Berlin Marathon 2026 Results: Assefa Smashes Course Record in 2:11:04, Adola Wins in 2:02:50
Tigst Assefa broke her own Berlin Marathon course record in 2:11:04 on 27 September 2026, running the second-fastest marathon in women's history. Guye Adola won the men's race in a personal best 2:02:50. Full elite results and analysis.
· 7 min read · Athletics News
The 52nd BMW Berlin Marathon delivered another masterclass in road racing speed. On Sunday 27 September 2026, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa took 49 seconds off her former world record course mark, winning the women's race in an astonishing 2:11:04. It stands as the second-fastest women's marathon performance in history, behind only Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56.
In the men's race, Guye Adola captured his second Berlin Marathon title in a massive personal best of 2:02:50, vaulting to 13th on the all-time world list. Over 56,000 registered runners from 162 nations took to the flat streets of Berlin under cool autumn skies.
Below are the confirmed official elite times, podium breakdowns, and key storylines from the race.
!Berlin Marathon 2026 official winners Guye Adola and Tigst Assefa
Women's marathon results: Assefa's historic performance
Wire-to-wire dominance
Assefa entered Berlin with pressure on her shoulders after London's spring race, but she wasted no time asserting control. Crossing the halfway mark well under world record pace, she pushed the pace relentlessly past Alexanderplatz and along the Kurfürstendamm.
Even as fatigue set in over the final three kilometres, Assefa held her form through the iconic Brandenburg Gate, stopping the clock in 2:11:04. She finished nearly six minutes ahead of her nearest competitor, runner-up Bedatu Hirpa (2:16:53).
"I love Berlin. These roads have given me so much in my career," Assefa said following her victory. "To come back here and run 2:11:04 is an incredible feeling."
!Tigst Assefa smashes the Berlin Marathon course record in 2:11:04
Official women's top 10
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Time | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | Tigst Assefa ⭐ CR | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:11:04 | | 2 | Bedatu Hirpa | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:16:53 | | 3 | Dera Dida | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:16:55 | | 4 | Bekelech Gudeta | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:18:58 | | 5 | Alemitu Tariku | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:19:01 | | 6 | Pascaline Jelagat | 🇰🇪 KEN | 2:20:23 | | 7 | Misgane Alemayehu | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:20:27 | | 8 | Ludwina Chepngetich | 🇰🇪 KEN | 2:21:25 | | 9 | Evaline Chirchir | 🇰🇪 KEN | 2:21:32 | | 10 | Aminet Ahmed | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:21:45 |
Ethiopian women secured seven of the top ten positions, sweeping all three steps on the podium.
Men's marathon results: Adola reclaims Berlin
The late surge to 2:02:50
The men's race took on a new tactical dimension following Kenenisa Bekele's late withdrawal with an Achilles tendon flare-up. With pacers setting an aggressive sub-2:03 tempo, a lead group of four runners reached 30km together.
At the 37km mark, Guye Adola made his decisive break. The 2021 Berlin champion, who famously pushed Eliud Kipchoge to the line in his 2017 debut (2:03:46), surged away from compatriot Gemechu Dida. Adola maintained a blistering cadence all the way along Unter den Linden, crossing the line in 2:02:50 - a personal best by almost a full minute.
Gemechu Dida held on for second in 2:03:19, entering the world all-time top 30. Tanzania's Gabriel Geay claimed third in 2:03:59.
!Guye Adola wins the 2026 Berlin Marathon in a personal best 2:02:50
Official men's top 10
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Time | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | Guye Adola | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:02:50 | | 2 | Gemechu Dida | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:03:19 | | 3 | Gabriel Geay | 🇹🇿 TAN | 2:03:59 | | 4 | Getaneh Molla | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:04:55 | | 5 | Selemon Barega | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:04:58 | | 6 | Asefa Boki | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:05:32 | | 7 | Andamlak Belihu | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:05:55 | | 8 | Shura Kitata | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:06:04 | | 9 | Yuhei Urano | 🇯🇵 JPN | 2:06:09 | | 10 | Tadu Abate | 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:07:16 |
Japan's Yuhei Urano ran an exceptional race to finish ninth in 2:06:09, breaking up an otherwise dominant East African lead pack.
Wheelchair champions: Hug and Debrunner sweep
In the wheelchair division, Swiss dominance continued unabated: - Marcel Hug (SUI) claimed his ninth Berlin men's wheelchair crown in 1:23:28, executing a textbook solo breakaway from 15km. - Catherine Debrunner (SUI) won the women's wheelchair division in 1:35:01, showcasing the same dominant form that delivered multiple Paralympic medals.
What Berlin 2026 means for the autumn marathon season
Berlin's results reset the narrative as the Abbott World Marathon Majors swing across the Atlantic to North America:
1. Only two Majors remain in 2026: With Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, and Berlin now complete, the remaining calendar comes down to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (11 October) and the TCS New York City Marathon (1 November). 2. Kiplimo on sub-2 watch: With Berlin delivering another pair of ultra-fast winning marks, all eyes turn to Jacob Kiplimo in Chicago. Kiplimo's 2:00:28 in London proved his speed, and Chicago's flat course has already produced world records from Kelvin Kiptum and Ruth Chepngetich. 3. The Six Star chase: Runners chasing their Six Star Medal in 2026 now have only Chicago and New York left on the schedule before the winter break.
If you are inspired to race your own 26.2, explore our marathon pace calculator to work out target splits or design a personalised schedule with the Run Planner.
Find races: Browse marathons in Berlin and Germany, or explore upcoming autumn races on our marathon directory.