2026 Chongqing Marathon

The 2026 Changan Automobile Chongqing Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM. The event takes place along the riverfront on Nanbin Road and Babin Road in Chongqing. For mid-January in Chongqing, participants can expect cool winter conditions with average temperatures ranging from 6°C to 10°C (43°F to 50°F), low humidity, and generally overcast skies with a low probability of precipitation. This annual marathon offers participants a competitive running experience through one of China's largest municipalities, featuring a full marathon course of 42.195 km and a mini run of approximately 5 km.

What is the official name and date of the event?

• →Event Name: 2026 Changan Automobile Chongqing Marathon
• →Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
• →Start Time: 8:30 AM
• →Location: Nanbin Road & Babin Road, Chongqing (along the Yangtze River)

What distances are available for this event?

• →Marathon (42.195 km): Capacity of 25,000 runners
• →Mini Run (~5 km): Capacity of 10,000 runners

How are participants selected if the event is oversubscribed?

• →Entry is determined by public lottery if registration exceeds capacity

What are the age requirements for marathon participants?

• →Minimum age: 20 years old (born on or before December 31, 2006)
• →Minors under 16: Must have guardian sign the Participant Declaration
• →Minors under 13: Must be accompanied by guardian during the race

What race experience is required for marathon entry?

• →Must have completed one verified marathon or half-marathon between January 1, 2023 and July 31, 2025
• →Results must appear on the official China Marathon website
• →Virtual race results are not accepted

What health and physical requirements apply to participants?

• →Participants must be in excellent health and regularly train for endurance running
• →Prohibited conditions include:

- Congenital/rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, myocarditis, coronary artery disease

- Diabetes, pregnancy

- Cold symptoms within 30 days of race

- Excessive alcohol or sleep deprivation the night before

• →Medical check-up and personal accident insurance are strongly recommended

When is registration open and what are the key dates?

• →General Registration: August 18–24, 2025
• →Lottery Results Announced: September 4, 2025
• →Run for Charity: Opens August 18, 2025 (first-come, first-served)
• →Series Race Direct Entry: December 1–7, 2025 (for 2025 Half-Marathon Top 500)

How much does registration cost?

• →Marathon - Domestic (incl. HK/Macao/Taiwan): ¥200
• →Marathon - Overseas: ¥350
• →Run for Charity: ¥2,500
• →Mini Run: ¥120 (domestic only)

How are marathon entry slots allocated?

Total: 25,000 slots allocated as follows:

• →General Lottery: 10,000 spots
• →Time-Qualified Direct Entry: 10,000 spots (based on age-group performance standards using verified 2023–2025 results)
• →Series Race Direct Entry: 1,000 spots (Top 500 male/female finishers of 2025 Chongqing Half-Marathon)
• →Run for Charity: 500 spots

What are the time-qualification standards for direct entry?

• →Based on age-group performance standards using verified results from 2023–2025
• →Example: Men ≤34 must have run a marathon ≤3:00:00 or half ≤1:25:00
• →If more than 10,000 qualify, allocation is proportional by age group and ranking by time

What special participant categories are available?

• →Elite Athletes: Invited directly by organizers; must be registered in China's national anti-doping testing/inspection pool
• →Participants with Disabilities: Open to runners with disabilities (including wheelchair users), except competitive wheelchair athletes

What are the requirements for visually impaired runners?

• →Must register with verified disability proof
• →Required to run with a guide (who must be a registered, lottery-selected participant)

What are the requirements for wheelchair users?

• →Start from the final assembly zone
• →Accompanying runners strongly recommended for safety

What is the race packet pickup process?

• →Details to be released via official website, WeChat, and Weibo
• →In-person pickup only — no mail-out service available

What is the refund and cancellation policy?

• →No refunds for selected participants who cannot attend
• →Lottery non-selected registrants receive full refund within 5 business days
• →In case of cancellation/postponement (force majeure), no compensation for travel/lodging losses