BERLIN — Tigst Assefa returns to the course where she set a then-world record, seeking a third BMW Berlin Marathon 2026 victory Sunday against a field that includes defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru. Gabriel Geay brings the fastest personal best in a men’s race reshaped by the withdrawals of Sabastian Sawe and Kenenisa Bekele.
How to watch live
FloTrack’s 2026 Berlin Marathon stream is available to viewers in the United States and Canada. Coverage begins Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 a.m. EDT; the runners’ first wave starts at 2:45 a.m. EDT (8:45 a.m. in Berlin). Viewers can watch on FloTrack or the FloSports app. In Germany, RTL and RTL+ will carry the race live.
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Assefa won in Berlin in 2022 and ran 2:11:53 there in 2023. She arrives after winning the 2026 London Marathon in 2:15:41. Wanjiru, who won last year’s Berlin race in 2:21:05, is aiming to improve on her 2:16:14 personal best. Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida and Zeineba Yimer add depth to the women’s field, while Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer is targeting the national record of 2:19:19.
Geay’s 2:03:00 personal best leads the men’s entries. Ethiopia’s Guye Adola, the 2021 Berlin winner, is back after winning the Rotterdam Marathon in April in 2:03:54. Getaneh Molla and Shura Kitata also have personal bests under 2:04. Defending champion Sawe and two-time winner Bekele will miss Sunday’s race because of injuries.
2026 Berlin Marathon Leading Starters
Women Leading Runners
Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:11:53
Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:16:14
Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:18:27
Dera Dida (ETH) 2:18:32
Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:18:47
Misgane Alemayehu (ETH) 2:19:08
Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:19:39
Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:20:33
Alisa Vainio (FIN) 2:20:39
Zhang Deshun (CHN) 2:20:53
Gadise Mulu (ETH) 2:20:59
Eebbisee Addunyaa (ETH) 2:21:13
Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:24
Rika Kaseda (JPN) 2:21:55
Men Leading Runners
Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:00
Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:03:34
Guye Adola (ETH) 2:03:46
Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:03:59
Dejene Hailu (ETH) 2:04:15
Erick Sang (KEN) 2:04:30
Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:05:00
Taresa Tolosa (ETH) 2:05:17
Tadu Abate (ETH) 2:05:38
Asefa Boki (ETH) 2:05:40
Kenya Sonota (JPN) 2:05:59
Tsubasa Ichiyama (JPN) 2:06:00
Kiyoto Hirabayashi (JPN) 2:06:14
Yuhei Urano (JPN) 2:06:23
Hidekazu Hijikata (JPN) 2:06:26
