What To Know Ahead Of The 2026 Austin Marathon
Get ready for the 35th installment of annual event series presented by Ascension Seton, which kicks off on Congress Avenue at 7:00 a.m. sharp
AUSTIN, Texas—The 35th annual 2026 Austin Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K will kick-off from Congress Avenue on Sunday, ushering thousands of runners from every corner of the United States and beyond toward the finish.
Over 30,000 entrants and 4,000 volunteers are expected for the weekend’s festivities, which will take runners in the marathon from Congress Avenue over to South 1st Street, west Austin, north Austin and east Austin before a finish right back on Congress – the course route, in fact, is in the shape of the Texas flag.
The event’s growth in 2026 continues in torrid form, with a year-over-year growth in registration of about 25-percent. The Austin Marathon, which has been ongoing since 1992, also is projecting $64 million in economic impact to the city through tourism, hospitality, food & beverage and entertainment options across marathon weekend – a jump of just over 3-percent.
There is a total purse of $10,000 for the top five finishers in the men’s and women’s races – $4,000 going to each winner.
Here are the things you need to know.
What Is The Schedule For Sunday’s Event:
On February 15, spectators should be aware of road closures across the Austin metro area. Parking will be limited downtown, so plan accordingly (and maybe utilize some of Austin’s great sidewalks and walking paths as you course your route). Here is a guide for traffic closures.
6:55 a.m. CST: Wheelchair start
7:00 a.m. CST: Marathon & half marathon waves begin
8:00 a.m. CST: Half marathon finishers expected
8:40 a.m. CST: The 5,000-meter race start
9:15 a.m. CST: Marathon finishers expected
2:00 p.m. CST: Course closes
Where Are Runners Arriving in Austin From?
Roughly 9,4000 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, while 17,400 are registered for the half marathon and 3,300 more are signed up for the 5K.
Runners are primarily arriving from Texas, while the next highest enrollments come from California, New York, Colorado and Florida. Globally, runners from Mexico, Canada, France and Great Britain top the list.
Where Can I Watch The 2026 Austin Marathon Live?
The most spectator-friendly spot will be on Congress Avenue, where the race begins and ends. The area also features numerous restaurants and entertainment options.
The first runners are expected to finish the half marathon in just over an hour, while the top marathoners should find their way to the finish line in two hours and 15 minutes.
If Congress Avenue isn’t your style, check out these options:
- Enfield Road through miles 10-11-12. This area will catch both the marathon runners, and the half marathoners in their final miles.
- A major thoroughfare for the marathon course will be Guadalupe Street over miles 13-14-15 (near the University of Texas)
- Miles 23-25 encompass east Austin, which features a host of restaurants and bars. This area traditionally has the least fan support, as most spectators choose to watch the finish downtown.
Additionally, there will be live bands at nearly every checkpoint from miles 1 to 13 before things spread out over the second half, with just seven bands scheduled over the final 13.1 miles.
Can I Watch The 2026 Austin Marathon Online?
The Austin Marathon will be streamed live by FloSports (specifically on its affiliate channel FloTrack), with coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. CST.
The company does not offer a Pay-Per-View option. Its monthly rate starts at $29.99.
The Austin Marathon will broadcast the feed live on multiple video boards throughout the course.
Local Austin resident and elite marathoner Mitch Ammons won the Austin Half Marathon in 2025. Photo Credit: Cory Mull/Austin Fit Magazine
Which Austin-Area Athletes Have A Chance To Win The 2026 Austin Marathon?
Good question.
Marathons are fickle business, and they really depend on the conditions in front of runners – is it hot, cold, moist or a torrential downpour?
That being said, last year’s returning men’s and women’s marathon winners, Bradley Makuvire and Janet Rono, both return. The course record, which has stood since 2022 on both sides, is 2:14:23 for men and 2:35:16 for women.
Former champions Joey Whelan (2017, 2018) and Sarah Jackson (2020) are also entered.
In the half marathon, Austinite Mina Glenesk will feature as a top contender while Austin-area Kevin Petow is the top local. Half marathon records are 1:03:48 for men and 1:13:24 for women. A year ago, local favorite Mitch Ammons won the men’s race.
Kelsey Bruce was the last American to win in 2022.
What Cool Facts Should I Know About The 2026 Austin Marathon?
Sunday will mark the 10th year of the Austin Marathon under the direction of High Five Events, the event marketing and operations company which also produces the Spurs Austin International Half Marathon and the CapTex Tri Austin. Marathon after parties will take place at Mayfair, Central Machine Works and Better Half Holdout Brewing.
