Edinburgh Marathon & Half
Edinburgh Marathon 2026
Since 2003, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival has grown into Scotland’s biggest running event, drawing 40,000 runners and over 100,000 spectators each year. Across two exciting days, nine races range from a scenic 5K in Holyrood Park to one of the UK’s fastest marathons.
The marathon and half marathon routes combine Edinburgh’s historic landmarks with the stunning East Lothian coastline, creating an unforgettable running experience. The marathon is AIMS-certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier, perfect for those chasing a PB or a major goal.
Marathon Tours & Travel offers guaranteed entry packages for both the Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon, making it easy to secure your spot at this iconic event!
Entry
Guaranteed entry for either the full or half marathon
Medal Bling
All participants will receive a medal at the finish line
Coopah
2 week free trial for Coopah training plans
Travel Package Information
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Itinerary
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Packages & Rates
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Guaranteed Edinburgh Marathon or Half Entry
We are pleased to offer you guaranteed entry for either the Edinburgh Marathon or Half Marathon in 2026.
Marathon Tours & Travel Edinburgh Marathon 2026 ENTRY ONLY package includes the following:
- Your choice of Marathon or Half Marathon entry
- 2-week free trial of Coopah bespoke training plans. Details on how to claim this will be sent in your booking confirmation email.
Entry Prices
All prices are per person in UK pounds sterling
Guaranteed Edinburgh Marathon 2026 Entry £149 Guaranteed Edinburgh Half Marathon 2026 Entry £79
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Event Information
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Enter the Edinburgh Marathon 2026 with Marathon Tours & Travel
Established in 2003, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is Scotland’s largest mass participation running event, with over 35,000 runners and 100,000 spectators coming together to enjoy 9 different race distances over two days.
The Edinburgh Marathon Course
Starting on Potterrow with the picturesque backdrop of The University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall, this incredible city centre route takes you past many iconic sights of the city.
Turning the first corner you’ll make your way past Greyfriars Kirkyard, home to the statue of Edinburgh’s favourite dog who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner – Greyfriars Bobby.
Continuing on into the city’s old town, you’ll cross over the Royal Mile, with St Giles Cathedral to your right and the iconic Edinburgh Castle to your left, before heading down the Mound into New Town.
You’ll run through the beautiful Princes Street Gardens where you will see the Scott Monument – a towering gothic monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.
The route then turns back up to the historic Royal Mile, heading past the breath-taking architecture of the Scottish Parliament building. From here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast, taking in the sea air of Portobello Promenade.
As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played since as early as 1672, before heading further east on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam.
As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner! With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, this flat course is up there with one of the fastest marathon routes in the world!
The Edinburgh Half Marathon Course
Starting in the heart of Scotland’s historic capital, the Edinburgh Half Marathon offers a stunning mix of city sights and coastal views. The route begins near the iconic Royal Mile, surrounded by centuries of history and architecture that set the stage for an unforgettable run.
As you head out, you’ll pass landmarks steeped in heritage, with glimpses of St Giles Cathedral and the majestic Edinburgh Castle towering above the city skyline. The course then flows down towards Holyrood Park, where the dramatic backdrop of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags provides a truly breath-taking setting.
From here, the route opens up as you leave the city behind and make your way east towards the coast. The fresh sea breeze greets you along Portobello Promenade, a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike, before continuing through picturesque seaside communities.
The final stretch takes you towards Musselburgh, home to the world’s oldest golf course, before finishing along the scenic coastline. With its gently downhill profile and flat coastal sections, this course is perfect for chasing a personal best while soaking up some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery.
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Registration & Booking
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How to Book
To make your booking, click on the button at the top of the page, ensuring that you select the correct number of entries for all members in your party. When you book, we will require full payment to confirm your place.
Payments
When you confirm your booking, we will take full payment.
The cost of the event entry is non-refundable.
Travel Advice
It’s important to be up-to-date with the latest information about where you’re travelling to and what documents you need to have in order to travel.
For information about travelling to the UK and your requirements as a non-British passport holder, you should check the overseas travel details on your own governments website.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance with sufficient healthcare cover. Make sure that you are insured for existing medical conditions, any activities you plan to do and any equipment that you plan to take. Travel insurance covers you if anything doesn’t go to plan before you travel as well, so we recommend sorting it at the time of booking. For more information, click here.
Starting Pens and Bib Numbers
Although we are licensed to sell official entries for the Edinburgh Marathon 2026 events, we have no influence over the allocation of starting times and bib numbers.
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Seven Continents Club ®
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The Seven Continents Club (SCC) offers a unique opportunity for runners to run on all seven continents of the globe, as well as providing numerous benefits to its members. The club operates as a global frequent traveller club for runners, offering waitlist priority for high-demand events, early pre-registration periods for a number of races in popular destinations and tour package vouchers for money off international tour packages. What’s more, Seven Continents Club rewards all its members for the extraordinary achievement of running marathons on each continent with their own special finishers medal and certificate of completion. Join the SCC today!
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