Warm Weather, Coastal Miles and a Weekend in Scotland
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival returned from 23-24 May 2026, attracting tens of thousands of runners to Scotland's capital over Memorial Day Weekend.
Race Beyond welcomed runners from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia for a long weekend that combined racing, sightseeing and the opportunity to explore some of Scotland's most famous landmarks.
With marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and junior events taking place across the weekend, Edinburgh remains one of the UK's largest running festivals and one of the most popular spring marathons for international runners.
Exploring Edinburgh
The weather couldn't have been better for exploring the city.
Over the weekend, runners enjoyed sunshine and temperatures reaching around 75°F (24°C) as they discovered Edinburgh's historic Old Town, Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
One of the highlights was our Harry Potter walking tour, which took runners through the streets, graveyards and locations that inspired J.K. Rowling's world-famous series.
With its cobbled streets, historic architecture and lively atmosphere, Edinburgh offers far more than just a marathon.
Race Weekend
Ahead of race day, runners attended the Expo, joined our shakeout run and gathered for a pre-race dinner in the city centre.
One challenge this year was the Expo itself. Bib collection was only available on Saturday and queues regularly stretched to between one and two hours during peak times.
If you're planning to run Edinburgh in the future, we'd recommend arriving either early when the Expo opens or later in the afternoon once the busiest period has passed.
Marathon Day
The Edinburgh Marathon started at Potterrow in the heart of the city before heading east towards the coast.
The weather was one of the highlights of the weekend, but it created a different challenge on race day. Temperatures climbed to around 75°F (24°C), considerably warmer than many runners expected for a Scottish spring marathon.
As the morning progressed, the heat became a significant factor, particularly during the later miles along the exposed coastal sections of the course. While Edinburgh is often associated with cool conditions, 2026 was a very different experience.
The Course
The route takes runners through some of Edinburgh's most recognisable areas before heading towards East Lothian.
Highlights include:
- Edinburgh city centre
- Holyrood Park
- Portobello
- Musselburgh
- East Lothian coastline
The first half combines city landmarks and enthusiastic crowd support, while the second half becomes more exposed as runners follow the coast towards the finish.
The coastal views are a highlight, but the lack of shade becomes noticeable when temperatures rise.
Logistics
One area where Edinburgh differs from many major marathons is the finish-line logistics.
The race finishes in Musselburgh, several miles from Edinburgh city centre. While shuttle buses are provided, they can become busy after the race, particularly when thousands of runners finish within a relatively short period.
Several members of our group chose to walk into Musselburgh after finishing, find a local pub and enjoy a post-race drink while waiting for the queues to ease before returning to Edinburgh.
It's not a major issue, but it's something worth planning for if you're travelling from overseas.
Medal & Finish Experience
The finish-line atmosphere was excellent, with plenty of supporters cheering runners home after 26.2 miles.
The 2026 medal design looked fantastic, although a number of runners reported issues with medals breaking after the race. While it didn't take away from the achievement, it was one of the more common talking points among finishers afterwards.
Beyond the Marathon
The weekend concluded with one of the highlights of the trip - a full-day Highlands tour.
Runners and guests visited Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies, providing the perfect opportunity to experience another side of Scotland after race weekend.
For many international visitors, it was the perfect way to round off the trip before heading home.
Our Verdict
Edinburgh offers a unique combination of history, scenery and atmosphere.
The city itself is one of the most enjoyable marathon destinations in Europe, while the festival format creates a great race-weekend atmosphere for runners and supporters alike.
The 2026 edition was warmer than many runners expected, and the point-to-point logistics require a little planning, but the overall experience more than makes up for it.
If you're looking to combine a marathon with a long weekend exploring one of Europe's most historic cities, Edinburgh should be high on your list.
By The Numbers
- Memorial Day Weekend
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and junior races
- Runners from the US, UK and Australia
- Harry Potter Walking Tour
- Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & The Kelpies Tour
- Temperatures reaching 75°F (24°C)
- One memorable weekend in Scotland
