The Zurich Barcelona Marathon has achieved something that seemed unlikely only a few years ago: to become Spain’s most popular marathon once again. The Catalan race has sold out the 37,000 bibs available for its edition on March 14, 2027, a historic record that arrives four and a half months in advance. For the third consecutive year, the race is fully booked, though it has never done so this early.
The growth is particularly notable when compared with the figures from recent editions. Barcelona moved from 27,000 participants in 2025 to 32,000 in 2026, and now reaches 37,000. This increase allows it to surpass the 36,000 bibs of the Valencia Marathon. In Europe, only London, Paris and Berlin attract more runners.
The evolution of the race has been spectacular. In 2016 it surpassed the 20,000-registrants barrier for the first time, but subsequently came several years of stagnation and the setback caused by the pandemic. In 2024 it regained that figure, and since then growth has been steady. The newly launched route, recently unveiled, and the strong results of the latest editions have helped strengthen its appeal.
A Marathon Ever More International
The participation data also reflect the international character of the event. 65% of the entrants will come from outside Spain, with France as the leading country of origin, nearing 8,000 runners. They are followed by the United Kingdom, with 5,000, and Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, with around a thousand each. In total there will be representatives from 107 countries.
Regarding the profile of participants, 74% are men and 26% women. The largest age group is between 25 and 34 years old, with more than 12,000 registrations. Additionally, nearly half of the runners (47%) have not yet turned 35.
