Set the alarms and charge the phone the race for Dublin Marathon places begins at sunrise tomorrow.
Applications for the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon will open through a ballot system at 7am on Wednesday, November 12th, running for six days until midnight on Monday, November 17th at irishlifedublinmarathon.ie. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in batches on Tuesday, November 25th and Wednesday, November 26th.
A €5 administration fee applies to every ballot entry. That fee goes towards processing and verification, and will be deducted from the full €110 entry cost if you’re lucky enough to get a place. If you don’t, it’s non-refundable, so fingers crossed.
A Fairer System for 2026
The Dublin Marathon organisers confirmed earlier this year that the ballot will now be the sole method of general entry from 2026 onwards. The aim is to open up the event to more newcomers and balance out the field. Around 70% of previous entries have gone to returning runners, and the new system will increase the availability of places for first-timers while continuing to support regular participants.
There’s also a drive to improve gender balance, as women currently make up only 36% of the field.
Changes to Priority Entry
Gone are the days of the 48-hour priority window for runners who completed the previous year’s race. Everyone now enters the same ballot. However, there’s still recognition for those who’ve run Dublin before, applicants can indicate if they’ve taken part in any Dublin Marathon since 2016.
The separate early entry scheme for women who ran the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon has also been rolled into the main ballot, as organisers look to boost female participation more effectively.
Guaranteed and Charity Places
Outside of the general ballot, there will still be guaranteed places set aside for:
- Elite athletes
- Good for Age qualifiers
- Official charity partners
- Sponsors and community initiatives
The Good for Age route remains open to runners who’ve achieved a qualifying marathon time within the last two years, verified by age and gender standards. Charity places will once again provide guaranteed entries for those raising funds for approved causes.
Missed Out? There’s Still Hope
If your name doesn’t come up in the ballot draw, all is not lost. There will be transfer and refund windows next year, giving runners another chance to snap up returned entries. Specific dates for these opportunities will be confirmed closer to race season.
For now, all eyes are on tomorrow morning. Get that coffee ready, log on early, and may the ballot odds be ever in your favour.