www.edinburghmarathon.com

Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Name: Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Start: 2026-05-23
End: 2026-05-24
Location: Edinburgh

location_city Edinburgh

flag United Kingdom

calendar_today 23 May, 2026 – 24 May, 2026

directions_run Running

language Official Website

About the Event

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a major UK running event offering a range of race distances from 1km to marathon, held annually in Scotland's capital. Voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runner's World, the festival features a flat, scenic course showcasing Edinburgh's iconic landmarks and East Lothian coastline views. Events include a full marathon, half-marathon, team relay, 10K, 5K, and junior races for ages 3-18, all taking place over a weekend in late May. The festival atmosphere combines competitive running with family-friendly activities, featuring picturesque routes through Holyrood Park with panoramic views of Edinburgh Castle. With its reputation for PB potential due to predominantly flat courses, the event attracts both elite athletes and first-time participants across all age groups. The festival weekend culminates in a celebratory finish area where participants can enjoy their achievements with friends and family.

Races Offered

Running-10 km

May 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Road running

timer

09:00

Running-10 km

May 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Road running

timer

09:00

Running-5 km

May 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Road running

timer

11:00

Running-Half-marathon

May 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Road running

timer

08:00

Running-Marathon

May 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 42.2K

terrain

Type — Road running

timer

10:00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Edinburgh.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 8.7° / 15.0°

wb_sunny 5.5° / 12.3°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 13.5 /

water_drop 80.8%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 8.7° / 15.0°

wb_sunny 5.5° / 12.3°

air 13.5 km/h

water_drop 80.8%

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, located in the Central Belt of the country. With a population of 526,470 in the urban area in 2021, and 901,455 in the metropolitans, Edinburgh fizzes with a cosmopolitan yet uniquely Scottish atmosphere. Old volcanoes ensure a dramatic natural setting, with the imposing castle atop one. The city combines medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and a powerful layer of modern life with contemporary avant-garde. Medieval palaces, Gothic churches and fascinating historical buildings rub shoulders with the best of modern architecture, such as the Scottish Parliament and the National Museum of Scotland. Variously dubbed "Auld Reekie" or "Athens of the North", but usually just plain "Embruh", it hosts great restaurants, shops, pubs, wild and mild clubs, and an unrivalled programme of events and festivals throughout the year.