The 2026 racing season is shaping up to be a historic one for the marathon world. In Boston, the world’s oldest annual race celebrates 130 years, while New York City marks a half-century of its legendary five-borough route (although it’s the 52nd running of the race).
But for athletes who take globetrotting literally, the appeal of racing extends far beyond the major cities. Today’s premier marathons offer the chance to sprint (or stroll, no judgements) past the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, follow the palm-lined coasts of the Cayman Islands or share the path with the “Big Five” in a South African game reserve.
Forbes Travel Guide curated a list of the best marathons worth traveling for this year. And because a world-class performance requires world-class preparation, these bucket-list races are paired with the finest hotels that offer everything from cryotherapy to post-race fine-dining feasts.
Boston Marathon
Race Day: April 20
The world’s oldest annual marathon turns a spry 130 this year. Organizers say to expect some special race weekend additions that recognize the milestone as well as other noteworthy anniversaries, including 50 years since the famed 1976 “Run for the Hoses” race (the 96-degree marathon was the hottest on record, prompting spectators to cool off runners with garden hoses) and 60 years since Bobbi Gibb’s pioneering 1966 run as the marathon’s first female contestant—five years before women were officially sanctioned to run in the race.
Check in here: Along the marathon route, near the finish line, Mandarin Oriental, Boston provides a convenient base for spectators and runners. The hotel offers race weekend activities and refreshments in the lobby and specials in Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, plus the Five-Star spa’s treatments help marathoners ease the pain and reduce inflammation.
Big Sur International Marathon
Race Day: April 26
Starting in unspoiled Big Sur, trailing along Highway 1 and ending in charming Carmel, the world’s largest rural marathon delivers dramatic scenery at every mile marker with towering redwoods, rugged mountains and pounding waves. At the iconic Bixby Bridge, the halfway point, the tuxedoed “Grand Piano Man” Michael Martinez plays songs to inspire runners for the final 13.1 miles of the challenging coastal race.
Check in here: Stay among the redwoods at Alila Ventana Big Sur. Recuperate at the all-inclusive, adults-only wellness retreat by soaking fatigued muscles in the open-air Japanese hot baths, taking movement classes or just sitting on the room balcony and enjoying the forest or ocean views.
TCS London Marathon
Race Day: April 26
The U.K.’s biggest marathon broke the Guinness World Record for the most finishers in 2025 when 56,640 people completed the race. Beginning at Greenwich Park, the route leads runners past famed local attractions, including the Victorian tea clipper Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Big Ben, which signals the race’s last mile. Cross the finish line in The Mall with Buckingham Palace in the background.
Check in here: Occupying the top floors of Western Europe’s tallest building, Five-Star Shangri-La The Shard has some of the best views of the race from its floor-to-ceiling windows. On the 52nd floor, swim in the city’s highest infinity pool or sip sundowners at Gong, London’s highest hotel bar.
Great Wall Marathon
Race Day: May 16
One of the world’s most grueling races, the Great Wall Marathon tests runners’ endurance and strength, especially during the steep 5,164-step climb up a tower. The payoff is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to run along one of the New Seven Wonders of the World while surrounded by spectacular landscapes. The marathon course traces the Great Wall’s Huangyaguan section but also dips into local villages. Plus, entrants can add on pre- or post-race outings such as the Qing Dynasty Tombs.
Check in here: Sprawl out at the stylish all-suite Peninsula Beijing, where every marble bathroom comes with a deep-soaking tub. Then enjoy pampering at the spa, with treatments like the Chinese Deep Fusion Massage, which uses acupressure and European deep tissue techniques.
The Big Five Marathon
Race Day: June 13
This wild marathon allows just 300 runners to traverse the sand paths of South Africa’s Entabeni game reserve along with the five most sought-after safari animals—elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, lions, leopards—without any barriers. But if marathoners don’t have enough time to snap photos of the giraffes, hippos and antelope along the course, they will have other opportunities to see the animals up close. Race entry includes a safari package with game drives and a bush walk.
Check in here: Add on extra days to stay at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg. On the hillside overlooking the treetops, the Four-Star hotel provides a tranquil respite. Visit the spa for an African-inspired treatment and then enjoy the view at its outdoor lounge.
Angkor Empire Marathon
Race Day: August 2
Join more than 4,500 participants in running 26.2 miles in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 11th edition of the unique Cambodian marathon takes place in Angkor Archaeological Park, passing through forest rice fields, traditional villages and 40 ancient temples. The route highlight, of course, is Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious structure and a striking Khmer architectural feat.
Check in here: Learn more about the local culture with a stay at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. The Siem Reap hotel can arrange Vespa tours, a Khmer dinner with traditional dance performances, and guided local art excursions.
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Race Day: October 11
Wind through the Windy City during the Chicago Marathon, which goes through 29 neighborhoods, including Chinatown, where colorful lion dancers perform near Mile 21, and Pilsen, where mariachi bands rouse runners around Mile 19. Expected to draw more than 52,000 runners, the 48th annual race starts and ends at Grant Park, a 313-acre green space that contains landmarks such as Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain and the Art Institute.
Check in here: A five-minute walk from Grant Park, The St. Regis Chicago has sweeping views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan from its 101-story tower. At Chicago’s only Five-Star spa, part of a 12,000-square-foot wellness floor, runners can also choose their preferred fragrances at the Scent Bar to be used in a massage.
TCS New York Marathon
Race Day: November 1
See all five boroughs in one day during the New York City Marathon, which broke the world record for the largest marathon last year with more than 59,000 participants from 132 countries. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course—the first few years of the marathon covered four-plus loops of Central Park—which starts at the foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island, trails north through Brooklyn and Queens, turns west on the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, then goes north into the Bronx before heading back to Manhattan and looping into Central Park for the famous finish line at Tavern on the Green.
Check in here: Four-Star Equinox Hotel New York was made for marathoners. The fitness brand’s first hotel has science-based Sleep Lab rooms that optimize rest and recovery with amenities like adaptive mattresses and contrast therapy showers. And the spa features pre- and post-race treatments, including cryotherapy, special IV drips and CBD massages.
French Riviera Marathon Nice-Cannes
Race Day: November 8
It’s no wonder why the French Riviera race is the second-largest marathon in France, after Paris. The scenic course begins at Nice’s Promenade des Anglais, continues down the coast, cutting through quaint towns like Vallauris Golfe-Juan and Cagnes-sur-Mer, and finishes on Cannes’ iconic Croisette. About 95% of the palm-tree-lined route follows the sea, and the temperatures range between 55 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check in here: More than a century old, pink-domed Le Negresco provides a grand getaway along the Mediterranean. Soak up the fresh air on a lounger at the hotel’s N La Plage along Nice’s beach or unwind in the art-driven spa.
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Queenstown Marathon
Race Day: November 14
Gaze at snowcapped mountains, pristine bodies of water and green countryside during this mostly flat marathon in the Queenstown Lakes District. It’s part of the Runaway Marathon Series, a collection of destination races across New Zealand and Australia with stunning settings. Runaway events also encourage participants to experience local activities and sample the region’s acclaimed food and wine.
Check in here: A sanctuary in a pine forest overlooking Lake Wakatipu and Cecil Peak, Rosewood Matakauri is a prime place for appreciating New Zealand’s untouched nature. Local activities range from stargazing with a local astrophysicist to touring the wine region.
Estra Firenze Marathon
Race Day: November 29
From the starting line at the Duomo, the 42nd annual Florence Marathon immerses runners in the city’s history and art. The mostly flat course brings marathoners over ancient bridges, through medieval alleys and along the Arno. Surrounded by Renaissance-era buildings, the expected nearly 10,200 marathoners also will see Parco delle Cascine (the city’s largest public green space), the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria.
Check in here: Get an up-close view of the Duomo at the nearby Brunelleschi Hotel. The Four-Star boutique hotel is located in a Byzantine tower and a medieval church, and has a museum that showcases the building’s artifacts, including an ancient Roman caldarium (or bath house).
Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon
Race Day: December 6
Travel to Grand Cayman to run through palm-lined streets against the backdrop of vivid sunrise colors over the Caribbean Sea. The coastal scenery is the Cayman Islands Marathon’s biggest draw, with a significant portion of the route following directly alongside the sea, particularly through areas such as South Sound and George Town. The course’s flat, fast layout appeals to both first-time marathoners and seasoned runners, luring participants from North America, Europe and the wider Caribbean.
Check in here: Runners can revive themselves at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman with a well-deserved tasting menu at Blue by Eric Ripert, tailored treatments crafted by wellness coaches at the newly renovated spa, a round on the nine-hole golf course overlooking the North Sound or simply relaxing on the Five-Star property’s portion of famous Seven Mile Beach.
