Isle of Wight Marathon
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Isle of Wight Marathon - 2026
The Isle of Wight Marathon is scheduled for 4th October 2026 and will mark the 70th men's running and the 51st women's running of the event. The race has been held continuously since 1957 and is listed by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians; it was 25th in the ARRS long-running marathons list when that list was last updated in 2017.
The event is a single-lap marathon using quieter, scenic roads on the west of the island. The route passes through Cowes, Gurnard, Rew Street, Porchfield, Shalfleet, Yarmouth, Thorley, Chessell, Ningwood, Northwood and back to Cowes. Marker boards appear at each mile. Water stations (water only) are positioned at approximately 3.6, 6.4, 9.7, 12.8, 16.0, 18.6, 21.6 and 24.5 miles. The course is not currently suitable for wheelchairs. The course holds an SEAA Course Accuracy Certificate 22/398.
Entry is limited to 400 competitors; minimum age is 18 years. Fees vary by affiliation and entry date, with early-bird and on-the-day rates noted by the organiser. Numbers and timing chips are issued at race-day registration. The race operates under UKA rules; transfers, withdrawals and refunds follow the published policy and no deferrals are offered. Refund scale: up to three months before 90%, up to two weeks before 50%, less than two weeks 0%.
Race headquarters and registration are at the Isle of Wight Community Club in Cowes, where changing, shower and bag storage are available and limited finish-venue parking is provided. For safety, in-ear and over-ear headphones are not permitted; bone-conduction headphones are allowed. Running with dogs is not permitted. Medals are awarded to all finishers; cash prizes are paid for the top five men and women. Requests to amend results are accepted for up to three days after the race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
