Sydney Marathon 2026: Family Activities and Where to Watch
The Sydney Marathon 2026 is taking over the city on Sunday 30 August, but you don't have to be a runner to get involved. With the Motion Festival at Circular Quay, the Sydney Mini Marathon, family-friendly entertainment, special offers, food, and dedicated spectator party zones, there are plenty of things to do during Sydney Marathon weekend.
Whether you're looking for family activities in Sydney, want to cheer on the runners, or simply soak up the atmosphere, here's our guide to making the most of Sydney Marathon 2026 — without running 42.195km yourself.
What is the Sydney Marathon 2026?
The TCS Sydney Marathon is now one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, alongside world-famous races such as Boston and London. The 42.2km marathon takes place on Sunday 30 August 2026, with the 5km Sydney Mini Marathon on the day before (Saturday 29 August). a bunch of “shakeout races” in the days before that. There are also several shakeout races and events happening throughout the week. But the running is only part of the story.
From free family entertainment and dinosaurs at Circular Quay to food, music, and plenty of opportunities to cheer runners on, Sydney Marathon weekend is shaping up to be a city-wide celebration — and you don't need a race bib to be part of it.
Soak up the Atmosphere at Motion Festival in Circular Quay
Motion Festival is turning Customs House forecourt into a hub of music, food and entertainment from Thurs 27 to Sun 30 August. Highlights include Erth's Dinosaur Zoo on Saturday morning, bringing prehistoric creatures to life. There will be roving dinosaurs from 9.30am, and a free show from 10.30am - 11:30am. Expect cute baby dinos, enormous carnivores and herbivores, and plenty of excitement for little dinosaur fans.
There’s also a carb fest from 4pm - 9pm on Saturday evening, with plenty of food on offer. Check out the full food and entertainment lineup here.
Where to Watch with Kids
While you can head to any point along the route to cheer on the runners, there are several “party zones” with live music and entertainment for runners and spectators alike.
Located at The Homestead on Grand Drive in Centennial Park, Party in the Park sits at the 33.3km mark of the marathon — otherwise known as The Wall. By this point in the race, runners have already covered more than 33 kilometres. They're tired, the finish line is still a little way off and a bit of encouragement can go a very long way. That's where the crowd comes in!
For 2026, Party in the Park is bringing a proper family-friendly atmosphere to the late stages of the marathon, with live music, entertainment and plenty of ways for kids to get involved.
Little supporters can:
Make their own megaphone
Customise a supporter sign
Grab a mini fan flag
Collect a supporter stamp
Take a free professional souvenir photo
Cheer runners on with the crowd
Find more details about the Party in the Park spectator zone here.
Nearby, the SCG Block Party zone in Moore Park has a festival stage with DJs and live acts performing all day. There’s also a licensed area, convenient amenities, and 500 free sausages from the Great Aussie BBQ. The SCG Block Party zone sits between the 29km & 34.8km marks along the route.
There is also a party zone in The Rocks which will feature a number of rock tribute bands, as well as zones in Barangaroo, at the top of Macquarie St, and at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. More details on all party zones here.
Deals and Discounts
There are plenty of ways to turn the weekend into a bigger adventure, with special offers across attractions, activities and restaurants. The details for all of these offers are available here on the Sydney Marathon website, or on each individual establishment’s website.
Make a splash
If your family likes a little adrenaline, Oz Jet Boating at Circular Quay is offering 50% off the Red Shark Thrill Ride with the code MARATHONTHRILLS. Groups of eight or more can also receive a complimentary photo and video package.
Prefer something a little more peaceful? Sydney By Kayak is offering 15% off Sunrise Kayak and Coffee and Sunset Kayak experiences, making it a fun way to see the harbour from a completely different perspective.
Meet the animals
For a classic Sydney family day out, Taronga Zoo is offering 15% off general admission during marathon weekend. There's also a marathon-inspired offer from Merlin Entertainments, with 42% off the Sydney Big Ticket. The ticket includes entry to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds Sydney and Sydney Tower Eye, with tickets priced at $45 for adults and $37 for children.
And then there's the food...
Because no family day out is complete until you’ve figured out what's for dinner.
There are marathon-weekend offers across restaurants and pubs around the city, including $20 burgers at Paragon Hotel, a $25 schnitzel, pasta, burger or salad at Oriana, and a two-pizza carb-loading deal at Captain Cook Hotel in Paddington.
Over in Barangaroo, A'Mare and Pizza'Mare are offering a complimentary tiramisu for two when you order a main, pizza or pasta respectively.
And if you're already planning to spend time around Circular Quay, Cruise Bar and Restaurant is offering $25 pasta, or pasta and a drink for $30, from Tuesday to Saturday.
Offers and participating venues are subject to their individual terms and conditions. Check with each venue before visiting for the latest availability and offer details.
Getting Around
There will be a lot of street closures throughout the weekend, especially on Sunday morning. The light rail will also have partial closures throughout the weekend. You can see all street and public transport closures here.
The Marathon has also put out a smart map to help runners and spectators navigate public transport over the weekend. You can view the map here (link should work best on phones).
Moral of the story, you don't have to run 42.195km to have a marathon weekend!
Go kayaking in the morning, see the dinosaurs at Motion Festival, have dinner by the harbour, visit the zoo, cheer the runners on Sunday morning... or pack it all in!
