Seville Marathon

The Race

The Zurich Maratón de Sevilla is the race that time-focused runners choose when they want a genuine shot at a personal best. The new 2026 course - the organisers describe it as the flattest marathon course in Europe - produces results that back the claim: 28.9% of the 12,345 finishers in 2026 crossed the line in under three hours. The global marathon average for sub-3h finishers sits around 4%. The self-selection at Seville is real, but so is the course.

Total elevation gain across 42.195 kilometres is approximately 49 metres - the equivalent of climbing five flights of stairs. The course holds between 11 and 19 metres above sea level throughout, with no meaningful climbs. It loops through the historic centre, along the Guadalquivir riverbank, through the Triana barrio on the west bank, past the Maestranza bullring, and south along the Paseo de las Delicias to the finish at the Buenos Aires Roundabout.

February in Seville gives race day temperatures of 8--16°C with light SW winds and very consistent conditions across editions. The race holds a World Athletics Elite Label, an AIMS calendar membership, and serves as an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifier. The 2026 men's race was settled in a photo finish between Tola Shura Kitata and compatriot Abderehman Asrar Hiyrden - both recorded 2:03:59, the closest in the race's history. Alisa Vainio of Finland won the women's race in 2:20:39, setting a Finnish national record.

The field of 12,345 finishers in 2026 was 53% international - French runners exceeded 3,000 for the first time - with 21.4% female participation. These are the demographics of a time-focused field: experienced runners who chose Seville specifically because of the course.

Entry

All 20,000 places for 2027 were allocated through a tiered loyalty system in April 2026. Prior-year marathon registrants had first access (9--12 April), followed by prior-year waiting list registrants (13--16 April), with general sale opening on 17 April for any remaining places. The structure rewards returning runners: a significant portion of the field consists of people who have run Seville before and entered through the priority window.

The race is an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifier - a finish time counts toward AbbottWMM Six Star eligibility, though Seville is not itself one of the six Majors. Its World Athletics Elite Label and the quality of the course make it a common target for runners building toward the Majors circuit or chasing national qualifying standards.

Race Weekend

Expo and Number Collection

Number collection takes place at FIBES (Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Sevilla) in the two days before the race. Check zurichmaratonsevilla.es for current opening hours. FIBES is in the northeast of the city; from central hotels, take a taxi (approximately 10 minutes) or the C1 tram from Prado de San Sebastián. Collection on race morning is not available.

Getting to the Start

The start is on Avenida de María Luisa, next to the Casino de la Exposición at the northern edge of the Parque de María Luisa. Bag drop is on Avenida Santiago Montoto in the Port of Seville, which runs parallel to the course along the river. The procedure on race morning: deposit your bag on Avenida Santiago Montoto (accessible from Paseo de las Delicias or from the Aquarium side), then move to your corral via Glorieta de Marineros - the junction of Paseo de las Delicias, Puente de los Remedios, and Avenida de María Luisa. A checkpoint at Glorieta de Marineros requires your bib and corral wristband.

From Arenal or Santa Cruz hotels, the start is 1--1.5km south along the Guadalquivir waterfront or through the Parque de María Luisa, walkable in under 20 minutes. Check the official website for the current race morning transport policy.

The Course

The 2026 course is a complete redesign and the one that will run in 2027. The route holds between 11 and 19 metres above sea level for the full 42.195 kilometres - a profile that produces consistent pacing from start to finish. The course loops through the historic centre, crosses into the Triana barrio on the west bank of the Guadalquivir, runs south along the riverbank past the Maestranza bullring, and returns through the Arenal district to finish on the Paseo de las Delicias at the Buenos Aires Roundabout.

The main variable is wind. The SW wind common in February can assist on the northbound riverbank sections and become a headwind on the southbound ones. Check the forecast in the final week; if strong westerly wind is predicted, start the first half conservatively and use the sheltered city centre kilometres to bank time.

Finish and Post-Race Area

The finish line is on Paseo de las Delicias at the Buenos Aires Roundabout. The post-race zone runs east from the finish line through the medal and refreshment area to the junction of Avenida de la Guardia Civil and Avenida de Molini. To collect your bag, proceed to Avenida Santiago Montoto (parallel to the finish, in the Port of Seville) and exit back toward the Buenos Aires Roundabout. Arenal and Santa Cruz hotels are within 15 minutes' walk along the Guadalquivir waterfront.

Where to Stay

The finish on Paseo de las Delicias is at the southern edge of the Arenal district. Stay in Arenal or Santa Cruz: both are within 15 minutes' walk of the finish, and the start on Avenida de María Luisa is reachable on foot through the Parque de María Luisa in under 20 minutes. Unlike point-to-point races, Seville requires no transport planning between start and finish - they are in the same part of the city.

Book when entries open in April - approximately 10 months before the February race. Hotels in these neighbourhoods fill quickly once the entry sells out. February rates are considerably lower than spring: Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril, both in April, are the city's accommodation peak.

See & Do

The finish on Paseo de las Delicias puts you on the Guadalquivir waterfront at the southern edge of the Arenal district. The Torre del Oro is 200 metres north of where you cross the line. The Maestranza bullring is 400 metres further. The Alcázar is 900 metres. All the significant things to see in Seville are within walking distance.

Torre del Oro

The Torre del Oro, 0.2km (0.1 miles) north of the finish on Paseo de las Delicias, is a 13th-century Almohad watchtower on the Guadalquivir bank - the most immediate landmark after you cross the line. The name (Tower of Gold) derives either from the gilded tiles that once covered it or from its role as the receiving point for gold arriving from the Americas; both explanations circulate. The interior is a small maritime museum. There are stairs to the top; assess these honestly against post-marathon legs. The view from the base across the river to Triana is the reason to pause here.

Real Maestranza Bullring

The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza, 0.4km (0.3 miles) north of the finish, is the oldest bullring in Spain: an 18th-century oval with an ochre-and-white baroque facade on the Guadalquivir bank. Guided tours run daily (entry approximately €10). The bullfighting season runs April to October - in February the ring is inactive, but a tour of the arena floor and the museum is available. The course passes directly in front of the Maestranza during the race.

Real Alcázar

The Real Alcázar de Sevilla, 0.9km (0.6 miles) northeast of the finish, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still in use as the Spanish royal family's official Seville residence. The Mudéjar palace commissioned by Peter I in 1364 is the most elaborately decorated interior in Andalusia. The formal gardens - long flat paths through orange trees, fountains, and clipped hedges - are specifically navigable on post-marathon legs and worth the entry price alone. Book online (approximately €14.50); the queue without a booking is long on a late February weekend.

Triana and Calle Betis

Triana, 0.6km (0.4 miles) across the Puente de Isabel II from the finish, is the traditional neighbourhood of Seville's flamenco culture, ceramics workshops, and most characterful bars. The marathon course crosses here. The Mercado de Triana, just inside the bridge, is a covered food market built inside the walls of a former castle. Calle Betis - the riverfront promenade on the west bank - faces the old city across the water and has the best view of the Torre del Oro from ground level. The correct place for a post-race beer. The bridge is flat throughout.

After the Race

The Zurich Maratón de Sevilla runs in late February - a specific moment in the Andalusian calendar. The bitter orange trees on the city's avenues are at peak fruit. The almond blossom in the countryside east and north of the city is at or near peak flowering. Daytime temperatures after the race are 14--18°C. Both Semana Santa (March or April, depending on Easter) and the Feria de Abril are weeks away: Seville in late February is the city at its most navigable, operating for its own population rather than its visitors.

The high-speed rail network from Seville Santa Justa connects the Andalusian cities in under two hours: Córdoba 40 minutes, Cádiz 1h 40min, Antequera 55 minutes, Jerez 1h 15min. The itineraries below use trains throughout and are planned for post-marathon legs - no car hire, no unnecessary elevation.