and the 6K walk has 2 hours 30 minutes. The organiser publishes 14 official aid stations for the marathon, with water and sports drink as the baseline support and selected stations used in both directions. Pace teams are scheduled for the marathon from 3:30 through 6:30 and for the 29K from 2:30 through 3:45. Medical support includes ambulances, AED coverage and physiotherapy taping.

Runners should note that the event uses roads around Sun Moon Lake where the lakeside lane is controlled for the race but opposing traffic may continue. Race-day baggage service is available under the organiser's bag rules, and 42K and 29K runners use disposable timing chips. Results are accessed digitally through the bib QR code.

For transport, free race-morning shuttles operate from Shuishe to Xiangshan, while paid pre-booked services are offered from Taichung railway station, Taichung HSR and Ita Thao. Xiangshan parking is closed from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon. Registration is currently closed, and runners travelling from outside Taiwan who do not use local package delivery can collect race materials at Xiangshan on Saturday afternoon or during the published race-morning collection window.