RACEROVE

World Marathon Major #6 · Berlin, Germany

Berlin Marathon

Checked against the race's own pages on September 25, 2026

Flat, historically fast course known for record performances.

There are 6 ways to get an entry. Each is below, with when it opens, taken from the race's own site.

Track your World MajorsOfficial site
Next race
Date not announced
Where
Berlin, Germany
Ways to get in
6

On this page

Key facts

Next race
Not announced yet
Latest race
September 27, 2026
Start
Berlin (Straße des 17. Juni, Tiergarten)
Finish
Just past the Brandenburg Gate
Time limit
6 hours 15 minutes from crossing the start line, with intermediate cutoffs at km 33 and km 38 (the official pages disagree on the exact times; see notes)
Field
Over 56,000 marathon entries from 162 nations for 2026; the organiser says over 50,000 finishers a year. More than 84,000 participants across all weekend events.
Official site
bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en

How to get into the Berlin Marathon

Lottery

Most entries are allocated by lottery, open to individuals and teams. For 2026 it ran 25 September - 6 November 2025, with results by email at the end of November; the 2026 fee was EUR 205.

Fast runners with a qualifying time

Register during the lottery window with proof of a marathon time from the past two years (2026 standards, e.g. men up to 44 under 2:45, women up to 44 under 3:10). You are accepted once the proof is checked (end of November); invalid proofs go into the lottery.

Jubilee Club

Runners with 10 or more Berlin finishes in one discipline can register with a guaranteed entry every year; milestone anniversaries (20th, 25th, 30th...) earn a free entry the following year.

Charity

Secure a place without the lottery by fundraising for one of 100+ charities through the official charity partner Realbuzz.

Tour operators

Official tour operators sell guaranteed entries in travel packages, often with places available long after registration closes.

Abbott WMM Race Draw

Runners with an Abbott WMM Runner Portal who meet the draw's completed-Majors requirement can enter a small draw; eligibility and results show in the portal.

The course

A flat loop that starts on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and the Kleiner Stern and finishes just after passing through the Brandenburg Gate. The organiser says more world records (13) have been set here than at any other marathon; note tram tracks at km 8 and km 38.

Good to know

  • The official pages disagree on the cutoff times at km 33 and km 38, so check the race-day page before you go.
  • The 2027 date isn't on the official site yet.

Berlin Marathon questions

When is the next Berlin Marathon?
The next date isn't on the official site yet. The September 27, 2026 race was the latest one listed.
How do you get into the Berlin Marathon?
There are 6 ways in: lottery; fast runners with a qualifying time; jubilee club; charity; tour operators; abbott wmm race draw. The lottery opens in late September, around race week, and runs about six weeks, with results at the end of November (for 2026: 25 September - 6 November 2025). As of 2026-09-25 the official site has not yet posted 2027 lottery dates.
What is the Berlin Marathon time limit?
6 hours 15 minutes from crossing the start line, with intermediate cutoffs at km 33 and km 38 (the official pages disagree on the exact times; see notes)
How many people run the Berlin Marathon?
Over 56,000 marathon entries from 162 nations for 2026; the organiser says over 50,000 finishers a year. More than 84,000 participants across all weekend events.
Does the Berlin Marathon count toward the Six Star medal?
Yes. It is one of the original six races behind the Six Star medal, with Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Sydney and Cape Town joined the Majors later and aren't part of that medal. The series' next milestone is the Nine Star medal.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from these pages, read on September 25, 2026. Dates, fees and entry rules change every year; the official site is the authority.

The other World Marathon Majors

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