Garmin Kansas City Marathon

The Garmin Kansas City Marathon returns to Frank A. Theis Park on Saturday, October 17, 2026. It's the city's largest annual road race, and it's not just for the full 26.2. On the same morning, you can choose a half marathon, a 10K, or a 5K, so there's a distance that fits wherever you're at. If you can't make it in person, there's a virtual option that mails you the shirt and medal.

The full marathon is a USATF-certified course and a Boston Marathon qualifier, and it stays entirely within Missouri. Rather than looping through a park, it's a tour of the city's landmarks and neighborhoods. You'll run past the National World War I Museum and Memorial, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Union Station, the Country Club Plaza, T-Mobile Center, Waldo, Westport, and 18th & Vine. The full marathon has a six-hour time limit, and the half-to-full split closes at 10:30 AM.

There's more to the weekend than just the race. A Health & Fitness Expo at Union Station is where you'll pick up your bib—keep in mind there's no packet pick-up on race day, so you'll want to stop by beforehand. After you cross the finish line, the Finish Line Festival, presented by T-Mobile, has free food, beer, and massages. The race is also part of the I-35 Challenge, a partnership with the IMT Des Moines Marathon.

Everything starts and finishes at Frank A. Theis Park on Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The full and half marathons start at 7 AM, the 10K at 7:30 AM, and the 5K at 7:45 AM. Entry is $145.