23rd Banyan Tree Bangkok Vertical Marathon 2026

The 23rd Vertical Marathon at Banyan Tree Bangkok takes place on Sunday 20 December 2026 at the luxury hotel on South Sathorn Road. Unlike a conventional road marathon, this long-established charity sporting challenge climbs 1,093 stairs through 61 storeys, gaining approximately 197 metres vertically from the base of the hotel to the finish at the rooftop Vertigo venue. There is no measured road-running distance: entrants race upwards against the clock rather than running a 42.195 km marathon.

A distinctive Bangkok challenge

First staged in 1999, Banyan Tree's Vertical Marathon is a well-known annual urban endurance event. The 2026 edition offers participants an unusual way to experience the city's skyline: after climbing all 61 storeys, finishers emerge onto the hotel's rooftop with broad views over central Bangkok. The organiser highlights the newly transformed Vertigo area as part of this year's celebration. It is a stair-climbing fitness challenge rather than a traffic-controlled street route, making pacing, stair technique and effort management particularly important.

Individual and relay entries

The official registration website advertises individual entries for THB 600, including an elite category for eligible athletes with a verified official finish time of under seven minutes for men or under ten minutes for women, subject to organiser approval. Individual entrants are also divided into age and gender groups for results and awards. Two-person relay teams cost THB 1,200 per team, with male, female and mixed options, while four-person relay teams cost THB 2,400 per team, also in male, female and mixed divisions. Team runners divide the climb under the organiser's relay arrangements; entrants should review the regulations when booking.

Supporting the Thai Red Cross

Proceeds benefit the Thai Red Cross HIV Formula Feeding Fund, which assists with essential infant nutrition for families affected by HIV, under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali. The individual entry includes an official race T-shirt, meal box and finisher medal for participants who complete the challenge. The combination of competitive climbing, a distinctive venue and charitable fundraising makes the event an accessible alternative to a conventional distance race.

Race-day programme and registration

The hotel advertises an event programme from 6:00 am to noon on Sunday 20 December. The programme window is not confirmation of each wave's gun time, so participants should consult their individual race instructions and report to the hotel with ample time for check-in. The venue is Banyan Tree Bangkok, 21/100 South Sathorn Road, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120. Online registration through Go To Race or in person at the hotel is announced until 4 December 2026, subject to places and the organiser's conditions. For questions, contact the hotel directly on +66 2 679 1200.

Important ARC category note: ARC does not yet have a stair-climb/vertical-run distance type. Its generic 1K distance filter is only a technical placeholder, not an assertion that the vertical course is 1 km. The actual event measure is 1,093 steps, 61 storeys and about 197 m elevation gain. Human QA should replace the placeholder if a suitable vertical-event filter becomes available.

Deadline precision and edition numbering (reviewed 24 October 2026)

The hotel's current-edition page explicitly gives 4 December 2026 as the final advertised registration date but does not publish a closing hour. Do not interpret the date as an organiser-confirmed 23:59 cut-off; places may sell out earlier. The hotel page headline and official 2026 ticketing materials identify the 23rd Vertical Marathon, although one sentence in the hotel's promotional copy still says "22nd edition". The 23rd wording is retained pending any organiser correction. The checkout currently advertises the individual and relay choices, but a ticket's appearance is not a guarantee that a place remains available. Sources: https://www.banyantree.com/thailand/bangkok/experiences/23rd-vertical-marathon-at-banyan-tree-bangkok and https://gotoracetha.tscheckout.com/event/vertical-marathon-2026.

Individual age groups

The official 2026 booking page lists individual men's and women's divisions aged 5–17, 18–35, 36–49, 50–64 and 65+, based on 2026 minus year of birth. Competitors considering the Elite division need the organiser's approval and must provide a qualifying official stair-climb result. The event organiser determines final eligibility. The hotel contact email is bangkok@banyantree.com.