Marathons in Greece 2026–2027: Complete Guide
The bib2bib catalog lists six 42.195K road marathons in Greece for November 2026 to April 2027: Athens, Olympia, Thessaloniki (Alexander the Great), Arta, Chania, and Rhodes. Two further marathon-distance entries are in Cyprus and are noted separately. Every race below links to its official page, as confirmed during the source check on 28–29 September 2026.
Every road marathon in Greece, 2026–2027
This list is pulled directly from the bib2bib catalog (entries with a 42.195K distance, or the equivalent, under the road-running discipline), not typed by hand, so it stays accurate as dates move.
- Athens Marathon — Sunday, 8 November 2026 · Athens, Attica · official site athensauthenticmarathon.gr
- Olympia Marathon — Saturday–Sunday, 28–29 November 2026 (the marathon runs on Sunday) · Ancient Olympia, Western Greece · official site olympiamarathon.gr
- 21st Alexander the Great International Marathon — Sunday, 4 April 2027 · Pella–Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia · official site alexanderthegreatmarathon.org
- 2nd Epirus Marathon "King Pyrrhus" — Sunday, 4 April 2027 · Arta, Epirus · official site epirusmarathon.gr
- Crete Marathon — Sunday, 11 April 2027 · Chania, Crete · official site crete-marathon.gr
- 12th TUI Rhodes International Marathon — Sunday, 18 April 2027 · Rhodes, South Aegean · official site rhodesmarathon.gr
Athens Marathon, The Authentic
The first marathon of the season is also the most internationally recognised: it takes place on 7–8 November 2026, with the 42.195K race run on Sunday and finishing at the Panathenaic Stadium.
For the full race-by-race schedule (5K, 10K, Kids Race), the exact registration deadline, and anything that may have since been updated, the event's own official page (athensauthenticmarathon.gr) is the most current source.
Olympia Marathon: running beside Ancient Olympia
The event spans two days: the 10K and the 3K Family Run take place on Saturday, 28 November 2026, while the Marathon (42.195K) and Half Marathon (21K) run on Sunday, 29 November 2026, according to the official registration page.
That same page listed Early Bird pricing until 15 September and standard pricing until 9 November; since the Early Bird window has already passed, runners should check current pricing directly on the official page before registering.
The course runs past the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games — one of the few places worldwide where a modern marathon is run this close to a site of that historical weight.
Alexander the Great International Marathon: Pella to Thessaloniki
The 21st Alexander the Great International Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 4 April 2027, with 42.195K, 10K, 5K, and 1K races. The previous, 20th edition (26 April 2026) had been previewed with an expectation of 16,500 runners across all events, per the organiser's own release published the morning of the race — a pre-race registration estimate, not a confirmed result or record. Actual finishers, as recorded by irunmag.gr, were 1,441–1,487 in the Marathon and 2,773–2,783 in the 10,000m (roughly 9,390–9,490 runners in total across all distances, including the 5K).
The race is dedicated to marathon runner Stelios Kyriakidis, as reported by Greek running media covering the 2027 edition.
That same Sunday, 4 April 2027, also hosts the 2nd Epirus Marathon "King Pyrrhus" in Arta — two separate marathons, at opposite ends of mainland Greece, on the same day. A runner targeting both will have to pick one.
Epirus Marathon "King Pyrrhus": a certified course in Arta
The 2nd edition starts at 07:30 on Sunday, 4 April 2027 from Kilkis Square in Arta, with Marathon, 10K, and 5K races. The organiser describes all three courses as certified by World Athletics, with the Marathon course considered flat, running along the Arachthos river.
Crete Marathon — Chania
The 2027 edition takes place on Sunday, 11 April, with the Marathon starting at 07:00, followed by the 10K (07:30), the 5K (08:30), and the 2.5K (11:30), according to the event's official Chania-based site.
It is the catalog's only marathon on the island of Crete; for trail races and non-marathon distances on the same island, bib2bib's dedicated Crete race guide covers more of the local calendar.
TUI Rhodes International Marathon
The 12th edition is set for Sunday, 18 April 2027, with a registration deadline for the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K of Wednesday, 7 April 2027. Distances include a 42.195K Marathon, a 21.097K Half Marathon, a 10K, a 5K, a 5K walking route, and a 600m children's race.
The event is certified by SEGAS and by AIMS (the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), and is described by its own organisers as a coastal route that combines sport with the history and culture of Rhodes.
When to plan your trip: seasonality and weather by month
The catalog's six marathons fall into two windows: late November (Athens, Olympia) and April (Thessaloniki, Arta, Chania, Rhodes). Weather differs meaningfully by city and month — there is no single "Greek weather" for a foreign runner to plan around.
- Athens, early November: average temperature around 14°C (low ~10.8°C, high ~17.6°C), with moderate rainfall — Climate-Data.org (1991–2021 data).
- Ancient Olympia / nearby Pyrgos, Elis, late November: average daily temperature around 14.2°C (high ~19.5°C, low ~9.4°C) — Wikipedia climate data for Pyrgos (1975–2010 period), the closest town with published climate figures.
- Thessaloniki, early April: average temperature around 14.1°C (low ~9.6°C, high ~18.6°C) — Climate-Data.org.
- Arta, April: highs around 19°C, lows around 8°C, with fairly frequent rain (about 104mm over 11 rainy days) — Weather-and-Climate.com.
- Chania, April: average temperature around 14.6°C (low ~12.2°C, high ~16.7°C), with lighter rainfall than in winter — Climate-Data.org.
- Rhodes, April: average temperature around 16.6°C (low ~14.8°C, high ~18.2°C) — the mildest of the catalog's four April cities — Climate-Data.org.
Registration basics
Every event runs its own registration platform, pricing, and deadlines — bib2bib does not treat prices or remaining capacity as permanent facts, because they change. Always register through the official race page, not a third party.
If you need details on medical certificates, age limits, or bib collection for your first race in Greece, bib2bib's dedicated first-race-in-Greece guide covers that mechanics in full, so it is not repeated here.
For international runners: travel and planning
Athens and Thessaloniki are served by their namesake international airports (ATH, SKG); Rhodes and Chania also have their own international airports (Rhodes: RHO; Chania: CHQ), per the Climate-Data.org city pages used above. Ancient Olympia and Arta have no nearby international airport, so each race's own official page is the right source for recommended travel routes.
bib2bib does not host transport, accommodation, or expo details — those change every year and should always come from the organiser itself.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Athens Marathon?
On the weekend of 7–8 November 2026, with the 42.195K race run on Sunday, 8 November. Full schedule on the event's own official page, athensauthenticmarathon.gr.
Which Greek marathon has the mildest weather?
Among the catalog's four April marathons, Rhodes has the highest average temperature (~16.6°C), while Arta has the lowest average low (~8°C). These are climate averages, not a forecast or personal training recommendation.
Are there marathons in Greece in summer?
No, not per bib2bib's current catalog: the six listings fall in November or April, none in June, July, or August. This describes the catalog's observed pattern, not a claim that no marathon exists in Greece outside those months.
Is a medical certificate required to run a marathon in Greece?
Most Greek races ask for some form of medical clearance or health declaration at registration; the exact requirement varies by event. bib2bib's guide to running your first race in Greece walks through the process step by step.
Are there marathons on Greek islands?
Yes, two in the catalog: the Crete Marathon in Chania and the TUI Rhodes International Marathon, both in April 2027, with different climates from each other.
Does bib2bib also cover marathons in Cyprus?
The catalog includes two further marathon-distance entries in Cyprus (Larnaca in November 2026, Limassol in April 2027), but this guide focuses on Greece and does not cover them in detail.
What is the most reliable source for each race's date and time?
The official page of each event, linked from its bib2bib race page. The catalog is checked and refreshed regularly, but the organiser's own latest announcement always takes priority if something changes.
