Running the Irish Life Dublin Marathon will cost more in 2027. Organizers announced on September 29 that the entry fee will rise from €110 to €130, an 18% increase and the first in five years.
Why the price is going up
CEO Seán Ó Riain points to cumulative inflation of 18% to 20% over the past five years. He also cites higher costs for infrastructure, security, medical services and traffic management. The margin is thin: the race expects a surplus of less than €70,000 this year.
“We want to retain that standard… and in order to retain that standard… that’s where we landed on with €130,” Ó Riain told The Irish Times.
Demand is not the problem
The 2026 race drew a record 47,000 applications for a field capped at 22,500 runners:
- 17,200 places went through the ballot, leaving 29,800 applicants unsuccessful.
- Another 5,300 entries came through charity, good-for-age, club and elite places.
On those numbers, the field’s maximum gross entry revenue rises from about €2.5 million to about €2.9 million (Hopone calculation: 22,500 × €130, before charity and complimentary places).
The ballot also changes
The ballot fee drops from a non-refundable €5 to €4, and unsuccessful applicants will now get it back. Under the old system, organizers collected €149,000 in fees from unsuccessful applicants. The window for transferring entries is also extended to more than two months.
Prices for the organizer’s other 2027 races were also set: the Dublin Half Marathon costs €55, the Frank Duffy 10 Mile €40 and the Fingal 10k €35. The 2026 marathon takes place on October 25.
Sources
- The Irish Times: Dublin Marathon entry fee rises to €130 as organisers also make change to ballot system
- RTÉ: Dublin Marathon 'booming' but cost of entry to increase
This article was written with AI by the Hopone Newsroom, from the sources it cites. Figures marked “Hopone calculation” are our own arithmetic from those sources. Nothing here is investment advice.