The 2026 Chengdu Marathon opened registration today (June 10) and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 25.

With Zhong'ao Road Running beginning operations, the 2026 Chengdu Marathon marks a new start: Zeekr Automobile has become the new title sponsor, and the sports-brand sponsorship has changed — Li-Ning now appears on the Chengdu Marathon backdrop and has secured important race resources in the Southwest region.

This year's event scale is a total of 35,000 participants, with 25,000 for the marathon and 10,000 for the half marathon.

The start for both races is: Jinsha Site Museum.
Marathon finish: Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center.
Half marathon finish: Sichuan University Wangjiang Campus.

Start times:
Elite athletes and runners in zones A, B and C will start at 7:30.
Runners in zones D and E will start at 7:50.
Half marathon runners in zones F and G will start at 8:10.

In addition to the basic information above, the organizers have made many new adjustments to this year's Chengdu Marathon.

1) Changed to a new registration mechanism of "register first, then lottery, and pay after being selected."

If a runner is unable to participate for any reason, they can apply to withdraw within the specified time (important!), and the entry fee can be fully refunded — a very runner-friendly policy.

2) A special "No Bag Drop" option has been established.

During registration a "No Bag Drop" green participation option will be offered for runners to choose voluntarily.
Participants will receive a dedicated race bib before the race and can collect an exclusive insulated item after the race, symbolizing their contribution to environmental protection.

3) Race course optimization.

The optimized route adds four landmark points along the course: Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Sichuan Museum, Qingyang Palace, and Qintai Road, aiming to create richer, more unique "Chengdu Marathon memories" for participants.

4) Multiple temporary passage points have been set up to minimize the event's impact on residents' travel.

The organizers will use pedestrian overpasses, metro stations and pedestrian underpasses, and establish "dynamic safety islands" and other measures to increase temporary passage points on race roads — a unique consideration to preserve residents' normal travel.

5) Consumer discounts, enhanced cultural experiences and increased support for local industries for runners visiting Chengdu.

For participants, race organizers—working with scenic spots and commercial districts—are offering perks such as free admission, discount coupons and shopping vouchers, making it easy for runners to explore and enjoy Chengdu before and after the race.

The organizers will also roll out panda‑themed cultural and creative products leveraging the national treasure, the panda.

Will you sign up for this year’s Chengdu Marathon? Aren’t you curious to check out what’s new at the Chengdu Marathon?