Cancún Marathon in Mexico on 5 December 2026

MEXICO · SPORT GUIDE

The Cancún Marathon takes place on Saturday 5 December 2026, a night race through the Hotel Zone. It starts at 6 p.m., and entry costs from about US$32.

The organiser, Asdeporte, offers a marathon, a half marathon and a 10K. It advertises a cash purse of MXN 250,000 (about US$13,556).

What the Cancún Marathon Is and Why It Matters

The Cancún Marathon has three distances: marathon, half marathon and 10K. The organiser describes it as a run at sunset.

Its selling point is the setting. The Hotel Zone is a resort strip between the Caribbean and the Nichupté lagoon, and the race starts there at sunset.

The Cancún Marathon is endorsed by Mundo de Atletismo en México A.C., the body the organiser names in its rules. That matters for runners who want an official time on a recognised course.

For US readers the timing is the draw. The Cancún Marathon falls in early December, after Thanksgiving.

The Cancún Marathon is not one of the world’s major races, and the organiser does not publish a field size. It is a Mexican event with cash prizes and a resort-city backdrop.

Do not confuse it with the Cancún Half Marathon, a separate women’s race listed for 7 March 2027 by a different organiser. This guide covers only the 5 December event.

Schedule and Start Times in Eastern Time

The marathon starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday 5 December. The half marathon follows at 6:15 p.m. and the 10K at 6:30 p.m.

Cancún sits on UTC-5 all year, and New York is on UTC-5 in December after US clocks change on 1 November. A 6 p.m. gun in Cancún is therefore 6 p.m. Eastern for a runner or a follow-along fan at home.

Kit pickup is on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December, from 09:00 to 16:00. The place is still marked as to be confirmed.

Runners need an official photo ID to collect a kit, and only the registered runner may collect it. The organiser recommends a web check-in through the Asdeporte app, or a signed liability waiver on paper.

Prize ceremonies are planned at the finish area at about 9 p.m. for the marathon winners. Age-group winners in the half marathon and 10K follow at about 9:30 p.m.

Entries, Prices and Deadlines in US Dollars

Entries are sold online through Asdeporte, a Mexican registration platform, at asdeporte.com. The same race call also appears on Compite.mx, another Mexican events site.

The opening special ran until 7 October, with the marathon and half marathon at MXN 490 (about US$27). From 8 October the regular price is MXN 590 (about US$32) for the marathon and half marathon.

The 10K costs MXN 490 (about US$27), after an opening special of MXN 390 (about US$21). A final tier is listed at MXN 690 (about US$37) and, for the 10K, MXN 590 (about US$32), with no start date.

All prices carry an extra online service fee that the organiser does not state. Plan for a final bill somewhat above the listed figure.

Online entry closes on Wednesday 2 December at 5 p.m., or sooner if the race sells out. After that, runners can only enter at kit pickup, and only if places remain.

Entries are not refundable or transferable, and running under another runner’s bib leads to sanctions. Runners can pre-register online and pay cash at an OXXO store within 48 hours.

Prize Money, Rules and What Runners Get

The organiser advertises a cash purse of MXN 250,000 (about US$13,556). In the marathon, first place wins MXN 60,000 (about US$3,253), second MXN 30,000 (about US$1,627) and third MXN 15,000 (about US$813).

The fastest marathon runners who live in Cancún receive a special MXN 20,000 (about US$1,084) award. Residents must show official papers proving at least six months in the city.

Foreign winners should read the fine print. The organiser withholds 14% of a foreign winner’s prize for the athletics federation, against 7% for Mexican winners, plus Mexican income tax.

The marathon needs a minimum age of 18 on race day, while the half marathon and 10K start at 15. Minors must come to kit pickup with a parent or guardian.

Every entrant gets a race shirt, a commemorative bag and a timing chip in the bib. Finishers also receive a medal and a windbreaker, and shirt sizes are not guaranteed.

The Course, the Hotel Zone and How to Get There

The start and finish are on Avenida Rambla Fonatur at the corner of Calle Yum-Balam, in Cancún’s Hotel Zone. The organiser publishes route maps and elevation profiles for each distance on its event page.

The Hotel Zone is a long, narrow strip with the sea on one side and the Nichupté lagoon on the other. Staying near the start keeps the walk short and avoids a late taxi after the finish.

Cancún International Airport sits at kilometre 22 of the Cancún-Chetumal highway, outside the city. Its official site lists hotel transfers, airport taxis, buses and car rental, and advises travellers to arrange transport before landing.

The airport site also states a tourist fee called VisiTAX of roughly US$17 per person, payable online only. Check the current amount and rules before you fly, since fees can change.

We found no published road-closure plan for the race. Expect traffic restrictions along the Hotel Zone boulevard on race evening, and confirm with your hotel.

Safety, Costs and Tips for US Visitors

The US State Department rates Quintana Roo, home to Cancún, at Level 2, “exercise increased caution” because of crime and terrorism. It says gang shootings have injured bystanders and urges visitors to stay aware after dark and to keep to well-lit tourist areas.

That advice matters for an evening race that finishes after dark. Sensible steps are to run in a group, leave valuables at the hotel and arrange a ride back from the finish.

The State Department also suggests downloading the Quintana Roo government’s Guest Assist app, which lists emergency numbers and tourist information. The same page is the place to check current entry rules before you travel.

The entry fee is cheap by US standards, but the trip is not. Flights, a Hotel Zone room and meals cost far more than the Cancún Marathon entry, so budget early.

Our own city page and monthly events guide help with planning. See our Cancún city page and the What to Do in Cancún guide for restaurants, neighbourhoods and safety notes.

Runners heading further down the coast can also read our Ironman Cozumel guide. It covers another big endurance event on the Mexican Caribbean calendar.

What Comes Next

Entries for the Cancún Marathon stay open online until 2 December at 5 p.m. unless the race sells out first. Runners who want the lowest published price should enter now, since higher tiers are listed.

The organiser must still publish the kit pickup address before 3 December. We will refresh this guide when it does.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The kit pickup location and address are not yet announced. The organiser’s page lists them as to be confirmed.

No live television or streaming broadcast is named for the race. Results are promised on Asdeporte’s website and app on the day.

The size of the field, the date the “últimos lugares” price starts and any road closures are not published. Some pages show 6 December as the date, but the race call itself says Saturday 5 December.

More: Mexico news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Cancún Marathon 2026 and what time does it start?

The Cancún Marathon is on Saturday 5 December 2026. It starts at 6 p.m., which is 6 p.m. Eastern time.

How much does it cost to enter the Cancún Marathon in US dollars?

The regular price is MXN 590 (about US$32) for the marathon and half marathon. The 10K costs MXN 490 (about US$27), and an online service fee is added. Register online at asdeporte.com until 2 December at 5 p.m.

Can I watch the Cancún Marathon live in the United States?

The organiser names no live broadcast or stream for the race. Official results are promised on Asdeporte’s website and app on race day.

Sources: Asdeporte, Cancun Marathon 2026: event data, accessed 21 October 2026; Asdeporte, Cancun Marathon 2026: entries and prices, accessed 21 October 2026; Asdeporte, Cancun Marathon 2026: kit pickup, accessed 21 October 2026; Compite.mx, Cancun Marathon 2026 call for entries, accessed 21 October 2026; US State Department, Mexico Travel Advisory, Level 2, accessed 21 October 2026; Cancún International Airport (ASUR), official site, accessed 21 October 2026; Cancún Half Marathon, official site (separate race), accessed 21 October 2026.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error

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