World Athletics Confirms Plans to Introduce Standalone World Marathon Championships

World Athletics has outlined a strategic roadmap for the future of distance running by taking the marathon out of the World Athletics Championships program and creating a standalone World Athletics Marathon Championships from 2030.

While the marathon will remain a discipline at the World Athletics Championships in 2027 and 2029, it will move to its own standalone championships from 2030. The marathon – alongside other road running distances – will no longer form part of the World Athletics Championships from 2031 onwards.

As such, the World Marathon Championships will become an annual event, with men and women competing in alternate years – the same frequency as for the current World Championships marathon.

World Athletics has confirmed that it has entered into formal exploratory discussions for Athens to host the inaugural World Athletics Marathon Championships in 2030, during a press conference in the Greek capital.

Meanwhile, the World Athletics Road Running Championships will remain separate and continue as a distinct annual event.

Long-Term Potential

Working with the Region of Attica, World Athletics and the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) have also agreed a strategic partnership to elevate the Athens Marathon The Authentic to the highest tier of global road racing.

The race has been awarded Elite Label status, in recognition of its sporting heritage and its long-term potential within the international calendar. The status is a specific designation given out by World Athletics for road races that meet rigorous standards for elite field quality, safety, organizational excellence and anti-doping integrity, although it is still lower than Platinum and Gold Label statuses which recognize the very highest tier of marathons worldwide.

The partnership is expected to signal the beginning of a multi-year investment program which is designed to modernize the original Olympic course while still preserving its 2,500-year heritage.

“We are delighted to be exploring the possibility of a standalone World Marathon Championships with Athens – the place where this iconic discipline was born,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “Few events in sport carry the weight and resonance of the marathon; it is both a test of the very highest performance and a celebration of mass participation.

“This is an opportunity to create a dedicated global celebration of marathon running, held in a setting that honors its heritage while shaping a modern championship that reflects the scale and spirit of the global running community.”

“The marathon is one of the most universal events in sport, and Athens is its spiritual home,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon. “Exploring the possibility of a future standalone World Marathon Championships here reflects our ambition to bring the sport’s greatest global showcase back to where it all began.

“This roadmap ensures the event meets the rigorous technical and operational standards required for the world’s most prestigious stage.”

Platinum Label Ambitions

Having achieved Elite Label status, Athens is targeting a Platinum Label – the highest tier in road racing – by 2029, which would place it alongside the world’s most elite marathons.

“Today, we invite the world to join us on a journey,” said SEGAS President Sofia Sakorafa. “This is more than a race; it is a commitment to excellence.

“An upgrade that would not have been possible without the valuable support of the Region of Attica, an institutional partner of SEGAS, and its Governor, Nikos Hardalias. This marks a new path of extroversion that our federation is now following.

“We are investing in the future of every runner who steps on to the road from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium, ensuring they receive a world-class experience that honours the legend of this course. Our 2026 edition serves as the first milestone in this transformation.”

2026 Registration

Ahead of transitioning to a global-tier event, the Athens Marathon – which will be held this year on November 8 – will align its registration structure with World Athletics’ Elite standards. The investment is designed to support the expanded medical, safety and participant services that will be required for the new status.

According to World Athletics’ Elite standards, Elite Label races must meet specific requirements around medical support (e.g. portable toilet ratios and dedicated safety officers), apply a two percent levy on the gross guaranteed prize money to be deducted to fund the anti-doping program, score a minimum of 40 points in the Sustainable Event Standard and provide a “Dirty International Feed,” or full race footage, for review by World Athletics.