Osaka Marathon 2027 Race Outline

Osaka Marathon 2027 (15th Osaka Marathon)

Marathon Grand Championship Series 2026–27 Men's G1 /Women's G2

also serves as: Selection race for the Japanese national team for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in 2027 (Men)

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games Japan National Team qualifying trials (Men)

• (1) Marathon (42.195 km)
• (2) 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon (Runners: 7.2 km, Wheelchairs: 720 m)

(1) Marathon:

Osaka Marathon course starting in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government Building and finishing within Osaka Castle (official course of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), World Athletics (WA), and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS))

(2) 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon :

Runners: Course starting in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government Building and finishing in front of Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest

Wheelchairs: Course starting at the Shiromi 1 Intersection and finishing inside Osaka Castle Park

The race will be conducted in accordance with the latest rules and regulations of the WA, the JAAF, and this event.

Because the Osaka Marathon is a Label Road Race certified by the WA, the WA Road Race Label Regulations also apply. Doping control tests will be conducted in accordance with WA Rules.

To relieve congestion and ensure runner safety, a wave (time difference) start will be conducted.

Starting blocks will be determined by the organizer based on the self-reported personal best time and estimated finish time submitted at the time of application, regardless of whether the runner is registered with the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF). These decisions are made from the perspective of race management and safety. Please note that starting from a block ahead of your assigned wave, you will be disqualified. Please make sure to start from your designated block.

(1) Marathon

7 hours (The competition starts at 9:15 AM; ends at 4:15 PM)

(2) 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon

Runners: 1 hour and 20 minutes (The competition starts at 9:45 AM; ends at 11:05 AM.)

Wheelchairs: 30 minutes (The competition starts at 10:30 AM; ends at 11:00 AM.)

JAAF members are prohibited from participating in the race dressed in costume. Costume-clad runners are not allowed to start from Block A regardless of having JAAF membership or not.

Costumes and behavior that cause discomfort to other runners or people along the route are prohibited.

(1) Marathon: Persons born on or before April 1, 2008

①JAAF members (FY2026 registered members)

②Non-JAAF members

(2) 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon

Runners: Persons born on or before April 1, 2011

Wheelchairs: Wheelchair users born on or before April 1, 2014, Physical Disability Certificate holders

(1) Marathon

(2) 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon

(1) Marathon:

(1) Marathon

(1) Marathon:

Payment must be made immediately by credit card, etc., or at a convenience store.

The awards will be granted based on the gross time as follows. (No awards are issued for the 720〈Naniwa〉Marathon.)

◎The top eight male and female finishers overall will be awarded.

◎The Civic Runner Award is granted to male and female runners finishing in first place, excluding invited athletes and elite runners.

◎The Chicago Marathon Award is granted to male and female runners who live in Osaka Prefecture and finish in first place, excluding invited athletes, elite runners, representative runners for affiliate marathons, and the Chicago Marathon Award winners up through the 14th Osaka Marathon.

◎The Prague Marathon Award is granted to male and female runners who live in Osaka Prefecture and finish in second place, excluding invited athletes, elite runners, representative runners for affiliate marathons and recipient of the same award at the 14th Osaka Marathon. However, if a male or female runner finishing first place is not eligible for the Chicago Marathon Award, they shall receive the Prague Marathon Award instead.

Doping control tests will be conducted in accordance with the latest WA Anti-Doping Rules and the Japan Anti-Doping Code.

For doping control tests carried out before or after the race, a sample of urine and/or blood will be collected. The relevant people should take the test as instructed.

Athletes who have to use prohibited substances/methods included on the Prohibited List for the purpose of treating a disease must file an application for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). For details, please refer to the websites below.

▼JAAF Medical Committee

https://www.jaaf.or.jp/about/resist/medical/

▼Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA)

https://www.playtruejapan.org/

If a TUE has been issued for a prohibited substance/method, submit a certificate of proof (copy acceptable) to the inspector during doping control testing.

1. (1) The organizer will only provide first aid in the event of an accident during the race. Except in the case of gross negligence by the organizer, compensation will be within the range of the engaged accident insurance (solatium payment).
2. (2) The event organizing body will not accept applications from those who disagree with the concept of charity programs.
3. (3) Those who do not meet the qualifications cannot participate in the race. No one but the selected applicants can participate in the race.
4. (4) If any falsification of your name/qualifications/record certificate or other dishonest act is identified, you will be disqualified and you will not be allowed to participate in the race. Furthermore, applications for future races will also not be allowed.
5. (5) After application, notifications will be sent to the registered email address. The event organizing body will take no responsibility if you cannot receive email messages sent by the event organizing body due to a malfunction in your device, incorrect email settings, a change in your email address, or the like.
6. (6) Please use public transportation to reach the venue. Please note that the event organizing body will take no responsibility if you cannot participate in the race due to transportation delays.
7. (7) Please be sure to manage your health before participating in the race.
8. (8) The event organizing body will take no responsibility for any loss of, theft of, or damage to your belongings, including valuables and baggage.
9. (9) It is prohibited to post or wear any designs, letters, trademarks, or the like representing company names or product names, etc. for advertising purposes within the event site (including the race course).
10. (10) Usage and portrait rights of the following items belong to the event organizing body when they are used for TV broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and printed materials published by the event organizing body: images, photographs, and articles covering the race; location information; and entrants’ names, ages, addresses (prefecture or city) and records.
11. (11) This race is covered by the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings, which is a qualifier for the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships. Therefore, race results (names, date of birth, genders, nationalities, and records) are provided to World Marathon Majors LLC, a U.S.-based company that manages the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Runners who qualify to participate in the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships will receive a notification to that effect from World Marathon Majors LLC. To receive this notification, please agree to provide your email address to AbbottWMM at the time of registration.
12. (12) Photographs of the race may be sold to the runners by a party entrusted by the event organizing body.
13. (13) For matters relating to the race, even if they are not included in the aforementioned notes, please follow instructions given by the event organizing body.

1. (1) You may be unable to apply depending on the device you are using (including OS, browser software, and network configuration). The event organizing body will take no responsibility for any delay in applications due to equipment malfunctions or other problems.
2. (2) You cannot apply for multiple application categories. If duplicate applications by the same person are found, all applications will be disqualified, and you will not be allowed to participate in the race.
3. (3) You cannot change or cancel your application for personal reasons after application. However, this does not apply to changes that can be made on My Page.
4. (4) We will not respond to any inquiries regarding application status, drawing results, and other matters.
5. (5) If you wish to participate in the race as an elite runner, please apply in the category of “elite runners.” Applications for elite runners will be accepted separately.

Effective September 1, 2026, the operations of this event are scheduled to be transferred from the current organizer - Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Athletics (Planning and Operation: Osaka Marathon Organizing Committee) - to the Osaka Marathon Foundation. Accordingly, applicants are requested to agree to the following items in advance:

1. (1)

   Consent to Business Succession and Change of the Organizer

   Applicants hereby agree in advance to the organization and operation of this event being transferred from the Osaka Marathon Organizing Committee to the Osaka Marathon Foundation on September 1, 2026, and that the contractual status, rights, and obligations arising from this application are transferred to the new entity on the same date.

2. (2)

   Transfer of Entry Information and Entry Fee

   In conjunction with the business succession described in the preceding paragraph, personal information registered at the time of application (name, contact details, etc.) and the record of consent to these application terms will be transferred to the new entity as-is. Furthermore, as of September 1, 2026, the new entity will assume all responsibility, including the management of collected entry fee, its application to race operation, and measures taken in the event of race cancellation or changes.

3. (3)

   Purpose of Using Personal Information

   The Organizer shall comply with laws and regulations regarding the protection of personal information and handle participants' personal information in accordance with the Osaka Marathon Organizing Committee's Privacy Policy.

   Please note that this Privacy Policy will be transferred to the new entity on September 1, 2026, and the new entity will handle participants' personal information in accordance with the Policy.

   Please refer to the website below for more details on the Privacy Policy.

   ▼ Privacy Policy

   （ https://www.osaka-marathon.com/2027/en/policy/ ）

If the safe operation of the race is judged to be difficult due to an earthquake, storm, flood, or any other natural disaster; the spread of an infectious disease; accident requiring a police or fire department response; etc., the race will be canceled. The amount of refund of the entry fee, etc. in the case of race cancellation will be determined after deducting the expenses incurred before the cancellation decision was made.

In the event that the Japanese government, Osaka Prefecture, the Japan Sport Association, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, or other applicable body issues policies or guidelines regarding countermeasures against infectious diseases, appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with those policies or guidelines.