The big day has arrived. It's the 25th of November and inboxes across the counKeep an eye on the inbox. Check the spam folder. Try not to refresh Gmail like a lunatic while pretending to work. If you land a place, the real journey begins. If not, it is not curtains. There are other doors to try and there is always next year.
Best of luck to everyone waiting nervously over the next two days. If you get in, fair play. If not, do not throw the toys out of the pram. October in Dublin will be waiting for you.try will be getting a fierce amount of attention this morning. People will be refreshing screens like their lives depend on it, checking spam folders with the desperation usually reserved for Ryanair boarding passes, all in the hope of seeing that golden email. After a two week wait, the results of the ballot for the 2026 Dublin Marathon start landing today.
What to Expect Over the Next Two Days
Notifications will be sent out in stages today and tomorrow. Some will get the good (or bad) news straight away. Some will spend the next forty eight hours wearing out the refresh button. All going well, everyone should know by the end of tomorrow, November 26th, if they have secured a place on the start line for 2026.
If You Have Been Unsuccessful
It may feel like getting dumped by text message, but all is not lost. Dublin Marathon has further routes into the race. There are charity entry options and a transfer and refund system to keep hopes alive. Plenty of runners pick up places this way every year and end up having a great day in October. So keep the faith.
Alternative Entry Opportunities
If runners are unsuccessful in the ballot, they have further routes into the race through charity places and through the transfer window and refund system.
Through the official charity partner, realbuzz, you can apply for entry with one of the official charity partners. There are more than 150 charities to support across Ireland and abroad. Runners can choose a cause close to home and raise funds that genuinely matter through the link below: https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/run-for-charity/
There are also reserved places for elite athletes and Good For Age qualifiers:
https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/good-for-age-standards/
Keep an eye on the inbox. Check the spam folder. Try not to refresh Gmail like a lunatic while pretending to work. If you land a place, the real journey begins. If not, it is not curtains. There are other doors to try and there is always next year.
Best of luck to everyone waiting nervously over the next two days. If you get in, fair play. If not, do not throw the toys out of the pram. October in Dublin will be waiting for you.