About the Edinburgh Marathon Festival…

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a fantastic running event with a friendly and celebratory atmosphere which is very well supported in Edinburgh and East Lothian. Fast and flat, this course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, so it’s ideal whether it’s your first marathon, or whether you’re looking for a personal best. The Edinburgh Marathon Festival has sold out every year since 2008 and is the second largest marathon event in the UK, behind only London.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026 takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of 23 and 24 May.

  • The 5K and 10K events are held on Saturday 23rd May in Holyrood Park in the city centre
  • The Edinburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay are held on Sunday 24th, starting in the city centre and finishing in Musselburgh

We’ll look forward to greeting you in the Charity Village at the finish!  We’ll have drinks, snacks, a warm welcome and a thank you ready for you.

The Edinburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay routes begin on Potterrow.

…where runners from all over the world can run past many of the famous city landmarks.  Starting from the University of Edinburgh you’ll pass many iconic landmarks of the capital. The route brings you past Greyfriar’s Bobby, into the Old Town, down the Mound and along Princes Street Gardens. It then races past the Scott Monument – a towering gothic monument dedicated to writer Sir Walter Scott.

Next, you’ll join the Royal Mile before passing by the modern Scottish Parliament building and the historic Holyrood Palace opposite, home to Scottish kings and queens. The route then runs through Holyrood Park in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano.  It races by Meadowbank Sports Stadium, scene of Commonwealth Games glory for runners such as Liz McColgan.  It then turns north, through Craigentinny, before reaching Portobello Promenade for some bracing seaside air.

The route then stretches into East Lothian

…along Musselburgh Road before reaching Musselburgh Racecourse. If you’re running the Half Marathon route you’ll head into the playing fields at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School. Marathon and Relay runners will run on to Prestonpans, passing Cockenzie and Port Seton. It then races on along Scotland’s golf coast which boasts 22 courses including some of the world’s oldest and most admired such as Gullane and Muirfield. The route reaches the village of Longniddry before looping around Gosford House, and heading back past Musselburgh Links, the famous golf course officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest golf course in the world.

The marathon finishes in playing fields at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School.  This is where you’ll get a chance to rest and recuperate while taking in more of the friendly festival atmosphere. You can enjoy some time in Musselburgh, or catch a bus back to the city when you’re ready – here are all the transport options.

We’re delighted to support you in any event in the EMF 2026 with:

  • Pre-race information about how to get sponsorship and fundraise and how to make it easy, safe and fun!
  • Specially designed Prostate Scotland running shirt or vest
  • Post-race a Prostate Scotland Certificate of Appreciation

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival will provide to you:

  • Wicking finisher’s t-shirt
  • Accurate chip timing
  • Great finisher’s medal
  • Race recovery pack

We have free charity places available for runners running in aid of Prostate Scotland in all adult EMF events.

The sponsorship you raise will help us to take forward our work to ensure that even more men and their families can benefit from and receive information and support on prostate issues.  You can read more about our work here.