Berlin Marathon 2026: Tigst Assefa and Gabriel Geay Lead Star-Studded Field
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
The Berlin Marathon 2026 is set to take place on Sunday, September 27, with several leading international athletes preparing to compete in the prestigious race.
Ethiopian star Tigst Assefa will be one of the biggest names in action as she looks to win the Berlin Marathon for the third time in as many appearances.
The race is the fifth event of the seven Marathon Majors scheduled for 2026.
Tigst Assefa Targets Another Berlin Victory
Assefa won the Berlin Marathon in 2022 and 2023 and will return to the German capital hoping to continue her impressive record at the event.
The 29-year-old Ethiopian also won the London Marathon earlier this year, securing her fourth Marathon Major title with a record-setting performance.
She clocked 2:15:41 in London, which is currently the women’s-only race record.
Assefa also holds the Berlin course record of 2:11:53, set in 2023. This time, she will have the mixed-race world record in her sights.
The current mixed-race record stands at 2:09:53, set by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich at the Chicago Marathon in 2024.
Strong Women’s Field
Assefa will face strong competition in Berlin, including defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya.
Wanjiru finished second behind Assefa in Berlin in 2022 before returning to win the race in 2025.
Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa and Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer are also part of the women’s elite field.
Gabriel Geay Leads Men’s Challenge
Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay is among the leading names in the men’s race.
Geay finished runner-up at the Boston Marathon in 2023 and will be aiming for one of the biggest victories of his career in Berlin.
Former Berlin champion Guye Adola will also be looking for another strong performance. The Ethiopian won the Berlin Marathon in 2021 and recently recorded a 2:03:54 victory in Rotterdam.
Geay has a personal best of 2:03:00 and is among a group of runners in the field who have broken the 2:04 mark.
Getaneh Molla and Shura Kitata are also expected to challenge for the top positions.
German Athletes in Action
Germany’s Sebastian Hendel will lead the home challenge in the men’s race.
With several world-class runners competing, the Berlin Marathon 2026 is expected to attract significant attention from athletics fans around the world.
The race will be held on Sunday, September 27, with both the men’s and women’s elite fields aiming for victory and fast times.
