RunFastAbout the race
The Berlin Marathon is a road race through the German capital, run over 42.195 km on the last weekend of September. It is one of the World Marathon Majors and is organised by SCC EVENTS.
History
Baker and running enthusiast Horst Milde founded the race in 1974, and that first edition had 244 finishers. Before reunification the route stayed within West Berlin. On 30 September 1990, just days before reunification, runners passed through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time, and the course has covered both halves of the city since then. The event marked its 50th anniversary in 2024. The flat course has produced many world records, with the marathon world record broken in Berlin on thirteen occasions.
The course
Start and finish are both close to the Brandenburg Gate. From there the route goes through Charlottenburg, around the Tiergarten, through Moabit and Mitte, and south to Friedrichshain. It then winds west between Kreuzberg and Neukolln, through Schoneberg and Friedenau to Zehlendorf, before turning back north toward the centre and finishing through the Gate.
Marathon weekend
The programme is wider than the main race. Skaters compete on the marathon course on Saturday, before the running events, and there are also wheelchair and handcycle races, power walkers and a children's marathon over a tenth of the full distance.
The 2027 edition
The organiser's site says the 2027 race will take place on 26 September 2027 and will be known as the Generali Berlin-Marathon, replacing BMW as title sponsor after sixteen years. Registration for the 2027 draw is open on the site.
Where to watch
Because the course loops through many central and southern districts, spectators can pick almost any neighbourhood along the route. The area around the Brandenburg Gate is where the start and finish happen, while the central districts of Mitte and Kreuzberg are among those the runners pass through.
Weather
The race is held at the end of September, in early autumn. Mornings can be fresh and the days mild, although the weather in autumn is changeable, so runners and supporters should check the local forecast near race day.