BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – On September 28, the 2026 Bank of China Beijing Marathon & National Marathon Championships held a press conference in Beijing, officially disclosing the event’s preparation details and competition arrangements. The race is scheduled to start on October 18, 2026, with a total field of 32,000 runners.
Founded in 1981, the Beijing Marathon is the oldest city marathon in China and a World Athletics Gold Label road race. Over more than four decades, it has evolved from a simple marathon event into a unique urban experience that traverses Beijing.
The Beijing Marathon boasts a highly distinctive course. The start line is set at Tiananmen Square. After setting off, runners follow Chang’an Avenue, passing through Fuxingmen and Fuxing Road, before heading north into the Xueyuan Road area in Haidian District, and finally arriving at the Olympic Park, where they sprint to the finish along the landscaped avenue between the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube.
One of the most notable features of this year’s Beijing Marathon is the integration of the race with the National Marathon Championships. China’s top professional athletes will compete for championship placings on the same course, while mass runners set off alongside them, bringing professional competition and national fitness together on a single course. The event not only provides a high-level competitive platform for professional runners but also preserves broad participation channels for everyday runners, striving to strike a balance between competitive leadership, public participation, and organisational effectiveness.
In terms of event support and civilised race organisation, the organising committee has simultaneously released a number of upgraded measures to comprehensively optimise the participant experience and safeguard race order, building a refined system of medical support, course supplies, and smart guidance, while continuing mature international event service standards. The event also emphasises green organisation, introducing reusable eco-friendly cups, multi-tap self-service water stations, backpack-style water supply equipment, and recyclable waste collection pools, among other environmental measures.
In golden autumn October, Beijing’s mild temperatures make it the perfect season for running. This year’s Beijing Marathon continues to be rooted in Beijing, the “Dual Olympic City,” showcasing the vitality of China’s road running and the urban charm of Beijing to runners and audiences around the world through professional race standards, international event-organising concepts, and profound urban heritage.
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