Reykjavík Marathon

The course

You start on Sæmundargata outside the University of Iceland, competition tickets at 08:15 and general tickets at 08:45, together with the half marathon, in pace zones marked by expected half-marathon finish time. The first kilometres go out along Ægisíða and round the Seltjarnarnes peninsula on the sea path, where the wind decides your morning, past the first two aid stations at Eiðistorg and Eiðsgrandi, then through the old harbour at Grandi and the city centre before heading east along Sæbraut with Mount Esja across the bay.

The marathon continues past Harpa and the Höfði house to a turnaround at Sundahöfn, into Laugardalur, through Laugarnes and the Tún district, up over Öskjuhlíð and down to Fossvogur, then into Elliðaárdalur, the wooded valley of the city's salmon river, out to Sævarhöfði and the Bryggjuhverfi harbour estate before returning through Elliðaárdalur, the Smáíbúðahverfi and Vogahverfi suburbs and Laugardalur. The organiser describes it as enjoyable and challenging; the challenge is the exposure to wind on the long shoreline stretches and a quiet middle section with few spectators, not hills.

The last kilometres run back along Sæbraut to Harpa, then Austurbakki and Miðbakki along the harbour to the finish on Geirsgata by the Reykjavík Art Museum, new in 2026. Ten aid stations roughly every 4 to 5 km serve sports drink at the front and water at the back, with bananas and oranges at every other station in the second half; portable toilets stand at each one. Timing is by chip in the bib with mats at 5, 10, 16.4, 21.1, 24.6, 29.6 and 37.9 km, gun time is official for competition entries, and the route is marked with yellow lines and green spray, with about 300 volunteers on the crossings because the roads are not fully closed.

How to enter

Entries for the next edition open the day after the race and stay open online until race day, and at the Expo, unless a distance sells out. There is no ballot or qualifying time. You choose a general ticket, which has no prizes and no FRÍ certification, or a competition ticket, whose results are certified by the Icelandic athletics federation (FRÍ), count for prizes and age-group awards and can be used to qualify for races abroad; only competition tickets are accepted by other races as qualifiers. The marathon is for runners aged 18 and over, the half for 15 and over, the 10 km for 12 and over.

The 2027 marathon costs ISK 15,930 on the super offer, ISK 17,000 as early bird until 23 April, ISK 21,240 from 24 April to 19 August and ISK 25,490 at the Expo (about 110 to 175 euros). The fee includes the bib and chip, aid stations, a medal, pacers, a baggage tag (marathon only) and free entry to Reykjavík's geothermal pools on race day; the competition ticket also covers the FRÍ certification and record fees. Fees are not refunded or deferred, but you can transfer your entry to someone else or change distance on My Pages while online registration is open, paying only the difference if you move up. Groups of ten or more get a discount by emailing the organiser.

How to train for it

Prepare for wind, not hills

The course is flat but much of it runs along the open shore on Ægisíða, round Seltjarnarnes and along Sæbraut. Do long runs into a headwind and practise tucking into a group; a pacer group (3:30, 4:00 and 4:15 in the competition start) is the easiest shelter.

Run in cool, wet conditions

August in Reykjavík averages 11 to 14 °C with rain and gusts common. Train in a light shell you can carry, and rehearse the kit you will actually race in rather than assuming a warm summer morning.

Pick the right start and pace zone

Competition tickets go at 08:15, general at 08:45, and you must start in your own wave or you get no time. Line up by expected half-marathon time; if unsure, the organiser asks you to start at the back.

Practise sports drink and fruit

Aid stations every 4 to 5 km offer sports drink first and water behind it, with bananas and oranges only at alternate stations after halfway. Train your stomach on the same combination so you can run the stations rather than stop at them.

What you need

• Bib worn flat and visible on your chest; the chip is built in and a folded or hidden bib means no time
• A light wind- or waterproof shell for the shoreline sections; August is cool and showery
• Your own gels if you need more than sports drink and fruit
• Swimwear and a towel for the free geothermal pool visit on race day, shown with your bib
• A single bag for the Hljómskálagarður baggage store (tag included for the marathon, bought separately for other distances)
• No poles unless you line up at the back, no prams in the marathon or half, no headphones rule but keep aware of traffic on partly open roads

Getting there and staying

Keflavík airport is about 50 km from the city, with airport buses and the Strætó route 55 bus into Reykjavík; the start on Sæmundargata is within walking distance of most central hotels and 5 to 10 minutes from many of them. There is almost no parking near the start and the police fine illegally parked cars, so walk or take a bus. A large part of the centre is also closed for Culture Night, and Kalkofnsvegur, Geirsgata and Sæmundargata are shut from 16:00 on the Friday.

Bib pick-up is at the Fit and Run Expo in Laugardalshöll (Engjavegur 8) on the Thursday and Friday, 14:00 to 19:30 in 2026, with a QR code sent by email; a representative can collect it with your ticket. Race-morning pick-up at the information centre by the start from 07:00 is possible but queues are long and not guaranteed to clear before your start. The baggage store in Hljómskálagarður is open from 07:00 to 15:30, one bag per runner.

After the finish on Geirsgata you are in the middle of Culture Night, with events across the city all day and fireworks over the harbour at 23:00; any pool in the city is free to you with your bib. Age-group prizes are handed out later at an Íslandsbanki branch once results are checked, and official results appear online at 17:00 on race day.

History

Two young travel-agency staff who wanted to bring more visitors to Iceland started the race in 1984, when 214 runners from eight nations took part and 56 ran the marathon. It joined AIMS the same year, has run every year except the Covid cancellations of 2020 and 2021, and since 2013 has had 14,000 to 16,000 entries a year across its distances. The marathon course record is 2:17:06 and the half-marathon record 1:04:09; in 2026 the finish moved from the Lækjargata area to Geirsgata on the harbour. A Reykjavík Marathon Honour Club recognises runners who have completed ten or more marathons or half marathons in the race.

Where to find out more

• Registration (opens in a new tab): The organiser's page explaining general and competition tickets, distance and name changes.
• Price list 2027 (opens in a new tab): All distances and the four price steps.
• Marathon course (opens in a new tab): Route description, aid stations and the GPX file; being updated after the 2026 finish moved.
• Race-day programme (opens in a new tab): Start times for each ticket type and distance.
• Results on Corsa (opens in a new tab): Competition and general results lists for 2023 to 2026, used for the median time here.
• FAQ (opens in a new tab): Time limits, age limits, pacers, qualification and Culture Night.
• Reykjavík Culture Night (opens in a new tab): Programme of the city festival held the same day, including road closures in the centre.