Barcelona hot spots

The biggest race in Barcelona will be on a new course more iconic than ever before. The organisers aim to have more than 20,000 participants to break the record for participation and fill the streets of an extraordinary city like Barcelona.

The Zurich Marató Barcelona has been held annually since 1980 through the streets of the Catalan capital. The first editions of the race, in 1978 and 1979, were the first ‘people’s marathons’ held in Spain, just outside the city in Palafrugell. The organisers launched a new course, flatter and faster than ever before, for the 2024 edition of Barcelona’s great race. Runners now have 30m less to ascend over the length of the course than previously and fewer bends to negotiate.

The new course passes through more than fifteen emblematic places in Barcelona, starting at Passeig de Gràcia, and continuing all the way through to the finish line through the Arc de Triomf. Sights along the way include the Casa Batlló, Bac de Roda Bridge, Sagrada Família, Ninot Market, the University of Barcelona, Sant Antoni Market, Plaza Catalunya, the Columbus Monument, França Train Station, Ciutadella’s Park and the Hotel Arts and Fòrum’s Park.

The new course has been designed so that runners and their companions can enjoy it at the same time. Animation is one of the strong points of the race, as the new course of the Zurich Marató Barcelona crosses the city centre. It is possible to reach different points on the course in a few minutes on foot, as well as make good connections with public transport. International participants made up 58% of the field in the last edition – indicating that this race has one of the most inviting atmospheres of any marathon in the world.

For 2025 there will be several more initiatives, starting with a new race concept, “Barcelona Hits Different”. This is inspired by music festivals to create a unique and exciting experience for participants throughout the weekend of the event. Starting with the HotSpots, animations at each kilometre point of the course representing different local cultural and sporting entities and truly reflecting Barcelona’s diversity. The Marathon Masters programme involves a small tribute being given to those who have run the race up to five times. The Corre a Casa circuits are aimed at making it easier to train around Barcelona. The DONAnt Pas is an initiative through a female marathon ambassador and official female trainers to create a community to encourage more and more women to participate in the race.

The values of the Zurich Marató Barcelona 2025 are also in line with those of the city in which it takes place. Multiculturalism, inclusiveness and a good atmosphere are hallmarks of the city that are also present in its marathon and half-marathon, the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks 2025 (16 February).