28 Aug 2026

SYDNEY MARATHON WEEKEND A ‘PB’ FOR ACCOMMODATION HOTELS

NSW’s peak accommodation body said occupancy rates for the 2026 Sydney Marathon weekend were fast approaching a ‘personal best’ for Sydney’s hotels.

Accommodation Australia NSW General Manager Stacey McBride said a record 40,000 runners from 162 countries were heading into Sydney for Sunday’s race.

She said forward bookings figures provided by CoStar Group show predicted occupancy in the Sydney CBD at 87.2%, just behind the record breaking 92.8% at this time last year, with a few days to go.

“Events like the marathon bring much-needed tourists back into the CBD and it couldn’t come at a better time for NSW accommodation hotels,” said McBride.

“Hotels across Sydney only reached pre-pandemic occupancy levels in February, but since then events in the middle east and cost of living pressures have slowed bookings.”

“The race will bring an estimated $120 million into the visitor economy and now that it is a World Major it seems to be growing every year.”

The Sydney marathon began in 2000 as a Sydney Olympic event and became an Abbott World Major in 2025.

It is the only major in the southern hemisphere, and now stands alongside Boston, Chicago, New York, London, Tokyo and Berlin as one of the world's premier 42km races.

“The Sydney marathon course is one of the most beautiful in the world. It will be an experience few runners forget and one they will hopefully want to repeat again and again,” said McBride.

“The event brings a global spotlight with a broadcast audience of more than 20 million viewers which will not only bring visitors to Sydney but the rest of NSW as well.”