The Most Expensive Marathons in the World: 5 Races That Cost More Than a Car
Published 3 October 2026 | Written by Andy Hood
Most of us pay somewhere between £50 and £80 to run a UK marathon. The most expensive marathon in the world costs €49,500 (around £42,000) just to enter. Here's how race prices compare, and the five races at the very top of the bill.
How much does it cost to enter a marathon in the UK?
The cost of entering a marathon, half marathon or race of any distance in the UK can range from a few pounds to a few hundred. A quick scan while researching this article puts the average UK marathon entry fee at £50 to £80.
Ultras are my main distance, and the ones I enter average £150 to £250. Some are worth every penny: well organised, interesting routes and first-class support. Others have left me incredibly disappointed.
Planning a spring road marathon? My Brighton and Manchester Marathon 2027 guide covers courses and entry dates, and when to start training for the London Marathon 2027 sets out the timeline.
So imagine my surprise when I discovered a marathon costing over £25,000 to enter. With my curiosity shoes on, I went looking for the five most expensive races in the world, and a little detail about each.
How much are marathon entry fees worldwide?
Worldwide, the price depends on whether it's a local race or one of the big-city Majors.
London Marathon: £79.99 for UK runners and £225 for international runners in 2027 (TCS London Marathon). Well done London, what a bargain!
New York City Marathon: $333.11 (roughly £250) for non-members of New York Road Runners in 2026, or $269.66 for members (TCS New York City Marathon).
Even New York's fee is pocket change next to the races below.
The 5 most expensive marathons in the world
The Great World Race tops the list, with all five costing more than 100 London Marathon entries.
Rank | Race | Where | Entry fee | Approx. in GBP |
1 | 7 continents in 7 days | €49,500 | £42,000 | |
2 | 7 continents in 7 days | $50,700 | £38,000 | |
3 | Arctic Ocean, 90°N | from €23,900 | £20,000 to £29,000+ | |
4 | Union Glacier, Antarctica | $22,500 | £17,000 | |
5 | King George Island, Antarctica | from $11,290 | £8,500 to £15,600 |
GBP figures are approximate, at early October 2026 exchange rates. None of the fees include flights to the starting city, kit or travel insurance.
1. Great World Race: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days
The Great World Race costs €49,500, payable in three instalments of €16,500. The 2026 edition runs from 15 to 21 November, starting at Wolf's Fang in Antarctica, then Cape Town, Perth, Abu Dhabi, the Algarve, Cartagena and Miami. The fee covers business-class charter flights between legs, entry to all seven marathons and trip cancellation insurance.
I have some history with this one, having had a couple of calls with the race director. It's on my long list of things I must do before I hang up my running shoes, but I need to find sponsors to get there.
This one isn't about fulfilling a personal desire to put myself through an extreme event. I see it as the ultimate in my cancer awareness work. Seven marathons on seven continents in seven days grabs attention, and with my history of media coverage we could make a huge difference to the cancer message: encouraging people to be self-aware, to check, and to seek medical advice. In short, we could save a lot of lives and make a huge difference to families.
That has to be worth €50,000 of sponsor money to get me to the start line. If you're in a position to help, or can introduce me to anyone who shares my vision, drop me a message.
2. World Marathon Challenge: cost and route
The World Marathon Challenge started the seven-continents-in-seven-days idea back in 2015. Entry for the 2027 edition (30 January to 5 February) is $50,700, rising to $52,800 for 2028. That covers all seven marathons and the charter flights between continents.
The route runs from Antarctica to Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami, all within a 168-hour race clock. Places are capped at around 60 runners because of aircraft capacity. The fastest men's average belongs to Michael Wardian at 2:45:57 per marathon, and the oldest finisher so far was 80.
3. North Pole Marathon: the northernmost marathon in the world
The North Pole Marathon is run on frozen Arctic Ocean, on ice a few metres thick above thousands of metres of water. Guinness World Records recognises it as the northernmost marathon on Earth.
There are now two versions. The spring edition flies you to a drifting ice camp via Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, at €23,900. The summer edition travels to 90°N by icebreaker, with cabin prices from around €34,000 per person. Either way, you get to stand at the exact Geographic North Pole.
4. Antarctic Ice Marathon: the southernmost marathon in the world
The Antarctic Ice Marathon is billed as the world's southernmost marathon, run at Union Glacier camp deep in the Antarctic interior. Entry is $22,500, including return flights from Punta Arenas in Chile, tented accommodation and meals on the ice.
The 21st edition takes place on 13 December 2026. Runners complete four 10.55km loops on snow and ice, with a 10-hour cut-off.
5. Antarctica Marathon: running a marathon in Antarctica
The Antarctica Marathon has run since 1995 and is sold as a 13-night expedition-cruise package. For 2027, packages range from $11,015 for a shared triple cabin to $20,345 for a premium suite, plus a $275 race entry fee.
You'll cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia and race on muddy gravel roads linking research bases run by Russia, Chile, China and Uruguay. Organisers advise adding 30 to 45 minutes to your usual road marathon time. Penguins on the start line are a bonus.
Are the most expensive marathons worth the money?
Most of the cost isn't the race itself: it's chartered planes, polar camps, ships, medical cover and evacuation plans. A £25,000-plus entry buys logistics most of us could never arrange alone, and a finisher's medal very few people on the planet will ever own.
For me, the price only makes sense if the run means something beyond the medal.
That's why the Great World Race is the one I'm chasing, and why I'm looking for sponsors to help turn 7 marathons into a cancer awareness message that reaches millions.
For everyone else, the London ballot at £79.99 is still one of the best-value marathons in the world. And if you want a memorable race without the polar price tag, try my pick of 10 unusual running races in the UK and worldwide.
Most expensive marathon FAQs
What is the most expensive marathon in the world?
The Great World Race, at €49,500 (around £42,000). The World Marathon Challenge is close behind at $50,700 (around £38,000) for 2027.
How much does a marathon cost to enter in the UK?
Most UK marathons cost £50 to £80 to enter. The London Marathon costs £79.99 for UK runners.
How much is the New York City Marathon entry fee?
$333.11 for non-members of New York Road Runners in 2026, about £250.
What is the most expensive single marathon?
The North Pole Marathon, from €23,900 for the fly-in spring edition and around €34,000 by icebreaker.
Do expensive marathon fees include flights?
They include flights to the remote part of the trip, such as Antarctica or the North Pole. Getting to the starting city, accommodation before the race, kit and insurance are usually extra.
About the author: Andy Hood, ultra runner and cancer survivor
Andy Hood is a Devon-based ultra runner and testicular cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 2021 and treated with surgery and chemotherapy, he has since completed multiple ultras and endurance challenges, including the Arc of Attrition, a 160km Tour du Mont Blanc and his own 170-mile Running WestwardHo! run.
Andy uses running to get people talking about early cancer awareness and checking themselves. He has raised over £28,000 for cancer and mental health charities, with coverage on BBC News, BBC Radio Devon and in The Mirror (press and PR). Read his testicular cancer story or get in touch.
Sources
Prices checked on 3 October 2026 from each race's official website, linked above. Currency conversions at roughly £1 = $1.32 and £1 = €1.17.
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