Berlin Marathon 2026: Assefa headlines as Sawe withdraws

The 52nd Berlin Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, featuring over 56,000 runners and more than 84,000 total participants including wheelchair athletes and skaters. The event is a major economic driver for the city, with studies indicating a total value creation of approximately 469.4 million euros in 2024.

In the women’s race, Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa is the primary headline athlete. As the current course record holder, she aims to surpass her personal best and potentially challenge the world record. She faces competition from defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru and German runner Esther Pfeiffer, who is targeting the national record.

The men’s race has become more open following the withdrawal of world record holder Sabastian Sawe due to a shin injury. While a sub-two-hour attempt is no longer the primary focus, organizers aim for a fast pace near 2:01:08 to challenge Eliud Kipchoge’s course record. Top contenders include Gabriel Geay, Guye Adola, and Selemon Barega.