5 official routes into the Dublin Marathon 2027; none open now.
Since the 2026 race Dublin allocates every general entry by public ballot, after scrapping the 48-hour priority window that let previous finishers register first; the organiser says around 70% of general places used to go to returning runners and wanted a fairer balance with newcomers and more women in a field that was 36% female. Of the 22,500 places, 17,200 go through the ballot, and more than 47,000 applied for them in the first year. The rest are held for elite athletes, Good For Age qualifiers, realbuzz charity runners, community programmes, sponsors and international tour operators. Each summer there is a short refund window whose returned places are resold first-come-first-served, followed by a two-month official transfer window run on Eventmaster.
Dublin's city marathon, organised by Dublin Marathon Group, with a race capacity of 22,500. Since 2026 all general entries are allocated by ballot.
Anyone aged 18 or over hoping for one of the 17,200 general Dublin places without a qualifying time or a fundraising target.
How competitive
The organiser reported more than 47,000 applications for 17,200 ballot places for the 2026 race, and 17,200 ballot places are again on offer for 2027.
Tips
The Dublin ballot has opened in mid-November for about five days, with results a week later and only a few days for winners to pay. One application per person is allowed. For the 2027 race the 4 EUR ballot fee is refunded automatically if you are unsuccessful and offset against the 130 EUR entry fee if you win, whereas the 2026 ballot fee was kept from unsuccessful applicants.
Not verified since 20 Oct 2026, 14:40
All 17,200 general entry places are allocated by public ballot, open from 9am on Thursday 12 November to midnight on Tuesday 17 November 2026. The €4 ballot fee (plus platform and payment processing fees) is refunded automatically to unsuccessful applicants and offset against the €130 entry fee for successful ones. Results are sent on Wednesday 25 November 2026, and successful applicants have until midnight on Monday 30 November to complete and pay for their entry.
Last checked 13 hours ago · last confirmed 20 Oct 2026, 14:40
Dublin Marathon Good For Age entry
Who can apply
A qualifying performance from an eligible race in 2025, 2026 or 2027 (criteria published 1 December 2026).
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Opens
Closes
Best for
Runners with a recent marathon time fast enough for their age category who would rather not depend on the Dublin ballot.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Applications open in May, months after the ballot, and the qualifying criteria are published in early December. Places are split across age categories and, where a category is oversubscribed, the fastest verified applicants win, so meeting the standard does not guarantee entry. Keep your race number and a link to the official result ready. A Good For Age entry can never be transferred to someone else.
Application window for runners with a qualifying performance from an eligible race in 2025, 2026 or 2027, open Friday 7 May to Wednesday 26 May 2027. Qualifying criteria are published on Tuesday 1 December 2026. If oversubscribed, the fastest qualifying times in each category are successful; runners are notified from 2 June 2027.
Opens
Deadline
Entry fee
Unknown
Eligibility
A qualifying performance from an eligible race in 2025, 2026 or 2027 (criteria published 1 December 2026).
Last checked 14 minutes ago · last confirmed 2 Nov 2026, 03:27
Dublin Marathon charity places
Who can apply
Subject to the chosen charity's fundraising requirements.
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Fundraising minimum
Not yet published by the organiser
Opened
Closes
Not yet published by the organiser
Best for
Runners willing to raise money for one of the Irish or international charities in the realbuzz programme in return for a guaranteed bib.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Charity places for the 2027 race are available through the organiser's partner realbuzz from the day after the 2026 marathon, weeks before the November ballot. The programme lists over 150 charities for 2026 and more than 200 for 2027, and each charity sets its own fundraising requirement and decides whom to accept. Fundraising pages run on Eventmaster.
Guaranteed places with more than 200 Irish and international charities through the official charity partner realbuzz, available from Monday 26 October 2026. Places are subject to the chosen charity's fundraising requirements.
Opens
Deadline
Unknown
Entry fee
Unknown
Fundraising minimum
Unknown
Eligibility
Subject to the chosen charity's fundraising requirements.
Last checked 10 minutes ago · last confirmed 2 Nov 2026, 03:31
Dublin Marathon resale of refunded places
Who can apply
Not yet published by the organiser
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Opens
Closes
Not yet published by the organiser
Best for
Ballot losers who can be online at the moment the resale opens in mid-July and act faster than everyone else chasing a returned place.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Places come from entrants who used the early-July refund window, which costs them a 20 EUR charge. They are resold first come, first served a couple of days after that window shuts, and the rules say the resale link appears on the event website home page. A place bought in the resale cannot be transferred later.
Places handed back in the refund window (Thursday 1 July – Monday 12 July 2027) are resold on a first-come-first-served basis on Wednesday 14 July 2027. The organiser's rules say the resale link is posted on the event website home page. The resale price is not published (the 2027 general entry fee is €130).
Last checked 11 minutes ago · last confirmed 2 Nov 2026, 03:30
Dublin Marathon transfers
Who can apply
Each entry can be transferred only once, through the official Eventmaster transfer system.
Entry fee
€20.00
Opens
Closes
Best for
Someone taking over a friend's or clubmate's Dublin entry once that runner knows they cannot start.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
The window has run from late July to late September. The current holder logs into Eventmaster, opens My Tickets, chooses Ticket Transfer and enters your name and email; you then accept and pay the 20 EUR fee plus platform and processing charges. Each entry moves only once, and Good For Age entries, resale purchases and priority-code entries are excluded. Selling or swapping a number outside this system can lead to disqualification and bans.
Entry holders can transfer their place through the official Eventmaster transfer system between Wednesday 21 July and Wednesday 22 September 2027. The transfer fee is €20 plus platform and payment processing fees. Each entry can be transferred only once.
Opens
Deadline
Entry fee
€20.00
Eligibility
Each entry can be transferred only once, through the official Eventmaster transfer system.
Last checked 9 minutes ago · last confirmed 2 Nov 2026, 03:32
Which Dublin Marathon route suits you?
Anyone can apply
General entry ballotAnyone aged 18 or over hoping for one of the 17,200 general Dublin places without a qualifying time or a fundraising target.
Good For Age entryRunners with a recent marathon time fast enough for their age category who would rather not depend on the Dublin ballot.
Resale of refunded placesBallot losers who can be online at the moment the resale opens in mid-July and act faster than everyone else chasing a returned place.
Official transfer windowSomeone taking over a friend's or clubmate's Dublin entry once that runner knows they cannot start.
Runners from overseas
General entry ballotAnyone aged 18 or over hoping for one of the 17,200 general Dublin places without a qualifying time or a fundraising target.
Good For Age entryRunners with a recent marathon time fast enough for their age category who would rather not depend on the Dublin ballot.
Official charity placesRunners willing to raise money for one of the Irish or international charities in the realbuzz programme in return for a guaranteed bib.
Runners with a qualifying time
Good For Age entryRunners with a recent marathon time fast enough for their age category who would rather not depend on the Dublin ballot.
Runners happy to fundraise
Official charity placesRunners willing to raise money for one of the Irish or international charities in the realbuzz programme in return for a guaranteed bib.
Runners who want a guaranteed place
Official charity placesRunners willing to raise money for one of the Irish or international charities in the realbuzz programme in return for a guaranteed bib.
Entering the Dublin Marathon from overseas
The organiser reserves a block of places for runners booking through its approved international tour operators, listed by country on the travel packages page (Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the USA and South America), each offering a guaranteed place with accommodation. Good For Age is not limited to Irish club members: any runner with a qualifying marathon time can apply with a link to the result, and other marathons are accepted as well as Dublin's own. The realbuzz charity programme covers charities from Ireland and around the world. Plan to be in Dublin before race day: the organiser asks every runner to pick up their own number at the expo, and its FAQ lists a passport among the accepted forms of photo ID.
Dublin Marathon 2028 ballot: dates coming soon
The organiser has not announced the Dublin Marathon 2028 entry dates yet. We don't guess them: here is what is known so far.
The 2027 General entry ballot runs 12 Nov 2026, 09:00 UTC – 17 Nov 2026.
The 2027 Good For Age entry runs 7 May 2027 – 26 May 2027.
The 2027 Official charity places opened 26 Oct 2026.
The 2027 Resale of refunded places opens 14 Jul 2027.
The 2027 Official transfer window runs 21 Jul 2027 – 22 Sept 2027.
Dublin Marathon FAQ
How do I get into the Dublin Marathon 2027?
There are 5 official routes into the Dublin Marathon 2027: ballot, Good For Age entry, charity places, resale of refunded places and transfers. None is open right now.
When does the Dublin Marathon 2027 ballot open and close?
The 2027 General entry ballot runs 12 Nov 2026, 09:00 UTC – 17 Nov 2026.
Is there a qualifying time for the Dublin Marathon?
Yes. Good For Age entry: A qualifying performance from an eligible race in 2025, 2026 or 2027 (criteria published 1 December 2026).
How much does a Dublin Marathon charity place cost?
Official charity places: the fundraising minimum is not yet published by the organiser.
Can I transfer my Dublin Marathon place?
Only through the organiser's official scheme. Official transfer window: closes 22 Sept 2027.
Can I defer my Dublin Marathon entry to next year?
Not normally: the organiser does not allow deferrals. The exception is pregnant or postpartum runners, who can defer to one of the three following years by emailing office@dublinmarathon.ie at least 14 days before race day.
Can I get a refund on my Dublin Marathon entry?
Only during the official refund window in early July, when a 20 EUR administration charge is deducted and you stop being an entrant for that year. Outside that window entry fees are non-refundable.
How old do you have to be to run the Dublin Marathon?
The rules require marathon runners to be 18 years of age or older.
Apply for a guaranteed charity place with one of over 150 official charity partners through the organiser's charity partner realbuzz. Each charity sets its own minimum fundraising target and vets applications.
Opens
Unknown
Deadline
Unknown
Entry fee
Unknown
Fundraising minimum
Unknown
Eligibility
Reach the minimum fundraising target set by your chosen charity.
Last checked 20 hours ago · last confirmed 19 Oct 2026, 12:59
Direct entry
1 route
Not verified since 1 Oct 2026, 00:00
Official recognised international tour operators, listed by country on the organiser's page, offer guaranteed places with accommodation packages for the 2026 race. Prices and availability are set by each operator.
Opens
Unknown
Deadline
Unknown
Entry fee
Not applicable
Package price
Unknown
Eligibility
Unknown
Residency
Operators are listed for Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, the USA and South America.
Checked by hand · last confirmed 1 Oct 2026, 00:00 · The organiser page only lists operators; package stock and prices live on each operator's own site.
Official transfer
1 route
Entry holders could transfer their place once through the official Eventmaster transfer system between 22 July and 23:59 on 23 September 2026. The person receiving the entry pays a €20 transfer fee plus platform and payment processing fees; payment for the entry itself is arranged between the two runners. The window has now passed, and the transfer page reads "Now Closed" (re-checked 2026-10-01).
Opens
Deadline
Entry fee
€20.00
Eligibility
Each entry can be transferred only once; Good For Age entries and priority codes cannot be transferred.
Last checked 2 hours ago · last confirmed 2 Nov 2026, 01:53
Qualifying time
1 route
Not verified since 19 Oct 2026, 13:01
Application window for runners with a qualifying marathon time from the last two years, open 1 May to midnight on 19 May 2026. Places are allocated by age category, fastest first where oversubscribed. Good For Age entries cannot be transferred.
Opens
Deadline
Entry fee
Unknown
Eligibility
A verified qualifying marathon time achieved within the last two years; open to all runners, not just club members.
Last checked 20 hours ago · last confirmed 19 Oct 2026, 13:01
Ballot
1 route
Not verified since 20 Oct 2026, 13:05
All general entries for 2026 were allocated by ballot, open from 7am on 12 November to midnight on 17 November 2025; results were sent on 25 and 26 November 2025. A €5 ballot fee was redeemable against the €110 entry fee if successful (the FAQ adds a €5.50 handling charge).