Rio Marathon 2027 Opens Foreign Entry on 16 November
BRAZIL · RUNNING
Key Facts
- —What is happening The 25th-anniversary Maratona do Rio, known abroad as the Rio Marathon, runs from Thursday, 27 May 2027 to Sunday, 30 May 2027 in Rio de Janeiro, with 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon races.
- —Race days The marathon is on Sunday, 30 May 2027 and the half marathon on Saturday, 29 May 2027, with the 10K on Friday, 28 May 2027 and the 5K on Thursday, 27 May 2027.
- —Foreign entry dates Foreign runners skip the lottery: half marathon entry opens Monday, 16 November 2026, the 10K on Tuesday, 19 January 2027, and the 5K on Tuesday, 2 February 2027.
- —The numbers Foreign entry is priced in US$: US$140 for the half marathon, US$85 for the 10K and US$80 for the 5K, paid on the GoDream platform.
- —Sold out The organiser’s Portuguese pages show the 42K and the 21K plus 42K Challenge as sold out, and a leftover batch is planned for December 2026.
- —Where to register The regulation lets foreigners register on GoDream, the official ticket platform, or through accredited travel agencies, which the organiser now lists on its agency page.
- —Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US citizens need a Brazilian visa or e-visa approved before they fly, and Rio carries a Level 2 State Department advisory, Exercise Increased Caution.
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The Rio Marathon festival returns on 27 to 30 May 2027 for its 25th anniversary, with no lottery for foreigners. The half marathon opens to them on Monday, 16 November 2026, while Brazilian pages show the marathon sold out.
The Maratona do Rio, or Rio Marathon, runs from Thursday, 27 May 2027 to Sunday, 30 May 2027 in Rio. It marks 25 years, and the organiser calls it the largest road running festival in Latin America.
Foreign runners do not enter the lottery that Brazilians must use for the half marathon and the marathon. The half marathon opens to foreigners on Monday, 16 November 2026, which is 25 days from today.
What the Rio Marathon Is
The festival has four races, a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon of 21 kilometres and a marathon of 42 kilometres. A fifth product, the Challenge, combines the half marathon and the marathon on consecutive days.
The 2027 edition marks 25 years, and its commemorative seal carries the idea of “running plus music.” Diário do Rio reported the seal launch on 28 August 2026.
Viva, a Brazilian outlet, says the festival runs over the Corpus Christi holiday weekend. Corpus Christi is a Catholic feast that Brazil treats as a public holiday on a Thursday.
Brazilians must enter a free lottery for the marathon and the half marathon. Runners aged 60 and over and Brazilians living abroad also go through the lottery, the regulation says.
Race Days and Routes
The marathon runs on Sunday, 30 May 2027, from Praia do Recreio to the Aterro do Flamengo waterfront park. The regulation says starts go in waves, with times set later.
The half marathon runs on Saturday, 29 May 2027, from Leblon beach to the same Aterro do Flamengo finish. Its start times are also not yet published.
The 10K runs on Friday, 28 May 2027, starting and finishing at the Aterro do Flamengo near the Marina da Glória. Waves start from 7:00 a.m. local time, which is 6:00 a.m. US Eastern.
The 5K runs on Thursday, 27 May 2027, but its start, finish and time are still being defined. The organiser says all times and routes can change and will be posted on its website and social media.
How Foreigners Register for the Rio Marathon
The regulation says foreigners who skip travel agencies can buy directly on the official site, without a lottery. The organiser’s race pages also point foreigners to GoDream, the official ticket platform.
Each distance opens on its own date, starting with the half marathon on Monday, 16 November 2026. The 10K opens on Tuesday, 19 January 2027, and the 5K on Tuesday, 2 February 2027.
A separate foreigners page on GoDream carries the English registration. The regulation says foreign athletes buy directly on the official platform in US dollars.
Accredited travel agencies start selling the marathon and half marathon on 10 November 2026. The organiser’s agency page lists agencies for North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania.
Entries are personal, and the regulation allows one change of holder through GoDream for a fee. It does not allow a change of distance.
Prices for Foreign and Local Runners
The organiser’s registration manual lists foreign prices with a dollar sign, and the regulation says foreigners pay in US dollars. The listed prices are US$140 for the half marathon, US$85 for the 10K and US$80 for the 5K.
The manual listed the marathon at US$140 and the Challenge at US$300 for foreigners. Prices on the platform can differ by batch, so the checkout page is the final word.
Brazilian lottery winners pay 349 reais (about US$69) for the half marathon and 359 reais (about US$71) for the marathon. The 10K costs from 179 reais (about US$36) without a shirt and 219 reais (about US$44) with one.
The 5K costs from 159 reais (about US$32) without a shirt and 199 reais (about US$40) with one. Conversions use open.er-api.com rates of Thursday, 22 October 2026, when US$1 bought 5.02 reais.
Lottery winners can add a 5K or 10K without a shirt for 149 reais (about US$30) or 169 reais (about US$34). Brazilian buyers pay by Pix or by card in up to 12 instalments, and foreign card rules are not stated.
What Has Sold Out and What Could Return
The organiser’s Portuguese pages label the 42K and the Challenge “inscrições esgotadas”, meaning registrations sold out. The marathon lottery ran from 31 August to 13 September, and its buying waves closed on 13 October.
The Challenge is the most complete package, with two shirts, two bibs, two pairs of socks, a towel and three medals. It requires the half marathon on Saturday, 29 May 2027 and the marathon on Sunday, 30 May 2027, each timed.
The regulation plans a leftover batch called Raspa do Tacho from Tuesday, 15 December 2026 to Thursday, 17 December 2026. It promises neither the lottery price nor a shirt.
The 10K and 5K batches also plan a leftover round in March 2027. The English marathon page still shows a foreigner registration button, so whether foreign places remain is not confirmed.
The half marathon lottery runs for Brazilians from Monday, 9 November to Wednesday, 18 November 2026. Winners are announced on Friday, 27 November, and buying waves run from 30 November to 14 December.
Rules on the Day and Time Limits
The regulation sets a six-hour limit for the marathon and three hours for the half marathon, counted from the last wave. The 10K and the 5K each have a 90-minute limit.
Runners must collect a kit with a bib and a disposable timing chip, and they must show identity documents at pickup. The kit pickup date and place will be set later.
Age is counted on 31 December 2027, and the organiser follows national and World Athletics road racing rules. Selfie sticks and large cameras are banned on the course.
Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors
The State Department says US citizens need a Brazilian visa or e-visa for any trip, approved before departure. A passport must be valid on arrival and carry at least one blank page.
The Brazilian e-visa portal says consular posts may take up to 10 business days and advises applying two months ahead. The Rio Times visa guide for US citizens explains the steps.
The State Department rates Brazil Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in its current advisory. It lists violent crime in urban areas by day or night, and drink-spiking assaults that are common in Rio de Janeiro.
The same advisory urges extra caution when hiking in isolated areas near tourist sites in Rio. The department says yellow fever vaccination is not required for entry.
Race-day logistics, such as metro access to the Aterro do Flamengo, have not been published for 2027. The Rio de Janeiro city guide and the current Rio events guide cover the city, and the Brazil hub carries wider coverage.
What It Means for You
The half marathon opens first, on Monday, 16 November 2026, and the 10K follows on Tuesday, 19 January 2027. A runner who wants the marathon should check the foreigners page and watch the December leftover batch.
Entry fees run from US$80 for the 5K to US$140 for the half marathon. Flights and hotels over a holiday weekend cost extra, and no prices for them are confirmed here.
Brazilians living abroad go through the lottery like residents, the registration manual says. Foreign runners buy directly and skip the draw.
The Rio Times report on the 2026 race counted 1,124 foreign runners. That earlier count shows foreign demand is real, so early entry matters.
What Is Not Known
Start times for the marathon, half marathon and 5K are not yet published, and neither is the kit pickup date. Foreign prices through travel agencies, which sell packages, are not published either.
The manual closes the Brazilian half marathon lottery on 21 November, while the regulation and website say 18 November. This does not affect foreigners, who skip the lottery.
The organiser’s agency page says foreigners must buy through agency packages, while the regulation and race pages allow direct GoDream entry. Check the foreigners page on GoDream, because this guide could not open it.
What Comes Next
Brazilians can join the half marathon lottery from Monday, 9 November 2026, and foreigners can buy from Monday, 16 November 2026. The 10K opens on Tuesday, 19 January 2027, and the 5K on Tuesday, 2 February 2027.
The festival itself starts with the 5K on Thursday, 27 May 2027. This guide does not cover race-day weather or hotel prices, which are not yet known.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can foreigners register for the Rio Marathon 2027?
Half marathon entries open to foreigners on Monday, 16 November 2026, then 10K entries on Tuesday, 19 January 2027. The 5K opens on Tuesday, 2 February 2027, and the Brazilian marathon page shows sold out.
How much does a foreign runner pay to enter?
The manual lists US$140 for the half marathon, US$85 for the 10K and US$80 for the 5K, paid on GoDream. It also listed the marathon at US$140 and the Challenge at US$300.
Do US citizens need a visa to run in Rio?
Yes, the State Department says US citizens need a Brazilian visa or e-visa approved before departure. The e-visa portal advises applying two months before travel.
Sources: Maratona do Rio, official site; Maratona do Rio, how to register; Maratona do Rio 2027 official regulation (PDF); Maratona do Rio 2027 registration manual (PDF); Viva; Diário do Rio; US State Department, Brazil; Brazil e-visa portal Maratona do Rio, travel agencies (all accessed 22 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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