ASICS Gold Coast Marathon crowned Queensland Sports Event of the Year

The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon has been crowned the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Queensland Sports Event of the Year, recognising the event’s record-breaking achievements and significant economic contribution on Queensland’s tourism and events landscape.

The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon claimed the honour in amongst an outstanding field of Queensland events which included the Brisbane International Tennis, the World Surf League and the Pan Pacific Masters Games.

The prestigious accoldate follows on from an exceptional 2025 event, which delivered the largest participation numbers in the marathon’s 45-year history and reinforced the Gold Coast’s position as one of the world’s premier running destinations.

In 2025, the marathon welcomed more than 15,000 participants in the flagship 42.195km event and a further 10,000 runners in the China Airlines Half Marathon. Across race weekend, athletes and supporters travelled from nearly 50 countries, contributing to an economic impact splash of $65.67 million for the Gold Coast and Queensland.

The event also attracted unprecedented early demand, with 4,900 marathon and 2,600 half-marathon entries received in the first hour of registrations and 39,000 entries overall across the various events.

Events Management Queensland (EMQ) CEO Ben Mannion said the award was an outstanding acknowledgement of the event’s contribution to Queensland’s sporting and tourism sectors.

“Being recognised as Queensland Sports Event of the Year is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the dedication of our staff, board, partners, volunteers as well as the running community,” said Mannion.

“The 2025 event set new benchmarks for participation, international visitation and economic impact, and this award confirms the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon’s standing as a world-class event delivering significant outcomes for Queensland.

“More than half of last year’s participants travelled from outside Queensland, reinforcing the marathon’s role as both a premier sporting event and a major driver of tourism.

“We are proud to bring tens of thousands of visitors to the region each year and to deliver an event that enhances the state’s reputation on the international stage.”

The accolade comes as organisers count down to the opening of entries for the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon to be held on 4-5 July 2026, with registrations opening at 9am AEST on Tuesday, 2 December.