Barcelona Marathon 2026: schedule, route and how to follow the race
Barcelona celebrates this Sunday, March 15, the 48th edition of the Barcelona Marathon, one of the great long-distance races of the European calendar.
The race will feature 32,000 participants, a record figure that confirms the international growth of the event. In addition, according to the organization's data, more than two thirds of the runners are foreigners and represent more than 100 countries.
The marathon will cover 42.195 kilometers through the main avenues of the city.
At what time does the Barcelona Marathon 2026 start
The official start of the marathon was at 8:30 hours.
The wheelchair athletes have started five minutes earlier, while the rest of the runners will depart in waves according to the color of their bib number.
The exits were organized in the following way:
- 08:30 — white, black and yellow bibs
- 08:40 — red bib
- 08:50 — blue bib
- 09:00 — pink bib
- 09:20 — sky blue bib
- 09:40 — green bib
- 09:50 — grey and lilac bibs
The maximum time to complete the test is six hours, so the official completion is scheduled around 3:00 p.m.
Course of the Barcelona Marathon 2026
The route of the Barcelona Marathon 2026 starts on Passeig de Gràcia, in the city center, and finishes next to the Arc de Triomf, on Passeig de Lluís Companys.
The layout was recently redesigned to be more central and flatter, which facilitates fast times. The organization has explained that the circuit includes more monuments and emblematic areas of Barcelona, with the aim of turning the event into a more attractive experience both for runners and for spectators.
The full route totals 42.1 kilometers and has an approximate positive elevation gain of 178 meters.
How to watch the Barcelona Marathon 2026 live
The race can be followed live through Olympic Channel, which will offer the broadcast of the event. In addition, fans will be able to follow the development of the race and the times of the runners through the official channels of the marathon and digital platforms.
An increasingly international marathon
The Barcelona Marathon has become one of the most relevant urban races on the European calendar.
In the 2025 edition, the winners were:
- Sharon Celimo, in the women's category, with a time of 2:19:33
- Tesfaye Deriba, in the men's, with 2:04:13
The 2026 edition aims to consolidate that growth with a record participation and a circuit designed to improve the records.