How to Register for the Rio Marathon?

.In Rio de Janeiro, the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are more than just postcards. They are also the finish line of one of the most spectacular marathons on the planet. The Rio Marathon, considered the largest running festival in Latin America, brings together nearly 70,000 runners from around the world each year to take on the streets of the Cidade Maravilhosa. In 2026, the 47th edition takes place from June 4 to 7, featuring a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon. A historic first: for this edition, the marathon and half marathon adopted a lottery system — a first in Brazil.

✓ How do you register for the Rio Marathon? We walk you through the entire process, step by step.

| The registration system: a lottery for Brazilian runners

Unlike many major races worldwide, the Rio Marathon does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis for its longer distances. For the 2026 edition, the organization made the bold and unprecedented decision to introduce a lottery system for the 21K, 42K, and the Desafio 21K+42K challenge — a first in Brazilian marathon history. The organization itself described it as a “historic” edition once registration closed.

The process unfolded in several clearly defined steps, worth keeping in mind for future editions:
➜ Itaú pre-sale (November 10): Before the official opening, Itaú Uniclass credit card holders were given exclusive early access to secure their spot.
➜ Free application window: November 12 at noon to November 26 at 3 PM (Brasília time). Runners interested in the 21K, 42K, or Desafio submitted a free form on the official platform. Applying on the first or last day made no difference — everyone had an equal chance.
➜ Unique lottery number: On December 5, each applicant received their lottery number by email, also viewable on the official website.
➜ Draw: On December 6, conducted by the Brazilian Federal Lottery — a certified, independently audited process.
➜ Results announcement: On December 10, selected names were published on the website and app, with email notifications sent out.
➜ Purchase window for selected runners: December 11 at noon to December 15 at 3 PM. Each selected runner received an exclusive link by email to complete their bib purchase on GoDream. Important: if the purchase was not completed within this window, the spot was permanently cancelled and redistributed in a subsequent sales wave.

A few key points to avoid losing your spot:
✔ Check your inbox and spam folder from December 10 onward
✔ Complete your purchase before December 15 at 3 PM without exception
✔ No changes to the application form are possible after submission — make sure your email address is correct from the start
✔ No bib transfers are permitted, whether for lottery entrants or lote assegurado holders
✔ At the time of purchase, the platform offers an optional full refund service in case of cancellation, subject to the conditions listed on the purchase page — useful coverage in the event of injury

After the main window, several additional sales waves were organized to fill remaining spots or expand capacity:
✔ Final registration closure (May 11): Following a last Raspa do Tacho session for the 5K and 10K, the organization confirmed no further entries would be accepted.
✔ Chamada regular (general wave, December): Unclaimed spots were made available through GoDream.
✔ Vagas extras (February 12): 5,000 additional marathon spots were released following a technical capacity increase, with a slightly revised course (fewer turns — just 21, maximum elevation gain of 110 meters).
✔ Raspa do Tacho (April 15, noon): The final batch of remaining spots across the 21K, 42K, and Desafio, open to all on GoDream. Existing registrations could also be upgraded with a faster start wave, VIP area access, YOPP sunglasses, or medal engraving.

| Mandatory travel agencies for international runners

For international runners, one important rule applies: registration is not available directly through the GoDream platform. Foreign runners must go through officially accredited travel agencies, listed on the Rio Marathon website. This is the only route available to non-Brazilian residents. The full list of accredited agencies is available on the official event website.

| Key dates

The 2026 Rio Marathon takes place over the Corpus Christi long weekend, making it an ideal opportunity to combine racing with exploring the city.
➜ 5K | Vibra: Thursday, June 4, 2026 — start at 5:00 PM from Aterro do Flamengo (Marina da Glória)
➜ 10K | Netshoes: Friday, June 5, 2026 — start at 7:00 AM from Aterro do Flamengo (Marina da Glória)
➜ 21K | Claro: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — start at 5:30 AM from Leblon (Jardim de Alah)
➜ 42K | Michelob Ultra: Sunday, June 7, 2026 — start at 5:30 AM from Praia da Reserva
➜ Desafio 21K+42K | Dorflex Max: Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7, 2026

All distances finish at the same location: Aterro do Flamengo, near Marina da Glória.L’édition 2026 du Marathon de Rio se déroule pendant le pont de la Fête-Dieu (Corpus Christi), ce qui en fait un long week-end idéal pour combiner course et découverte de la ville.

| Pricing: how much does a Rio Marathon bib cost?

For international runners going through an accredited agency, prices typically include the bib, accommodation, flight, and transfers. As a guide, specialist agencies list the marathon or half marathon bib at around €170, the 10K at around €160, with travel packages (flight, hotel, transfers) starting from approximately €1,500 to €2,500 per person.

These packages offer a major advantage: they allow foreign runners to bypass the complexity of the Portuguese-language registration process and secure their place directly, without entering the lottery or risking missing out on general sales waves.

Find officially accredited agencies on the Rio Marathon website and registration details on Finishers.com.

| Sold out: it goes (very) fast

The 2026 edition confirmed the growing appetite for the Rio Marathon. The timeline speaks for itself:
➜ April 17: The Desafio 21K+42K sells out first.
➜ Late April / early May: The 21K and 42K follow quickly.
➜ May 6: Official sold-out announcement for the 42K.
➜ May 11: Final registration closure, including the 5K and 10K, following a last Raspa do Tacho session.

The organization itself celebrated a “historic” edition, with a record number of participants. For 2027, watch for the lottery application window to open in November — that’s the window you cannot afford to miss.

| Bib collection at Casa Maratona

Bib pickup takes place in person in the days before the race. For the 2026 edition, Casa Maratona is set up at Marina da Glória, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, in the Glória neighborhood — which also hosts the finish line for all distances.

Collection slots are spread across the Tuesday to Saturday before the race (June 2–6 for 2026), organized by distance. Each athlete must select their time slot at registration and stick to it to help manage crowd flow. A valid form of ID is required (passport for international runners).

| The Desafio Cidade Maravilhosa: running the half then the full

One of the Rio Marathon’s signature features is the Desafio Cidade Maravilhosa (sponsored by Dorflex Max for 2026), a unique format combining the half marathon on Saturday with the full marathon on Sunday — 63 kilometers across two days. Finishers receive a special third medal in addition to those from each individual race. The challenge is subject to the same lottery system as the 21K and 42K, with a minimum age of 20. For the 2026 edition, it was a resounding success — and the first format to sell out entirely.

| Entry requirements: minimum age and time limits

The Rio Marathon sets clear requirements for each distance:
➜ 42K (Marathon): minimum age 20 — time limit 6 hours
➜ Desafio 21K+42K: minimum age 20
➜ 21K (Half marathon): minimum age 18 — time limit 3 hours
➜ 10K: minimum age 16 — time limit 1h30
➜ 5K: minimum age 14 (parental consent required for minors) — time limit 1h30

The time limits are worth keeping in mind — they are not generous, and once the cutoff passes, city streets reopen to traffic.

| The course: the most beautiful race in the world?

Many runners call the Rio Marathon the most beautiful race in the world, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. The marathon starts at Praia da Reserva in the western part of the city and winds through Rio’s most iconic streets before reaching the finish at Flamengo. Between kilometers 15 and 20, the silhouette of Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer — standing 710 meters above sea level — appears on the horizon. The standout stretch remains the kilometers running alongside the legendary beaches of Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana, before the Morro do Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) comes into view in the final straight.

The course also passes some of the city’s historic landmarks: the baroque Igreja da Candelária, the Museum of Art of Rio, the Museum of Tomorrow, and the Aquarium. In short, it is both a race and a guided tour of the Cidade Maravilhosa.

In terms of profile, the 42K course has been revised for an even smoother experience: just 21 turns across the entire route, with a total elevation gain of 110 meters. The organization provides an official shuttle service (GO2) to transport runners from the city center to the marathon start area, at a cost of around 100 BRL. The early start is intentional — designed to beat the heat. Elites set off at dawn at 5:30 AM, with amateur waves following from 5:50 to 6:35 AM.

| An elite event with World Athletics status

The Rio Marathon holds the World Athletics Elite label, an internationally recognized mark of quality. The race also serves as a qualifier for the Abbott World Marathon Majors MTT Age Group Qualifiers, giving participants the opportunity to compete for a spot in the fields of the world’s major races (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York) in their age category.

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

© Maratona Do Rio

The Rio Marathon is a unique sporting and human experience, run along the world’s most beautiful beaches, in one of the planet’s most vibrant cities. With its new lottery system and editions selling out earlier each year, the event is clearly gaining in stature. It is simply one of the most popular running events in the world, with 70,000 participants across the full weekend. For the next edition, one rule applies: watch for the application window to open in November — and for international runners, contacting a partner agency is the only way in.

✔ Find all Rio Marathon registration details.

Clément LABORIEUX
Journalist