The 2026 Hengqin Marathon is set for December with a bigger purse

The 2026 Hengqin Marathon will take place on 27 December in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, organisers confirmed, with registration for the island loop race closing at 10 pm on 12 September.

Hengqin Marathon 2026 race details and route

The event will accommodate 20,000 runners, split between 5,000 full marathon places and 15,000 half marathon places. The course retains its popular island loop route, taking runners past the Central Park of Hengqin Financial Island, Hengqin Port, the University of Macau’s Hengqin campus, the Wetland Park and the Flower Sea Corridor, with views across the water to Macao’s skyline throughout.

Prize money more than doubles

Total prize money rises this year to 275,600 yuan (US$38,545), more than 2.3 times the previous edition’s 117,600 yuan. The full marathon champion will now take home 30,000 yuan, up from 10,000 yuan, while the half marathon winner’s prize increases from 5,000 yuan to 15,000 yuan. 

[See more: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge half marathon returns 15 November with a new 10km race]

Organisers also refreshed the design of this year’s finisher medal, which keeps the marathon’s lotus flower design but adds a new dual layer rotating mechanism.

Part of a busy Greater Bay Area running calendar

The Hengqin Marathon joins a packed lineup of GBA races through the second half of the year. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Half Marathon runs its Hong Kong section on 15 November, giving runners rare access to the world’s longest sea crossing bridge and tunnel system. 

The Guangzhou Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label race that has run since 2012 and regularly draws more than 20,000 participants, follows on 20 December. 

Macao also hosts its own annual Macao International Marathon on 6 December, giving GBA runners a dense cluster of race options across a three week stretch to close out the year.