The Vancouver International Marathon is a major running event in early May. The race attracts thousands of runners and tens of thousands of spectators.

The run takes place on the first Sunday in May. On that same weekend there are also usually Cinco de Mayo Mexican-themed events, shows with the Royal Canadian International Circus, and a number of other events. For details about everything going on, see our May Calendar of Events.

The Vancouver International Marathon returns in 2025 on Sunday, May 4th. To learn about the marathon, continue reading.

In this article you’ll find information about the following:

General Event Details | Marathon Details | Half Marathon Details | 8K Details | Relay Details | Kids Run Details | Street Festival | Health & Sports Expo | Entertainment | Other Information

Click any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about the Vancouver International Marathon.

Vancouver International Marathon

The Vancouver International Marathon is the City of Vancouver’s only Boston-qualifying marathon (although there are a couple of others elsewhere in the Lower Mainland). It’s also one of the most prestigious marathons in the world and attracts participants from as many as 60 countries each year.

Unrelated to the big run in May, there are half marathon events in the Lower Mainland at other times of the year including the Vancouver Chilly Chase, Fort Langley Historic Half, Shamrock’n Race, Rubber Ducky Race and Vancouver Historic Half, all of which are part of the Try Events series of races. There is also the Scotiabank Half Marathon, which isn’t a Try Events run, and the Boundary Bay Marathon which is.

This article is about the BMO Vancouver Marathon. To learn about other running events at different times of the year instead, see our article about Metro Vancouver Running Races.

Vancouver Marathon Event

The Vancouver International Marathon celebrates its 53rd year in 2025. The same as last year, the race takes place both in-person and online. The virtual race is from April 1st to May 31st.

The event features a number of races including the full 42.2 km marathon, a half marathon, an 8K race and a Kids Run. There is also a street festival on the day near the race finish line in downtown Vancouver. There used to be a full-marathon relay race but that hasn’t happened since 2019.

Participants at the event include some of the world’s most elite runners, but also kids, grandparents and all kinds of fit people of varying levels. As many as 18,000 people participate in a typical year.

Marathon Details

The full marathon is limited to a maximum number of participants ages 18 and older. It usually starts before 9:00 am. The marathon’s starting line is on Midlothian Avenue in Queen Elizabeth Park and the race finishes on West Pender Street between Bute and Thurlow Streets.

The full marathon takes place on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, and starts at 8:30 am. There is also a virtual race that can be run anytime between April 1st and May 31st.

Click Marathon Course for a map of the route and more information.

Half Marathon Details

The Vancouver Half Marathon usually has a maximum of 10,000 runners and is open to participants ages 18+ as well as runners ages 16+ with permission from their parents.

The race starts in Queen Elizabeth Park at 7:00 am and finishes on West Pender Street between Thurlow and Bute Streets.

Click Half Marathon Map for a map of the route and more information.

BMO 8K Details

The 8K race starts at 9:30 am in Stanley Park near the Ceperley Park Playground on Lagoon Drive. The finish line is the same West Pender Street location as the marathon and half marathon races. The 8K event is open to anyone age 11+ (with parent permission where appropriate).

Click 8K Map for details on the race route and more.

BMO Relay Details

The Marathon Relay was a four-person event where the first and second members of the team each ran 12 km, the third ran five km and the fourth finished the final 13 km. The start time for the relay is usually around 8:30 am.

The first leg of the race went from Queen Elizabeth Park through Kerrisdale and Dunbar, and the second leg was through Pacific Spirit Park, UBC and Point Grey. The third leg was mostly through Kitsilano. The final stretch went by English Bay, through Stanley Park and then into the city’s downtown core.

Sadly, the BMO Relay hasn’t taken place since 2019. It doesn’t look like it’ll happen in 2025 either.

2025 Kids Run Details

The Vancouver Marathon event isn’t just for grownups – there are events for kids too. While the marathon itself is restricted to adults ages 18+, the Kids Run is for children ages 6 to 12.

The Kids Run usually takes place the first Saturday in May, so a day before the other races. The 2025 race takes place as an in-person event on May 3rd. Up to 500 children usually participate in the Kids Run which is a 2.5-kilometre loop around Stanley Park’s Lost Lagoon.

Click Kids Race for a map of the route.

Vancouver Marathon Street Festival

In addition to the various running races, there is also a small street festival on the day of the Vancouver Marathon. The event is open to the public and goes from approximately 8:30 am until 3:00 pm. Admission is free.

Whereas the marathon’s finish line is on West Pender between Thurlow and Bute Streets, the street festival takes place just one block away, on West Hastings between Burrard and Bute Streets.

There is music, food samples and both running gear and souvenirs for sale at the Street Festival. McDonald’s is also there most years providing free coffee for everyone willing to stand in the lineup, and in previous years Stanley Park Brewery has been there giving away beer samples to runners as well.

Click Marathon Street Festival for more details as they become available.

Health & Sports Expo

Related to the Vancouver Marathon is the two-day Health & Sports Expo that takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre at 999 Canada Place. The event features all sorts of running gear for sale and attracts over 20,000 people each year. Admission is free.

The expo returns on May 2nd and 3rd, 2025, at the following times:

• Friday, May 2nd, from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm
• Saturday, May 4th, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

Click Marathon Expo for more information.

Marathon Entertainment

During the Vancouver International Marathon, there are usually live entertainment venues along the way. Dozens of local bands play at various locations, which is fun for both runners and spectators.

As of mid-January, the list of performers at this year’s event is to be confirmed.

Other Information

To learn more about the race, see the Vancouver International Marathon website.

For a list of other races in the Lower Mainland throughout the year, click Metro Vancouver Running Races (the largest of which include the Vancouver Sun Run 10-kilometre race in April and the Scotiabank Half Marathon in June).

For a list of other events taking place the same month as the Vancouver Marathon, see Vancouver’s May Calendar.

And for a comprehensive listing of major Vancouver events throughout the year, click Festivals & Events.