Sponsored content
Next stop, Sydney: your 2027 Sydney Marathon ballot guide
KorMarathonPublished
TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS has been an Abbott World Marathon Majors race since 2025, and the 2027 edition takes place on Sunday 29 August. The course starts in North Sydney, crosses the Harbour Bridge and finishes in front of the Opera House, one of the first images that comes to mind when you think of Sydney. The ballot for places runs from 9:00 a.m. KST on 29 September to 8:00 a.m. KST on 19 October.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Ballot window | 9:00 a.m. Tue 29 September to 8:00 a.m. Mon 19 October 2026 (KST) |
| Format | Random draw, not first come, first served |
| Entry fee | A$340 (international entry, incl. A$10 carbon levy), charged only if you are selected |
| Results | Tuesday 3 November 2026; selected applicants' cards are charged the same day |
| Race day | Sunday 29 August 2027, 6:30 a.m. local start |
| Course | North Sydney start → Harbour Bridge → Opera House finish |
| Eligibility | 18 or older on race day, 7-hour cut-off |
| Application portal | Race Roster (use the English page; no Korean available) |
Why Sydney
Across the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House
After the Harbour Bridge, the course runs through The Rocks and Centennial Park, rounds Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden and finishes in front of the Opera House. The organizer's course flyover video shows the whole route.
The cut-off is seven hours and the course climbs 313 m in total. There are uphill stretches, so it is worth adding some hill running to your training.
Where to go the day after
The coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach is about 6 km, which makes it a good recovery walk for the day after the race. From Circular Quay you can take a ferry across to Manly.
Humpback whales pass the Sydney coast from May to November, and through that season whale-watching cruises leave Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Manly every day.
Flight time, time difference and weather
The direct flight from Incheon to Sydney takes a little over 10 hours. Korean Air's direct service leaves Incheon around 7 p.m. and lands in Sydney the next morning. In late August, when the race is held, Sydney is one hour ahead of Korea. With only a one-hour time difference, Sydney is an appealing choice if you want to spend less time adjusting to jet lag.
August is late winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Using the Bureau of Meteorology's long-term averages, Sydney's August mean minimum is 9.0°C and its mean maximum 17.9°C. It can be chilly early in the morning, but on temperature alone it is good running weather.
A seventh star for Six Star Finishers
According to the organizer, more than 6,000 Six Star Finishers have completed Sydney and earned their seventh star.
Ballot dates and results
| Milestone | Date and time (KST) |
|---|---|
| Ballot opens | 9:00 a.m., Tuesday 29 September 2026 |
| Ballot closes | 8:00 a.m., Monday 19 October 2026 |
| Results and card charges for selected applicants | Tuesday 3 November 2026 |
| Race day | Sunday 29 August 2027 |
The organizer gives both the opening and the closing time as 10:00 a.m. Sydney time. Daylight saving starts in Sydney on 4 October, between the two dates, so in Korean time the ballot opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 8:00 a.m. The deadline falls early on a Monday morning, so it is safer to finish your application by Sunday night.
The entry fee and when you pay it
You are only charged if you are selected, and the card you register with your application is charged on 3 November. International entry (for anyone living outside Australia and New Zealand) is A$330, and with the A$10 carbon levy included the portal shows A$340. Budget for flights and accommodation separately.
The ballot is not first come, first served. Applying on the first day and applying just before the deadline count exactly the same. Once the deadline passes, though, you can no longer enter the general ballot.
How to apply
- During the ballot window, use the application link below to open the ballot page. There is no Korean version, so work through the English pages. Create an account or log in as prompted.
- Choose the
Marathon (42.2km) | Internationalcategory, which is for entrants living outside Australia and New Zealand. - Fill in your details. Spell your name exactly as it appears in your passport, and check your email address once more before you submit.
- Register a card that works for overseas payments. If you are selected, the entry fee is charged to this card.
- Complete every step and check that you reach the confirmation screen. The “2027 Ballot Updates” form on the organizer's information page only signs you up for news; it does not enter you in the ballot.
- Results are announced on 3 November. If you are selected, a confirmation email follows the card charge, so check your spam folder too.
Eligibility
Marathon entrants must be 18 or older on race day.
If you get lucky in the draw
If you are selected, you are notified on 3 November, your card is charged and a confirmation email follows. Applicants who miss out hear on the same day and are sent details of guaranteed entry packages, which secure a place through the Official International Tour Operators or the Charity Programs.
Participant benefits include:
- A finisher T-shirt and finisher medal
- A 12-month free subscription to ASICS Runkeeper Go (ASICS's personalised training platform)
- Access to Marathon State of Mind, an AI mental training program built on sports psychology
A sample trip: out Thursday night, home Tuesday
You can book flights and accommodation after the result on 3 November. The plan below takes three days of leave: Friday, Monday and Tuesday. Flight times are based on Korean Air's direct service.
| Date | Plan |
|---|---|
| Thu 26 Aug | Leave Incheon in the evening after work, overnight on the plane |
| Fri 27 Aug | Land in Sydney in the morning. Collect your bib at the expo and walk around Circular Quay |
| Sat 28 Aug | Easy run in the morning, rest and carb-load in the afternoon |
| Sun 29 Aug | 6:30 a.m. start. Celebrate around the Opera House in the afternoon |
| Mon 30 Aug | The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, the Manly ferry or a whale-watching cruise |
| Tue 31 Aug | Leave Sydney in the morning, land at Incheon late in the afternoon |
Before you go
- Entry to Australia: tourists need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You apply through the “Australian ETA” app, and it allows stays of up to three months per visit.
- Where to stay: with a 6:30 a.m. start, choose accommodation with easy access to the North Sydney start line early on race morning.
- What to wear: it can be chilly while you wait before sunrise. Bring a light layer or a rain poncho to wear until the start.
- Dinner the night before: if you want familiar carbs, you will find Korean restaurants in Sydney's CBD Koreatown and in Strathfield, which has a large Korean community.
The ballot closes at 8:00 a.m. KST on Monday 19 October.
This is sponsored content produced with support from TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS. Ballot entries and payments follow the organizer's procedures, and applying through KorMarathon does not change your chances in the draw.
