Philadelphia Marathon 2026

Pick up your bib at the free Health and Fitness Expo presented by DryWater at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Hall F (12th and Arch Streets): Friday, November 20, 8am to 9pm, and Saturday, November 21, 8am to 5pm. There is no race-day packet pickup anywhere, and packets cannot be mailed. Half marathon runners and anyone in a challenge (Patriot, Independence, Liberty Bell, Freedom) must collect on Friday, since their races are Saturday; marathon runners can collect Friday or Saturday. A representative can collect for you with your confirmation email, a copy of your photo ID, and their own ID.

• Race day is Sunday, November 22, 2026: the TIAA Philadelphia Marathon starts at 7:00am from Eakins Oval, with the Kids Run later that morning. The Dietz and Watson Half Marathon and Rothman Orthopaedics 8K run Saturday, November 21.
• The 2026 weekend is the biggest yet, with about 40,000 participants expected across the weekend, and both the marathon and half marathon sold out, the earliest sellout in race history.
• The course tours centuries of history and architecture through the city's neighborhoods, Fairmount Park, and along the Schuylkill River.
• Gear check is free on the south side of Eakins Oval, and only the clear bag from packet pickup is accepted, so plan your layers around it.
• The expo closes Saturday at 5pm with no Sunday pickup, so Friday is the safer collection day if you are traveling in.

Sources: philadelphiamarathon.com, marathonstay.com

The course starts and finishes near the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It runs through Center City and Old City past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Penn's Landing along the Delaware River, then follows the Schuylkill River out to Manayunk before looping back along the river to the finish. Terrain is relatively flat with net zero elevation gain; the highest point is about 148 ft, with the two main hills around miles 8-10 and some rolling sections between miles 18-21.