7 Cairns Marathon Festival 2026

The Cairns Marathon Festival is a flat waterfront running event in Tropical North Queensland, held at Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade. The program includes a marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, and a 2km Mini Marathoner dash, suitable for serious runners aiming for a fast time and families participating in a short event together. The marathon course consists of four laps, and the half marathon uses two, offering runners consistent stretches along the water and simplifying spectating near the event hub. The route runs along the Cairns Esplanade and adjacent city streets, featuring ocean views, palm trees lining the foreshore, and the Coral Sea alongside much of the course. Running clubs, corporate teams, sponsors, charity entrants, parents with prams, wheelchair participants, and children are all part of the festival. The 2km event is timed so parents can complete longer distances before running with their children. Fogarty Park serves as the finish area, with on-course and post-race entertainment providing a social atmosphere after the races.