Race guide

The World Marathon Majors explained

Updated 5 November 2026

The World Marathon Majors are a series of the biggest city marathons in the world. Finishing all of them is a goal for many runners, and each course has its own character. Here is a quick guide to all seven.

The seven Majors

The series is made up of Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York, with Sydney the most recent to join. Runners who finish every Major receive a special medal, and many collect them over several years.

Fast and flat: Berlin and Chicago

Berlin is famous for speed: a flat course where many marathon world records have been set. On our map it has only about 38 m of climbing. Chicago is also flat and fast, with about 62 m of climbing, and runs through the neighbourhoods of the city. Both usually take place in the autumn.

Iconic routes: London, New York and Sydney

London runs past landmarks along the Thames, with about 113 m of climbing on our map. New York crosses all five boroughs and several bridges, with about 150 m of climbing. Sydney starts near the Harbour Bridge and finishes close to the Opera House, and is the hilliest of the seven on our maps at about 601 m of climbing.

Tokyo and Boston

Tokyo is usually the first Major of the year, with about 270 m of climbing on our map. Boston is the oldest of the series and a point-to-point course, with about 219 m of climbing, and most runners need a qualifying time to enter.

Collect them on your wall

Every Major is available as a framed 3D map with your name, date and finish time. Runners working through the series often add one for each race, so the set grows with every finish line.