Biggest Marathons in the World: Top 10 Largest Races Ranked by Participants

The TCS New York City Marathon held that record for barely six months, with 59,226 finishers in November 2025. The two races keep trading the crown, and the rest of the top 10 isn't far behind.

Here's the full ranking, based on the most recent verified finisher totals from each race.

How we ranked these races

Marathon size can be measured by applicants, registered entrants, starters, or finishers. We ranked by finishers, because it's the figure Guinness World Records uses and the one every major race publishes.

Each race below is listed with its latest verified total, cross-checked against organizer announcements and the AIMS world's largest marathons database. Where an earlier edition was bigger, we say so.

The top 10 biggest marathons in the world

1. London Marathon - 59,830 finishers (2026)

London is the reigning world record holder, with 59,830 finishers at the 2026 TCS London Marathon. The same day produced the first official sub-2-hour marathon in history, courtesy of Kenya's Sabastian Sawe.

Demand is absurd. A record 1.1 million people entered the ballot for 2026, and organizers are exploring a two-day format for 2027 that could allow up to 100,000 runners.

2. New York City Marathon - 59,226 finishers (2025)

New York held the world record before London snatched it back, with 59,226 finishers on 2 November 2025. It was the second straight year the race broke the record, according to New York Road Runners.

The course crosses all five boroughs, from Staten Island to Central Park. More than 200,000 people applied for the 2025 drawing, and the race has topped 50,000 finishers nearly every year since 2013.

3. Paris Marathon - 55,499 finishers (2025)

Paris is the biggest marathon in the world that isn't a World Marathon Major. The 2025 edition had 56,950 starters and 55,499 finishers, just short of the world record at the time.

The route starts on the Champs-Elysees and passes the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Eiffel Tower. Roughly 60,000 runners took the start again in April 2026.

4. Chicago Marathon - 54,351 finishers (2025)

Chicago set its own event record in 2025 with 54,351 finishers, after a record 160,000 applications. The pancake-flat course through 29 neighborhoods is among the fastest anywhere.

Seven world records have been set here. The most famous recent one came in 2024, when Ruth Chepng'etich became the first woman to break 2:10.

5. Berlin Marathon - 54,280 finishers (2024)

Berlin's 50th anniversary race in 2024 drew 54,280 finishers, a world record at the time. The 2025 edition fell to around 48,000 as runners battled 27.6C heat, the hottest day in race history.

It's still the fastest Major on paper, with Eliud Kipchoge's 2:01:09 course record from 2022. Even celebrities run quick here: Harry Styles broke three hours in Berlin in 2025.

6. Tokyo Marathon - 36,513 finishers (2025)

There's a big gap between the top five and everyone else. Tokyo recorded 36,513 finishers in 2025, with the marathon field capped at 37,500 places.

It's the only Asian World Marathon Major and has the oldest field of the seven. In 2024, close to half of all finishers were aged 50 or over.

7. Sydney Marathon - almost 33,000 finishers (2025)

Sydney became the seventh World Marathon Major in 2025 and promptly delivered almost 33,000 finishers, the largest marathon ever held in Australia. The field has more than doubled in two years.

Around 79,000 people applied for 2025, and runners from 169 countries took the start. Expect this one to keep climbing the list.

8. Osaka Marathon - around 31,000 finishers (2025)

Japan's second-biggest marathon is quietly one of the largest races on Earth. Osaka offers 31,970 marathon places, and the 2026 edition recorded 32,746 starters with a 94 percent finish rate.

Entry is by lottery, typically five to ten times oversubscribed. The flat course finishes beside Osaka Castle Park.

9. Valencia Marathon - 30,523 finishers (2025)

Valencia had 30,523 finishers in December 2025, and no race on this list has a faster field. Nearly 5,500 of them broke three hours, around 18 percent of all finishers.

For perspective, a 2:59:59 would have placed you 5,450th. Valencia is proof that a race doesn't need Major status to attract the world's best amateurs.

10. Boston Marathon - 28,409 finishers (2025)

Boston is the smallest race in the top 10 by design. It's the world's oldest annual marathon, first run in 1897, and most entrants must hit a strict qualifying time.

The 2025 race had 28,409 finishers, and 16.5 percent of them ran under three hours. A smaller field, but arguably the hardest start line in running to reach.

Which races just missed the top 10?

A handful of fast-growing events are knocking on the door and could break into this ranking within a few years.

Four races to watch

• Manchester Marathon (UK): 23,861 finishers in 2025, the UK's second-largest race and one of the biggest in Europe.
• Honolulu Marathon (USA): famous for having no cutoff time, which makes it a favorite for first-timers and walkers.
• Los Angeles Marathon (USA): the Stadium to the Stars course from Dodger Stadium draws one of the biggest fields on the US West Coast.
• Marine Corps Marathon (USA): known as The People's Marathon, run through Washington, DC with no qualifying standard.

How do you actually get into these races?

Mostly through luck. London, New York, Tokyo, Osaka, Sydney, Paris and Chicago all use ballots or lotteries for the bulk of their places, and the odds get longer every year.

The alternatives are charity entries, official tour operators, or a qualifying time. Boston is the outlier, since qualifying is the main route in.

If a generous cutoff sounds more appealing than a one-in-twenty ballot, check our guide to the most walker-friendly marathons you can sign up for right now.

And if you do land a place, train smart. Here's what the largest study of marathon training ever conducted found about why runners get injured.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest marathon in the world right now?

The London Marathon. Its 2026 edition set the Guinness World Record with 59,830 finishers, beating New York's 59,226 from November 2025.

Has any marathon reached 60,000 finishers yet?

Not yet. London came within 170 finishers of the mark in 2026, and both London and New York are expected to cross 60,000 soon, possibly at their very next editions.

Why isn't the Boston Marathon higher on the list?

Boston caps its field and fills most places through qualifying times rather than a ballot. The narrow start in Hopkinton also limits how many runners the course can safely handle.

Is the Paris Marathon a World Marathon Major?

No. Paris is the largest marathon outside the seven-race Majors series, which consists of Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

How many people apply to run these races?

Far more than can ever run. London received a record 1.1 million ballot applications for 2026, New York drew more than 200,000, and Chicago took 160,000 applications for its 2025 race.

The numbers keep climbing, and the 60,000 barrier will almost certainly fall before the decade is out. The harder question is whether your ballot luck improves before then.