$170,000 and 40,000 Bibs: The Tokyo Marathon Goes XXL for Its 20th Birthday
TL;DR — On June 22, 2026, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation unveiled its 20th-anniversary edition. The headlines: a record $170,000 prize per champion (the biggest of any World Marathon Major), a field grown to 40,000 runners, the end of the 10.7 km race, and a new para-athlete marathon division. Race day is Sunday, March 7, 2027.
Tokyo isn't doing its 20th birthday by halves. On Monday, June 22, 2026, organizers announced a raft of changes for the anniversary edition, starting with a $170,000 reward promised to each champion, men's and women's alike. It's the biggest single payout to a race winner of any Abbott World Marathon Major — ahead of Boston, New York, London, Berlin and Chicago. Behind the headline number, the 2027 edition says a lot about where big-city marathoning is heading.
The richest payday of the Majors
Why aim so high? Tokyo, whose fast, mostly flat course has become a launchpad for quick times, wants the deepest possible elite field. The message to the world's best — the same names who, like Eliud Kipchoge on his seven-continent world tour, are redrawing the map of elite marathoning — is simple: come run fast, and leave with the circuit's biggest check.
One clarification so nothing gets muddled: this $170,000 rewards the winner of the race itself. It has nothing to do with the AbbottWMM series prize, which is decided across the whole season. Here, it's the check handed out on Tokyo's finish line that becomes the largest of the six Majors.
40,000 bibs: Tokyo has never been bigger
The 2027 field will take in 40,000 runners, up from 39,000 in recent editions. That's a record for the event and makes it Japan's largest marathon. And it still won't be enough: demand far outstrips supply, and the general lottery draws far more applicants than there are spots every year.
Tokyo isn't alone. The squeeze hits every big-city marathon: Copenhagen recently logged more than 80,000 applications for 35,000 bibs, and London is going so far as to run across two days in 2027 to push its field toward 100,000. The more the marathon goes mainstream, the more landing a big-city bib turns into an obstacle course.
A race that's changing shape
The expansion comes with a redesign. Tokyo is retiring its 10.7 km race and folding those entrants into the full marathon (42.195 km). Alongside it, the event creates a para-athlete division at the marathon distance and adds entry categories for people with disabilities, with the stated aim of "heightening the appeal of elite racing."
Another shift: after a 2025 trial, the Duo Team division becomes official in 2027. The idea? Two runners as a pair — one in a buggy, one pushing — cross the line together. It opens the race to those who can't complete it solo, in step with the inclusive formats spreading across major events.
New touches for the everyday runner, too
The elite grabs the headlines, but the 2027 edition really looks after the weekend runner. Organizers promise broader pacing support across a wider range of finish times, a health-tracking app to prepare in the months beforehand, and an openly stated goal of 100% finishers. Every finisher will collect a "20th Anniversary Premium Edition" medal, with the design revealed closer to race day.
For atmosphere, Tokyo leans into the citywide-party angle around its slogan "The Day We Unite": a volunteer program open to international applicants, a Green Mileage Program paired with a carbon-neutral roadmap, and even a flyover by Japan's aerobatic display team on race day. The cherry on top: in 2027 Tokyo will host the AbbottWMM Age Group World Championships, a first in Asia.
So how do you get in?
The race is held on Sunday, March 7, 2027. Entry fees are set at 19,800 yen for Japan residents and $230 for overseas applicants. Registration opens on June 24, 2026 and runs through late August across several tracks: charity, semi-elite, ONE TOKYO members and the general draw. If applications exceed capacity — which is almost a given — a lottery decides.
No panic if Tokyo slips through your fingers: landing a big-city bib should be planned like a race, with a plan B and a calendar. If you're eyeing a fall marathon, here's when to start training and which race to target.
Tokyo is a dream, but the "six-star" isn't the only horizon. If you're aiming instead for a road marathon or a trail in France or Europe, BPMoov gathers races, their dates and their registration openings in one place — free, on iOS and Android. → Download the app.
FAQ
How much does the Tokyo Marathon 2027 winner get?
Each champion, men's and women's, takes home $170,000. It's the biggest single payout to a race winner among the six Abbott World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York). It's separate from the series prize, which rewards the season-long standings.
When is the Tokyo Marathon 2027?
The Tokyo Marathon 2027 is run on Sunday, March 7, 2027. It's the 20th-anniversary edition: the first was held in 2007.
How many runners are in the Tokyo Marathon 2027?
The field grows to 40,000 runners, up from 39,000. That's a record for the event, making it Japan's largest marathon. With demand exceeding supply, entry is usually decided by lottery.
How do you register for the Tokyo Marathon 2027?
Registration opens on June 24, 2026 and runs through late August across several tracks (charity, semi-elite, ONE TOKYO members, general draw). Fees are 19,800 yen for Japan residents and $230 for overseas runners. If oversubscribed, a lottery selects entrants.
Why is Tokyo dropping its 10.7 km race?
To focus the event on the marathon. The 10.7 km participants are moved to the full 42.195 km distance, which helps lift the field to 40,000 runners. The event also uses the change to create a para division on the marathon.
Is the Tokyo Marathon a World Marathon Major?
Yes. Tokyo is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the circuit of the world's biggest city marathons. In 2027 it will also host, for the first time in Asia, the series' Age Group World Championships.