2026 Marathon

We are looking forward to the 16th MBNA Chester Marathon and hope that you choose to run with us.
The multi-award winning and sell-out MBNA Chester Marathon is the 5th largest marathon in the UK and 3x time winner of the UK's Best Marathon, it is also the only marathon in the UK that spans across both England and Wales. It is a must run marathon event in any runners race calendar.
The event is one of the two grand finale events in our Chester Triple Medal series, with the sister event, the MBNA Chester Metric Marathon — enter early to secure your place before we sell out!
Join us for what will be an amazing day of running, full of inspirational moments and celebrations. This event sells out every year!
The route is on closed roads and you will run past all Chester's iconic landmarks (Roman Walls, Cathedral, Medieval Rows, Eastgate Clock, Amphitheatre) before heading out to the stunning Cheshire countryside and villages. It is renowned for being fast and predominately flat — more than 70% of our runners achieve PBs!
The final 8 miles you join the metric marathon runners at Churton, as both races begin the return journey, before coming into Chester alongside the River Dee for an unforgettable finish on Castle Drive. The support in the villages and communities along the course is one of the many highlights of the race.