The 2026 Changsha Marathon will start with a gun shot at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2026 in Changsha. The event features two races: the marathon (42.195 kilometers) and the half marathon (21.0975 kilometers). The total number of participants is 35,000, including 18,000 for the marathon and 17,000 for the half marathon. The starting point is at Du Fu's Tower, and the marathon finish line is at the South Square of He Long Stadium, while the half marathon finish line is at the Fisherman's Wharf.
The 2026 Changsha Marathon does not apply for an international logo but will concentrate all resources and efforts on improving the participation experience for ordinary runners. The event covers all aspects of organizing the race, including participant services, timing and scoring, competition organization, and medical security. All indicators are implemented in accordance with the standards of international logo events and strictly follow the relevant requirements of the Chinese Athletics Association for Class A events.
Highlight 1: "One River" classic course， connecting the thousand-year history of the city
The 2026 Changsha Marathon course is known as the exclusive course of "One Rive" - a route that combines the city's brand into a single line. The starting point is at Du Fu's Tower， and runners travel north along the Xiangjiang Road and then turn back near the Yinpanling Bridge. They pass through the Orange Isle Bridge and enter the Orange Isle Scenic Area， then circle around and head west to leave the island. Along the way， they pass by the Orange Isle Head， Yuelu Mountain， Yanghu Wetland， Jiaoxue Shengren Square， the First Normal University， and other landmarks， covering the core areas of history and development of Changsha. The finish line for the half marathon is at the Fisherman's Wharf， and marathon runners continue southward through the Yanghu area， cross the Xiangfu Road Bridge， and return to the South Square of He Long Stadium. A 42.195-kilometer run connects the 2，000-year history of the city and the unique charm of "mountain-water-island city".
Highlight 2： A grand return with a scale of 35，000 participants， both marathon and half marathon races running concurrently
The 2026 Changsha Marathon has a new record for the event scale， with a total of 35，000 participants. There are 18，000 participants for the marathon (men's and women's groups) and 17，000 for the half marathon (men's and women's groups). The registration starts at 10：00 a.m. on August 4th， and there is no first-come， first-served mechanism. Runners can submit their applications at any time within the registration period and the draw results will be announced at 10：00 a.m. on August 25th. Both the marathon and half marathon races are set concurrently， meeting the needs of elite runners for challenging their own limits and providing more opportunities for more ordinary runners to participate in top-level events.
Highlight 3： Six awards with cumulative bonus， covering all age groups of runners
The 2026 Changsha Marathon sets 6 awards， and the bonus for each award can be accumulated. The top eight finishers in the marathon (men's and women's groups) will receive bonuses ranging from 60，000 yuan to 40，000 yuan； breaking the national record will be rewarded with 96，000 yuan， breaking the competition record with 48，000 yuan， and breaking the Chinese national competition record with 40，000 yuan； there is a "Special Award for Hunanese Athletes"， with the top 20 men's and women's finishers being selected； there is a "Long Marathon Age Glory Award"， divided into 10 age groups for men and women based on birth year， and the top six in each group will be selected； for marathon runners， those with a net time of less than 2：30：00 for men and less than 2：45：00 for women can participate， and all qualified runners will share a cash reward of 100，000 yuan. The first to eighth place finishers in the half marathon will receive bonuses ranging from 20，000 yuan to 20，000 yuan. From elites to ordinary people， from the national level to Hunanese， from young people to the elderly， it covers the honors and incentives for different levels of runners.
Highlight 4： Aligning with international logo standards， fully enhancing the participation experience for ordinary runners
Although the 2026 Changsha Marathon does not apply for an international logo， all organizing efforts are centered around the same goal： to ensure that every participant feels that it was not in vain. In all aspects of the event organization, including player services, timing and scoring, competition organization, medical security, etc., all indicators are implemented in accordance with the standards of international label events. At the same time, resources are configured in accordance with the standards of gold-level road running events, and the relevant requirements of Class A events of the Chinese Athletics Association are strictly implemented. From registration to crossing the finish line, from supplies to security, the Changsha Marathon provides meticulous service standards to create a "road running event that is welcomed by the public and recognized by the runners" for every runner.
Caveats
Download: 2025 Changsha Marathon Official Competition Regulations (English) Please download and carefully read the attached 2026 Changsha Marathon Competition Regulations (English version). This document contains the complete set of rules, including but not limited to eligibility, race day procedures, time limits, aid stations, medical support, and code of conduct. Your participation is subject to full compliance with these regulations. By registering, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted all provisions. Click the link below to access the PDF. Keep it handy for reference. For any inquiries, please contact us via the information provided on this page.
