9°
Clear, cool start
HI 22°
LO 8°
9°C at the gun after a touch of dawn fog, then clear and dry all day · cool, fast conditions · Mengesha won in 2:06:25
WMM Candidate · Could join the Majors in 2027Candidate program ↗
Shanghai Marathon
China's flagship marathon and a World Marathon Majors candidate. A flat, fast course through central Shanghai from the Bund, on track to become the ninth Major in 2027.
The Shanghai Marathon is China's flagship marathon and the first in the country to hold a World Athletics Platinum Label. It became an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate in 2024, replacing the Chengdu Marathon as China's entry to the program, and passed its first assessment after the November 2025 evaluation. To join the Majors it must pass a second consecutive assessment at the December 6, 2026 edition. If it succeeds, Shanghai joins the series in 2027. The 2026 general lottery ran April 29 to May 29, with results on June 30 and payment due by July 20.
Registration opens
Apr 29, 2026
Free to enter the lottery
Passed
Registration closes
May 29, 2026
Last day to register
Passed
Lottery results
Jun 30, 2026
Selected runners notified
Next up
Race day
Dec 6, 2026
December 6, 2026
RESULTS JUN 30 · GET ALERTED FOR THE 2027 LOTTERY
Climate
Past three years on race day
Historical conditions on the course, what to expect, what to pack.
8°
Clear and cool
HI 20°
LO 8°
8°C start under clear skies, no rain · crisp morning warming through the day · Amare won in 2:06:26
11°
Sunny but cool
HI 17°
LO 9°
Sunny but cool, favourable for racing, partly cloudy by midday · course record 2:05:35
Results·
Shanghai Marathon 2026 lottery results
The 2026 lottery results are announced on the afternoon of Jun 30, 2026. Selected runners then pay by Jul 20, 2026. The 2026 registration window is closed. Set an alert and we will tell you the moment the 2027 Shanghai lottery opens.
How to enter
How to get into the Shanghai Marathon
Four routes to the start line. The open lottery is the default and the longest odds. Series-race direct entry is the most reliable if you are fast, and international tour operators sell guaranteed bibs to overseas runners.
01 · LOTTERY
The open lottery
Register free during the spring window through the official site or the Shanghai Marathon app, then wait for a random draw. No qualifying time. The default route for almost everyone, and the longest odds.
02 · DIRECT
Series-race direct entry
Finish near the top of a Shanghai Marathon Series half marathon and you skip the lottery. Entry is by finishing position, not by a time standard. The most reliable route if you are fast.
03 · TOUR
Tour operators
International operators sell guaranteed bibs bundled with travel and accommodation. The dependable route for overseas runners who do not win the lottery. Several operators carry Shanghai; treat them as examples, not endorsements.
04 · CHARITY
Charity
Official charity entries exist but reliable English detail is thin. Check the official channels for current partners and fundraising terms rather than third-party listings.
Register and check current details at the official site: www.shang-ma.com ↗
Places·
Places and selection
The Shanghai Marathon caps the full marathon at about 23,000 places and draws far more applicants than spots every year. There is no published acceptance rate, so the honest picture is simple: the open lottery is heavily oversubscribed and entry is not guaranteed. Better odds come from the direct-entry route. Finish near the top of a Shanghai Marathon Series half marathon and you skip the draw entirely: the top 200 of the Shanghai Women's Half, the top 200 men and top 100 women of the Shanghai Half, and the top 150 men and top 100 women of the Suzhou Creek Half all earn direct entry by finishing position.
Field size
~23,000
Entry fee
¥200 / ¥1,150 / US$160
Time limit
6h30
Acceptance rate
Not published
Candidacy·
Is the Shanghai Marathon a World Marathon Major?
Shanghai is the next race on the path to expanding the Majors. Cape Town was confirmed as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major in June 2026. Shanghai is the candidate behind it, and if it passes its final assessment at the December 6, 2026 race, it would become the ninth Major in 2027.
- Candidate since 2024, when it replaced the Chengdu Marathon as China's entry to the program.
- Passed its first assessment after the November 2025 evaluation.
- Needs a second consecutive pass at the December 6, 2026 edition to qualify.
- If it joins, Abbott introduces a Nine Star medal and finishers earn provisional stars toward it.
Course·
Point to point from the Bund along the Huangpu River to Shanghai Stadium
The course is flat, fast, and World Athletics certified, one of the quickest in Asia. It starts at the Bund Bull on the Huangpu River waterfront, runs through central Shanghai past Nanjing Road, People's Square, and Jing'an Temple with the Pudong skyline across the water, and finishes at Shanghai Stadium. The December date usually brings cool, dry racing weather. The 2026 time limit is six hours thirty minutes, from a 7:00 am start to a 1:30 pm finish cutoff.
The Bund, Gold Bull Plaza → Shanghai Stadium
Cool and dry, 5–13°C
Elevation
Course profile
No official elevation figure is published. The Shanghai Marathon is one of the flattest and fastest courses in Asia, World Athletics certified, with no significant climbs. The route stays along the Huangpu River and through central Shanghai at near sea level, which, with the cool December air, is why the course produces quick times.
FAQ
Common questions
When is the 2026 Shanghai Marathon?
The 2026 Shanghai Marathon runs on Sunday, December 6, 2026, with a 7:00 am start at the Bund. It is the 30th edition of the race.
How do you get into the Shanghai Marathon?
Most runners enter the open lottery, a random draw with no qualifying time. You can also earn direct entry by finishing near the top of one of the Shanghai Marathon Series half marathons, or buy a guaranteed bib bundled with travel through an international tour operator. Charity entry exists but published English detail is thin.
When does Shanghai Marathon registration open and when are the lottery results?
For 2026, registration ran from April 29 to May 29 through the official site and the Shanghai Marathon app. Lottery results are announced on the afternoon of June 30, 2026, and selected runners must pay by noon on July 20. The 2027 cycle is expected to open around April or May 2027.
Is the Shanghai Marathon a World Marathon Major?
Not yet. Shanghai is an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate. It passed its first assessment in 2025 and needs a second pass at the December 6, 2026 edition. If it succeeds, it joins the Majors in 2027 as the ninth race.
Can international runners enter the Shanghai Marathon?
Yes. International runners enter the same open lottery directly through the official site, which has an English entry pathway, or secure a guaranteed bib through a tour operator. The international entry fee is 1,150 yuan, about 160 US dollars.
What are the odds of getting into the Shanghai Marathon?
There is no published acceptance rate. The marathon offers about 23,000 places and is heavily oversubscribed every year, so the open lottery is the long-odds route. Top finishers in the series half marathons get direct entry that skips the draw.
How much is the Shanghai Marathon entry fee?
For 2026 the full marathon costs 200 yuan for domestic runners and 1,150 yuan, about 160 US dollars, for international runners. The separate mini run is cheaper and is a different event.
What happens if Shanghai becomes a Major?
Cape Town was confirmed as the eighth Major in June 2026. If Shanghai passes its final assessment at the December 6, 2026 race, it becomes the ninth Abbott World Marathon Major in 2027 and Abbott introduces a Nine Star medal. Finishers would earn a provisional star toward it. The expansion is not guaranteed and depends on the December 2026 evaluation.