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Sydney runners who like their finish lines with a side of sea breeze, listen up: the Harbour City’s most spectacular endurance race has officially opened registrations for 2026. The Bondi to Manly Ultra Marathon – an 80-kilometre coastal and bushland epic – will return on Saturday, October 24, inviting runners to traverse the full length of Sydney’s Bondi to Manly Walk.
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Starting at Bondi Pavilion and finishing at Manly Beach, the race follows one of the most scenic long-distance routes in the country (can we say the world? We think so!), weaving across clifftops, harbour foreshores, pockets of urban bushland and ritzy harbourside suburbs.
The views are delightful, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The Bondi to Manly Ultra is widely considered one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most challenging endurance races, drawing elite ultramarathon athletes and determined recreational runners from around Australia and the world. But while the 80 kilometre solo category is the headline act, there are also options for those who’d rather tackle the course with friends. Keen? Read on.
If you’re not ready to tackle a full ultra, you can split the distance in relay teams – either across two 40 kilometre legs or four legs of roughly 20 kilometres each, making the event accessible to runners who want the experience without the full ultra commitment.
The 2026 edition also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the race. MARI, the global events company behind major sporting events including the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival and the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, has taken custodianship of the event.
According to Marcus Gale, managing director of MARI Australia, the organisation plans to elevate the race while preserving its character, describing the race as “a defining expression of Sydney’s identity and the enduring human spirit of athletic endeavour.”
Under the new partnership, MARI will oversee the event’s operations, participant experience, sponsorships and long-term development, while the Bondi to Manly Walk Supporters Group will remain the event’s owner and an advisory partner to maintain its strong community roots.
Elle Pacholski, founding CEO of the Bondi to Manly Ultra, said the partnership would help the event reach new heights while honouring the landscape and communities along the route.
So what else is set to change this year? According to the team, runners can expect improvements to course delivery, safety, infrastructure and partnerships, with more announcements about the event experience expected in the coming months.
If you’re ready to step up from the City2Surf to a more challenging run around Sydney, now’s the time to commit – we’d suggest starting with the 20 kilometre relay option and working your way up from there.
Keen? You can register over here – with the event set to take place on October 24, 2026.