Edinburgh Marathon Festival
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Edinburgh Marathon Festival
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival takes place on 23 and 24 May 2026 across Edinburgh and nearby Musselburgh. The weekend features multiple road races and junior events that use city streets and the open space of Holyrood Park.
- Full marathon
- Half marathon
- Team relay for four runners
- 10K
- 5K
- Junior races including 5K, 2K, 1.5K and Kids Kilometre
The marathon and half marathon routes pass several of Edinburgh’s landmarks and move east toward Musselburgh and the East Lothian coastline. The half marathon is described as starting on a downhill section and then running mostly flat toward the finish. Organisers describe the marathon course as predominantly flat with potential for personal bests. The 10K, 5K and junior races are routed around Holyrood Park, with start and finish near Dynamic Earth and views of Edinburgh Castle.
The team relay is composed of four legs with differing characteristics so teams can plan running order. Junior races are divided by age groups: the junior 5K is aimed at 11 to 18 year olds, the 2K at 9 to 12 year olds, the 1.5K at 6 to 8 year olds, and the Kids Kilometre at 3 to 6 year olds. The finish area at Musselburgh is noted for a festival atmosphere with medals and finisher shirts. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
