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More than a thousand foreign runners will participate in the Rio Marathon in 2026.
Published on 01/06/2026 - 11:13 | Updated
The Rio Marathon is one of the world's leading road races - Press Release More than a thousand foreign runners will be in Rio de Janeiro to compete in the Rio Marathon, between June 3rd and 7th. In total, 1.124 athletes from other countries will participate in the 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km races. With more than 70 registrations in 2026, a record number in the event's history, the competition is consolidating itself as the largest in Latin America and one of the main road races in the world.
— The numbers show a growth trend in recent years, with a strong percentage of athletes from outside Rio de Janeiro. The presence of Brazilians from other cities already reinforces the plurality and cosmopolitan character of the event, but the participation of foreigners confirms that the city has established itself as one of the main destinations on the world map for sports and well-being. The Rio Marathon is very important for this — explains the municipal Secretary of Sports, Bruno Ramos.
Directly from Paraguay, 40-year-old Luís Portillo will be one of the foreigners competing in the Rio Marathon. A resident of the city of Obligado, in Itapúa, the Paraguayan lost 30 kg by adopting running as a habit and, this week, will be on the starting line for the 10 km race. According to Luís, the Marvelous City is a great inspiration and participation in the race has the potential to promote personal transformations in the lives of the athletes.
— This race has immense significance. For the first time, the reason for visiting this beautiful city isn't for parties or traditional tourism, but to compete and celebrate health. Running 10 km in Rio was unthinkable six months ago. Nobody in my family knows! They'll find out when I post the photo with the medal, 1.700 km from home. Today, besides being a dream, it's the place where I intend to renew my commitment to the sport, because I know I'll be back in the coming years to pursue my first 21 km and, who knows, maybe even 42 km — says Luís.
The increased international participation reinforces the Rio Marathon's prominence on the global road race scene. The event's growth strengthens the city's position among the world's leading destinations for the sport and expands the potential for a future bid to join the World Marathon Majors, a circuit currently composed of the marathons in Tokyo, Japan; Boston, Chicago, and New York, in the United States; Berlin, Germany; and Sydney, Australia.
A potential inclusion among the world's major marathons would increase visitor numbers and further strengthen the sports-related economy. In 2025, the Rio Marathon generated approximately R$ 587 million for the city's economy. At that time, 60 registered participants took part in the races. The event also contributed to the city's hotel occupancy reaching 80% in June, above the historical annual average of 73%.
The program takes advantage of the Corpus Christi holiday to bring together sport, leisure and entertainment. In addition to the races, the event will feature musical and cultural attractions, with activities starting on Wednesday (3). Check the race schedule below:
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5km race
Date: 04/06 (Thursday)
Departure: 17am
Location: Flamengo Park (Marina da Glória)
10K race
Date: 05/06 (Friday)
Departure: 7am
Location: Flamengo Park (Marina da Glória)
21K race
Date: 06/06 (Saturday)
Start: 5:30 am
Location: Leblon (Jardim de Alah)
42K race
Date: 07/06 (Sunday)
Start: 5:30 am
Location: Reserva Beach
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