Athens Marathon. The Authentic
Athens Marathon. The Authentic is the Hellenic Athletics Federation's annual marathon raced on the original 42.195-kilometre course from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium, finishing in the marble stadium of the 1896 Olympics. The 43rd edition runs on Sunday 8 November 2026.
Athens Marathon. The Authentic is the Hellenic Athletics Federation’s annual marathon raced over the original course from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium — 42.195 kilometres finishing in the marble stadium that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The 43rd edition falls on Sunday 8 November 2026.
The weekend programme includes the marathon and a 10-kilometre road race on Sunday 8 November, and a five-kilometre race and the Universities Night Run through central Athens on Saturday 7 November. World Athletics has awarded the race its Elite Label and entered a strategic partnership with SEGAS — a multi-year investment programme to modernise the original Olympic course — with Athens in formal discussions to host the inaugural World Marathon Championships in 2030.
The Marathon Flame is lit ahead of the start and carried to the stadium as a prelude to the race.