Amsterdam Marathon 2026: dates, route, entries and tips

The marathon at a glance

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is a 42.195 km road race that starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium (Olympisch Stadion). It holds the World Athletics Platinum Label, the highest level, and is the only marathon in the Netherlands to have it. The organisers say that in 2024 about 65% of participants came from abroad, from more than 130 nationalities, so the atmosphere is very international.

The weekend includes several races:

• The marathon and the half marathon, on Sunday 18 October; the start is around 9am.
• The 7.5 km, on Saturday 17 October, easier for occasional runners.
• Children's races, as well as company runs and charity runs (the "Heroes Run").

A marathon expo (the "Marathon Expo") is held over the weekend for collecting your bib.

The route

The course is flat and fast, which explains its reputation among runners chasing a personal best. From the Olympic Stadium it passes several of the city's well-known sites: the Rijksmuseum (the race goes under the building), long kilometres along the Amstel, the Vondelpark and the area around the Heineken Experience. For walkers, an Amsterdam City Walk starts from the same stadium on Saturday.

To see these places outside the race: the Rijksmuseum, the Vondelpark and the Heineken Experience each have their own page.

Entering

For 2026, entries are full: they opened on 20 December the year before, and the 7.5 km was among the sold-out formats. Entries for the following edition usually open in December; watch the official website and register as soon as it opens, because places go fast. The entry fee depends on the distance and the date you register: read it on the official website, as prices published by third-party sites may be out of date.

Never pay a stranger for a bib: the race is registered by name, and informal resale is a risk. Use the official channels (bib transfer, if the organisers offer one).

Watching and cheering

• Start and finish: the area around the Olympic Stadium is lively, but also the most crowded.
• Along the route: pick a spot served by a tram, for example near the Vondelpark or the Rijksmuseum, so you can see the runners go by and then move easily.
• To spot a friend: agree two meeting points in advance, because the pavements are crowded and the mobile network may be saturated.
• Atmosphere: spectators cheer mostly on the bridges and in residential neighbourhoods; bring something warm, as it is often cool and damp at this time of year.

Getting around and where to stay

The streets of the route are closed to traffic on Sunday morning and some tram lines are diverted: check the disruptions before you set out. The Olympic Stadium is served by public transport, see our guide to getting around Amsterdam. On marathon weekend, hotels are more expensive and fill up quickly: book early, preferably near a tram line; see our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam.

Tips for runners

• Collect your bib at the expo the day before, with ID.
• Eat and sleep normally the day before; the early start leaves little room for meals.
• Test your shoes before race day and plan warm clothes to drop off before the start: in Amsterdam, October is cool and often rainy.
• Have a plan for getting back: after the finish, public transport is busy.

Summary table

Going further

For the rest of the month, see our guide to what to do in Amsterdam in October. If you are coming in autumn, our guide to Amsterdam in autumn will help you plan your stay.