The BERLIN MARATHON 2026 is set for Sunday, September 27, with Tigst Assefa, Rosemary Wanjiru, Gabriel Geay, Kenenisa Bekele and a deep international field ready to take over one of the world’s fastest marathon courses.
Berlin has a way of making marathon fans look at the clock: The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has produced some of the most memorable performances in road-racing history, and the 2026 edition once again brings together elite athletes chasing fast times alongside tens of thousands of recreational runners pursuing their own goals.
This year’s race, however, has undergone a major change since the original elite fields were announced.
Sabastian Sawe, the defending men’s champion and marathon world-record holder, has withdrawn because of injury. Sawe had been scheduled to return to Berlin after winning the 2025 race in 2:02:16 and making history earlier in 2026 with his 1:59:30 marathon in London. His withdrawal removes one of the biggest names from the men’s field, but it does not leave Berlin without plenty of star power.
And for fans of the World Marathon Majors, there is still plenty to watch.
Tigst Assefa Returns to the Scene of Her Berlin World Record
The biggest storyline of the women’s race is undoubtedly Tigst Assefa.
Assefa returns to Berlin three years after running 2:11:53 on this course in 2023, a performance that was then a women’s marathon world record. She has continued to establish herself among the leading marathoners in the world, including a 2026 London Marathon performance that lowered the women’s-only world record to 2:15:41.
Now she is back on the Berlin streets with another opportunity to chase a landmark performance.
FloTrack reports that Assefa has another world-record attempt in her sights, making her return one of the central storylines of race week.
But Assefa will not have the women’s race to herself.
Rosemary Wanjiru, the defending champion, is also entered. Wanjiru ran 2:16:14 to win Berlin in 2025, giving the race another athlete with a proven record on this course. Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida, Zeineba Yimer and a strong international group add further depth to the women’s field.
There is also an important late addition for European marathon fans.
Finnish runner Alisa Vainio, the 2026 European Marathon Champion, has been confirmed for Berlin. The official race release says Vainio recently won European Championship gold in Birmingham in 2:22:26, a championship record, after improving her personal best to 2:20:39 in Seville.
Germany’s Laura Hottenrott is also set to compete after finishing as the top German runner at the 2026 European Championships.
Elite Women under 2:20:
Tigst Assefa 🇪🇹 2:11:53
Rosemary Wanjiru 🇰🇪 2:16:14
Bedatu Hirpa 🇪🇹 2:18:27
Dera Dida 🇪🇹 2:18:32
Zeineba Yimer 🇪🇹 2:18:47
Bosena Mulatie 🇪🇹 2:19:00
Misgane Alemayehu 🇪🇹 2:19:08
Bekelech Gudeta 🇪🇹 2:19:39
The Men’s Race Is Wide Open
Sawe’s withdrawal changes the complexion of the men’s race.
The original elite start lists were built around the presence of the world-record holder, but the remaining field includes several accomplished marathoners capable of turning Berlin into another major chapter in their careers.
Gabriel Geay is one of the names that immediately stands out.
The Tanzanian holds a 2:03:00 personal best from Valencia in 2022 and finished runner-up at the 2023 Boston Marathon. His combination of experience and speed makes him one of the major international names to follow on Sunday.
Then there is Guye Adola, a former Berlin champion.
Adola finished second on his Berlin debut in 2017 in 2:03:46, behind Eliud Kipchoge, before returning years later to win the race in 2021. He enters the 2026 race after winning Rotterdam earlier this year in 2:03:54.
And for marathon history fans, there may be no bigger name in the field than Kenenisa Bekele.
The Ethiopian distance-running legend is returning to Berlin at age 44. Bekele won the 2016 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in 2:03:03 and produced another extraordinary performance in 2019, winning in 2:01:41—just two seconds outside the world record at the time. The official September 17 race release confirms his return for 2026.
Other names on the men’s list include Shura Kitata, Getaneh Molla, Dejene Hailu, Erick Sang and Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega. The depth extends well beyond the headline names, with Japanese, Ethiopian, Kenyan and German athletes represented throughout the field.
For spectators, that depth could be one of the most interesting aspects of the men’s race. Without Sawe on the starting line, the attention shifts from one obvious headline name to a much broader group of athletes with the speed to make the race unpredictable.
Elite Men under 2:06:
Gabriel Geay 🇹🇿 2:03:00
Getaneh Molla 🇪🇹 2:03:34
Guye Adola 🇪🇹 2:03:46
Shura Kitata 🇪🇹 2:03:59
Dejene Hailu 🇪🇹 2:04:15
Erick Sang 🇰🇪 2:04:30
Selemon Barega 🇪🇹 2:05:00
Taresa Tolosa 🇪🇹 2:05:17
Tadu Abate 🇪🇹 2:05:38
Asefa Boki 🇪🇹 2:05:40
Kenya Sonota 🇯🇵 2:05:59
Berlin Is More Than the Elite Race
For World Marathon Major fans, it is easy to spend race week talking exclusively about world records and elite athletes.
But Berlin is also one of the biggest participatory marathons in the world.
The 2026 event is expected to attract more than 56,000 participants across its various competitions, including elite athletes, recreational runners, wheelchair competitors, handbikers and inline skaters.
That is what makes Berlin particularly compelling for everyday runners.
You can watch Assefa chase another historic performance in the morning and, perhaps just minutes later, see thousands of runners working toward goals that are every bit as personal: a first marathon, a Boston qualifying time, a personal best, a sub-four-hour finish or simply making it to the Brandenburg Gate.
For runners actually participating, Berlin also provides pacemakers across a wide range of target times, from three hours through the slower recreational pace groups. That means the race isn’t designed solely around elite competition—it is structured to support runners with very different goals.
Berlin Marathon 2026: Race-Day Times
If you’re following from the United States, the time difference is important.
FloTrack’s live coverage begins at 2:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, September 27.
The official Berlin schedule lists the following starts:
- 8:20 a.m. CEST: Elite handbike competitors
- 8:26 a.m. CEST: Elite wheelchair competitors
- 8:29 a.m. CEST: Additional handbike and wheelchair starts
- 8:45 a.m. CEST: Marathon runners begin in six waves
For American viewers on Eastern Time, that puts the main marathon start at approximately 2:45 a.m. ET. But for serious World Marathon Major fans, Berlin is one of those races that can justify the lost sleep.
How to Watch the 2026 Berlin Marathon
For viewers in the United States, FloTrack will provide live coverage, beginning at 2:30 a.m. ET on September 27. FloTrack also says the broadcast will be archived for subscribers afterward.
The international broadcast arrangements vary by country, so viewers outside the United States should check their local broadcaster and the official BMW BERLIN-MARATHON channels before race morning.
For runners on the course, the official BMW BERLIN-MARATHON race-day page should be the final reference for practical information, including entrances, start areas, transportation and race restrictions.
What Everyday Runners Can Take From Berlin
The elite race provides plenty of entertainment, but there is another reason Berlin deserves attention from everyday runners.
The marathon is still the marathon.
Whether you’re running 2:02 or hoping to break five hours, the fundamental challenge remains the same: manage your effort, fuel correctly, stay patient and deal with the final kilometers when the body starts asking difficult questions.
Berlin’s reputation for speed can sometimes make recreational runners feel that they need to chase an aggressive goal. They don’t. A fast course is an opportunity, not an obligation.
If you’re racing Berlin in 2026, the smartest race may be the one that matches the preparation you actually completed. The official course has a six-hour-15-minute time limit, with a cutoff at 33 kilometers at 3:40 p.m. and the official finish closing at 5 p.m.
That gives runners a clear framework for planning their day.
And if you’re watching from home, Berlin offers an equally useful reminder: marathon running exists at every level.
Why Berlin 2026 Is Still Must-Watch Marathon Racing
Sawe’s withdrawal is a significant loss to the men’s race. The defending champion and world-record holder was supposed to be one of the central figures of the day. But the race has not lost its appeal.
Assefa’s return alone gives fans a historic storyline. Wanjiru returns as defending champion. Geay and Adola bring serious men’s marathon credentials. Bekele adds another chapter to one of the greatest distance-running careers ever. Vainio arrives as the newly crowned European champion, while a deep international field ensures there will be plenty of stories beyond the athletes most familiar to casual fans.
And beneath the elite race will be tens of thousands of runners creating their own Berlin stories.
That is ultimately what makes a World Marathon Major special.
The professionals may be chasing records, titles and history. Everyone else is chasing something different.
On September 27, all of those stories meet on the same 42.195-kilometer course in Berlin.
The clock will be running. The Brandenburg Gate will be waiting. And the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is ready to deliver another major day in the sport.
