The Irish Life Dublin Marathon has announced ballot details for the 2027 event, along with dates and entry information for the Irish Life Dublin Race Series. Among the changes, runners who miss out in the marathon ballot will now have their €4 ballot fee automatically refunded.
For anyone who has paid to enter a ballot only to receive an unsuccessful email, that will be welcome news. The previous ballot fee was not refundable, but applicants who miss out this time will automatically receive their €4 back. Successful applicants will have the same amount deducted from their marathon entry fee.
There is still a small cost to applying. Platform and payment processing charges will not be refunded or deducted from the entry fee, with a minimum €1 charge applying to the ballot transaction.
The marathon takes place on Sunday October 24th, 2027, starting on Leeson Street Lower at 8.45am. Capacity is set at 22,500 runners, with 17,200 entries available through the public ballot, the same number as for 2026.
When Does the Dublin Marathon 2027 Ballot Open?
The public ballot opens at 9am on Thursday November 12th, 2026, and closes at midnight on Tuesday November 17th.
Applicants will receive their results on Wednesday November 25th. Successful runners will then have until midnight on Monday November 30th to complete their entry and pay.
The marathon entry fee is €130, plus platform and payment processing fees. The €4 already paid to enter the ballot will count towards that €130 for successful applicants.
Those are the November dates to keep handy. Getting a successful ballot result is only part of the job: runners will also need to complete payment before the deadline to secure their entry.
Refunds, Resale and Transfers
With almost a year between the ballot and race day, plans can change. Organisers have confirmed a refund window, a resale date and a transfer window for 2027.
The refund window runs from Thursday July 1st to Monday July 12th, with a €20 refund fee plus platform and payment processing charges.
Entries will then be resold on Wednesday July 14th, with availability determined by the order in which runners purchase them. For those unsuccessful in the original ballot, that offers another date to keep in the diary.
The transfer window opens on Wednesday July 21st and closes on Wednesday September 22nd. Transfers cost €20, plus platform and payment processing fees.
Good for Age and Charity Entries
Good for Age qualifying criteria will be published on Tuesday December 1st, 2026. Performances from eligible races in 2025, 2026 or 2027 can be used to apply.
Applications open on Friday May 7th, 2027, and close on Wednesday May 26th, with runners notified from Wednesday June 2nd. If demand exceeds the available entries, the fastest qualifying times in each category will be successful.
Official charity entries will be available earlier, from Monday October 26th, 2026, through official charity partner realbuzz. More than 200 charities from Ireland and around the world are involved, with guaranteed entries subject to each charity’s fundraising requirements.
Other entry routes include elite athlete entry, the Dublin Marathon Group Community Programme, approved official international tour operators, and sponsor and partner allocations.
Irish Life Dublin Race Series 2027 Dates
The Irish Life Dublin Race Series will return with three events between July and September, giving runners a sequence of targets through the summer and into autumn.
Entries for all three races, along with the series bundle, open on Wednesday February 10th, 2027. For runners building towards Dublin, the progression from 10K to 10 miles and then a half marathon provides useful opportunities to assess how training is going before October arrives.
Irish Life Fingal 10K
The series begins in Swords on Sunday July 11th, with a 9.30am start. Entry costs €35, plus platform and payment processing fees.
The transfer window runs from Tuesday June 1st to Saturday June 19th. The transfer fee is €5, plus platform and payment processing fees.
Irish Life Frank Duffy 10 Mile
The Frank Duffy 10 Mile takes place in the Phoenix Park on Saturday August 14th, starting at 9am. Entry costs €40, plus platform and payment processing fees.
Transfers will be available from Thursday July 1st to Saturday July 17th, costing €5 plus platform and payment processing fees.
Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon
The Dublin Half Marathon completes the series in the Phoenix Park on Sunday September 19th, with a 9am start. Entry costs €55, plus platform and payment processing fees.
The transfer window runs from Wednesday July 21st to Sunday August 22nd. Transfers cost €10, plus platform and payment processing fees.
Race Series Bundle
Runners can enter all three events through the Race Series bundle for €120, plus platform and payment processing fees. That is a €10 saving on the combined individual entry prices before fees.
Platform and payment processing charges apply to all entry, refund and transfer transactions at 5% of the transaction value. A minimum €1 charge applies to the marathon ballot transaction.
Full details are available at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon website.
