Texas Marathon 2026 Calendar For Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston

Texas marathons in 2026 stretch from April through December, which gives runners a real mix of road-style racing, trail marathons, and multi-day distance events. As of March 31, 2026, the verified marathon-distance options in Texas cover DFW, the Hill Country, Bastrop, Denison, Fort Worth, Paris, Wichita Falls, Lago Vista, Needville, Dallas, San Antonio, and Spicewood.

Travelers building a bigger race weekend can also pair a trip with broader Texas road trip ideas without stretching the drive too far beyond the event itself. The strongest planning move is to choose the race style first, then match the city, trail system, or park access around it.

Some of the entries below are full marathons, while others are marathon-distance options inside larger race weekends. The later months add summer trail races, fall road marathons, and a December slate that ranges from flat trail loops to major city courses.

Race	Date	Where	Marathon-distance note
Garland Marathon	April 4-5, 2026	Garland / DFW	Traditional marathon weekend with a marathon on Sunday
MERUS Marathon & Ultra	April 11, 2026	Claude	Trail marathon and ultra options at MERUS Adventure
Full Circle Trail Race	April 18, 2026	Lewisville	Trail marathon option at LLELA
Pandora’s Box of Rox Trail Race	April 25, 2026	Burnet	Trail marathon and double-marathon options at Reveille Peak Ranch
Pechanga Trail Run	May 2, 2026	Spicewood	Trail marathon option in the Hill Country
Wildflower	May 9-10, 2026	Bastrop	Marathon on Sunday plus other trail distances across two days
Texas Triple	May 23-25, 2026	Dallas	Marathon-distance entries on three consecutive days
Texoma Challenge	June 6, 2026	Denison	Night trail marathon at Waterloo Park
Austin Solstice Circuit	July 25-26, 2026	Spicewood	Paved summer road marathon at Pace Bend Park
Texas Endurance Runs 24/48	July 24-26, 2026	Fort Worth	Marathon option inside a 24-hour endurance weekend
Habanero Hundred	August 21-23, 2026	Cat Spring	Marathon option inside a large ultra weekend
Labor Day Trail Challenge	September 5, 2026	Cedar Creek	Trail marathon at McKinney Roughs Nature Park
Paris Texas Marathon	September 19-20, 2026	Paris	Rails-to-trails marathon on the NETT Trail
Home For Freedom Marathon	October 16-17, 2026	Wichita Falls	Fall city marathon with packet pickup and dinner
Colorado River Run	November 27-28, 2026	Lago Vista	Late-fall marathon inside an ultra weekend
Brazos Bend 100	December 5-6, 2026	Needville	Flat trail marathon at Brazos Bend State Park
San Antonio Marathon	December 4-6, 2026	San Antonio	Major downtown road marathon weekend
BMW Dallas Marathon	December 11-13, 2026	Dallas	Texas’ largest city marathon weekend
Holiday Victory Lap and Star of Texas Marathon	December 13, 2026	Spicewood	Trail marathon inside a holiday endurance weekend

The lineup includes one road-style event, several trail races, and a night trail marathon. Runners who want granite, creek crossings, loops, and night starts have multiple options across Central and North Texas.

According to the current race listings, Garland is the only clearly road-style weekend in the group. The rest lean toward trail terrain, park logistics, or a night start, so the spring calendar gives runners a genuine choice of surfaces and race-day rhythms.

Later 2026 verified entries include Austin Solstice Circuit, Habanero Hundred, Labor Day Trail Challenge, Paris Texas Marathon, Home For Freedom Marathon, Colorado River Run, Brazos Bend 100, San Antonio Marathon, BMW Dallas Marathon, and Holiday Victory Lap and Star of Texas Marathon.

Texas Spring Marathon Calendar at a Glance

Spring 2026 spreads the marathon-distance events across three very different styles. Garland offers a city-marathon setup, MERUS and Pandora lean hard into trail running, Wildflower and Texoma add park logistics and night or shuttle operations, and Texas Triple turns the marathon into a three-day Dallas challenge.

That variety matters for planning because the best race is not always the nearest one. A runner who wants fast roads, a runner who wants technical terrain, and a runner who wants a long weekend all end up looking at different races even when the marathon distance is the same.

• Best road-style weekend: Garland Marathon.
• Best big trail challenge: MERUS Marathon & Ultra or Pandora’s Box of Rox.
• Best Hill Country spring trip: Pechanga Trail Run or Wildflower.
• Best multi-day endurance play: Texas Triple.
• Best night race: Texoma Challenge.

Runners who want more Texas travel ideas around a weekend can also use the state’s outdoor stops as a base layer, especially in the Hill Country and East Texas. A race trip can easily become a longer weekend when the lodging, trail stops, and local dining are set up around one fixed event date.

April 2026 Texas Marathons

April is the busiest month in the spring marathon calendar because it packs four distinct marathon-distance events into four consecutive Saturdays and Sundays. That stretch gives runners a choice between a city race, two North and Central Texas trail events, and a Hill Country ranch race that feels more like a destination weekend than a simple local entry.

Garland Marathon

Garland Marathon runs April 4-5, 2026, in the DFW area and is the most traditional marathon-weekend format in this group. The official event page shows a Sunday marathon, Saturday support races, and a race-day schedule built around a standard start and finish window.

The event is a practical fit for runners who want a more conventional marathon setup without trail gear, ranch parking, or shuttle logistics. It also gives DFW runners a spring marathon option that stays close to home and keeps the weekend simple.

Garland Marathon runs April 4-5, 2026, in Garland / DFW and includes a Sunday marathon within a Saturday-and-Sunday weekend schedule.

• Date: April 4-5, 2026.
• Location: Garland / DFW.
• Race feel: Traditional city-marathon weekend.
• Best for: Runners who want the cleanest road-style option in this spring lineup.

Dallas-area runners often like to pair a race weekend with a nearby neighborhood stop, and Lake Carolyn works as a calm pre-race walk or post-race reset. Garland stays easy to fold into a city plan without adding another long drive.

MERUS Marathon & Ultra

MERUS Marathon & Ultra lands on April 11, 2026, at MERUS Adventure in Claude, Texas. The marathon entry sits alongside shorter and longer distances in a trail-running event through forests, hills, and natural obstacles.

MERUS suits runners who want off-road terrain and a more rugged race day than a paved urban course can offer. Claude sits far enough from the major Texas metros to feel like a destination trip.

MERUS Marathon & Ultra lands on April 11, 2026, as an all-day trail event with ultra distances in the lineup.

• Date: April 11, 2026.
• Location: Claude.
• Race feel: Trail marathon and ultra weekend.
• Best for: Trail runners who want a harder, remote April test.

Trail runners who like to compare terrain before committing to a race weekend can use nearby outdoor pages such as Cedar Ridge Preserve as a planning reference for the kind of rolling, outdoor-first effort that trail weekends often demand. MERUS sits in that same broad family of spring endurance events, even though the exact terrain is more remote and more demanding.

According to the MERUS Marathon & Ultra listing, the April 11 field pairs the marathon with shorter and longer distances. That structure works well for runners who want to travel with friends or family members racing different distances.

Full Circle Trail Race

Full Circle Trail Race takes place April 18, 2026, in Lewisville and offers a 26.2-mile marathon option at LLELA. The marathon sits alongside 50K, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a youth trail run, which makes it one of the more flexible April trail weekends in North Texas.

The race is a strong fit for runners who want marathon distance without giving up trail scenery or a local DFW footprint. LLELA adds the environmental-learning-area setting, so the course feel is more natural and less urban than Garland without becoming a huge road trip.

Full Circle Trail Race is one of the most flexible North Texas trail weekends because the 26.2-mile entry shares the course with shorter races and a youth run.

• Date: April 18, 2026.
• Location: Lewisville.
• Race feel: Trail marathon with multiple shorter distances.
• Best for: North Texas runners who want trail mileage without leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth orbit.

North Texas runners who want to build a bigger outdoor weekend can also pair the race with a broader park plan around the region, especially when the marathon is part of a longer spring travel window. The race works well because it keeps the trail focus while staying close enough for a manageable day trip.

Pandora’s Box of Rox Trail Race

Pandora’s Box of Rox Trail Race falls on April 25, 2026, at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet. The race lists a marathon, a double marathon, a half marathon, shorter trail distances, and a youth mile, so the event gives marathon runners one of the broadest spring trail lineups in Central Texas.

The course setting is the bigger draw here. Reveille Peak Ranch adds meadows, granite, creek crossings, and ranch-style trail terrain, which makes the event feel like a full outdoor day rather than a quick in-and-out race.

Pandora’s Box of Rox Trail Race gives marathon runners a broad Central Texas trail menu, from a full marathon to a double-marathon option.

• Date: April 25, 2026.
• Location: Burnet.
• Race feel: Ranch trail marathon with double-marathon options.
• Best for: Runners who want a scenic, tougher trail weekend just outside Austin.

Spring travelers who want a Hill Country backdrop can fold the race into a bigger weekend that includes local trail stops, ranch lodging, and a longer road-trip window.

According to the Pandora’s Box of Rox listing, the Burnet weekend includes both a marathon and a double marathon. That extra option gives strong trail runners a way to extend the day without switching events.

May 2026 Texas Marathons

May shifts the calendar deeper into trail season, with Hill Country heat starting to matter more and park logistics becoming part of the race choice. The month still gives runners three marathon-distance opportunities, but each one comes with its own pacing challenge, course surface, and travel footprint.

Pechanga Trail Run

Pechanga Trail Run takes place May 2, 2026, in Spicewood and includes a 26.2-mile marathon option alongside 50K, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and youth trail entries.

The race sits in the Texas Hill Country, so the setting matters as much as the distance. The Spicewood location and trail format point toward a scenic but effortful day, especially for runners who prefer dirt and elevation changes over a flatter city course.

• Date: May 2, 2026.
• Location: Spicewood.
• Race feel: Hill Country trail marathon.
• Best for: Runners who want an early-May trail race close to Austin.

Visitors planning a longer Hill Country stay can combine the race with a park or lake stop and make the weekend feel less like a single event and more like a full spring outing. That approach works well in Spicewood because the location already suits a road-trip pace.

Wildflower

Wildflower runs May 9-10, 2026, at Bastrop State Park with parking at Mayfest. Sunday includes the marathon, half marathon, and additional trail distances, while Saturday carries the shorter events and the first round of packet pickup and shuttle logistics.

The event stands out because the marathon is only one part of a two-day trail weekend. Runners also deal with shuttle buses, no-parking rules inside the park, and a course that moves through pine, sand, rock, rolling climbs, and descents in the Lost Pines area.

Wildflower runs May 9-10, 2026, at Bastrop State Park with parking at Mayfest and a Sunday marathon.

• Date: May 9-10, 2026.
• Location: Bastrop State Park / Mayfest parking.
• Race feel: Two-day trail weekend with a Sunday marathon.
• Best for: Runners who want a spring trail marathon with a strong destination feel.

Bastrop fits naturally into a broader outdoor weekend, and runners who want more Texas landscape context can pair the trip with Inks Lake State Park or another Hill Country stop. The race itself already delivers enough scenery to make the extra travel feel worthwhile.

According to the Wildflower schedule, parking sits at Mayfest and shuttles handle the trip into Bastrop State Park. That means the race morning starts before the first mile and rewards runners who keep the logistics simple.

Texas Triple

Texas Triple runs May 23-25, 2026, in Dallas and offers marathon-distance entries on all three days, plus an all-three-days option for runners who want the full weekend.

The course circles Bachman Lake and stays fast, flat, and loop-based. The setting is a strong fit for runners who want a repeatable city marathon rather than a trail effort.

Texas Triple runs May 23-25, 2026, in Dallas and offers marathon-distance entries on all three days.

• Date: May 23-25, 2026.
• Location: Dallas.
• Race feel: Three-day marathon-distance weekend on a flat loop course.
• Best for: Runners who want multiple marathon efforts in one weekend.

Dallas runners can also pair the trip with a lighter city stop such as Lake Carolyn if the weekend needs a calmer pre-race walk or an easier recovery day. That keeps the Texas Triple trip rooted in Dallas without piling on extra driving.

According to the Texas Triple listing, marathon-distance entries are available on May 23, 24, and 25. The repeated format makes the Dallas weekend useful for runners chasing consistency rather than a single fast effort.

June 2026 Texas Marathons

June has only one verified marathon-distance race in this spring window, but it is one of the most distinctive entries on the calendar. The race is a night trail event in Denison, and the setting alone changes the pacing, gear, and logistics compared with the daytime road and park races earlier in the season.

Texoma Challenge

Texoma Challenge takes place June 6, 2026, at Waterloo Park in Denison and includes a marathon alongside 5K, 10K, half marathon, 50K, relay, and ruck options. The course uses rooty, dirt single-track trails with rolling hills and about 500 feet of elevation gain per loop.

The event starts after dark, which gives it a completely different feel from the rest of the spring calendar. Runners need headlamps, hydration, and a comfort level with night trail pacing, so this race suits experienced trail athletes more than casual marathon debuts.

Denison fits well for runners who like a north Texas weekend with a different rhythm from the Austin or Hill Country races. The course is technical enough to require focus, and the night format adds another layer of challenge for anyone trying to finish strong in early summer.

Runners who want a broader spring trail reference can compare that setup with Hill Country bluebonnet trails, which sit closer to the scenic side of Texas trail running than the night-race side.

According to Texas Outlaw Running, Texoma Challenge starts after dark and uses a loop with about 500 feet of gain. The night format turns the marathon into a different kind of summer effort than the daylight races earlier in the season.

July 2026 Texas Marathons

July is where the Texas marathon calendar starts to feel like summer training with a race bib attached. The month still offers two verified marathon-distance options, but both reward runners who are comfortable with heat, timing, and a more flexible race-day rhythm.

Austin Solstice Circuit

Austin Solstice Circuit runs July 25-26, 2026, at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis in Spicewood. The marathon is part of a paved hill-country loop with a reputation for speed, which makes it the clearest summer road-style option in the Texas calendar.

According to the event listing, the marathon uses smooth roads under oak trees rather than technical trail. That setup suits runners who want a July race that still feels fast and organized.

• Date: July 25-26, 2026.
• Location: Spicewood.
• Race feel: Paved loop with a summer endurance feel.
• Best for: Runners who want a road race with Lake Travis scenery.

The pace-bend setting keeps the race close enough to Austin for a weekend trip while still feeling separated from the city. That makes it a practical midsummer marathon for runners who want a route they can pace without technical trail concerns.

Texas Endurance Runs 24/48

Texas Endurance Runs 24/48 runs July 24-26, 2026, at Coleson’s FROG Camp in Fort Worth. The marathon is one of the listed race options inside the 24-hour format, alongside a bigger endurance weekend.

The event fits runners who like loops, night miles, and a long window for covering distance without a traditional gun-to-mat marathon start. It also works for anyone who wants to test heat management and pacing in a controlled endurance setting.

• Date: July 24-26, 2026.
• Location: Fort Worth.
• Race feel: 24-hour endurance event with a marathon option.
• Best for: Trail and ultra runners who want a flexible summer format.

In Fort Worth, the marathon is part of a much wider mileage menu, so the weekend makes more sense for endurance-minded runners than for someone hunting a clean course PR. The format rewards patience, not speed alone.

August 2026 Texas Marathons

August is the lightest month in the current Texas marathon checks, but one verified marathon-distance option still stands out. Habanero Hundred in Cat Spring fills the slot with a marathon inside a larger ultra weekend.

Habanero Hundred

Habanero Hundred runs August 21-23, 2026, at 7IL Ranch in Cat Spring and includes marathon, half marathon, 10K, 50K, 100K, 100-mile, relay, and Habanero 135 options. The marathon begins on Saturday afternoon and continues through the weekend with the rest of the endurance field.

According to the RunSignup listing, August is less about a pure marathon road race and more about a full endurance festival. That makes Habanero Hundred the clearest August fit for runners who want a marathon option without giving up the ultra-weekend atmosphere.

• Date: August 21-23, 2026.
• Location: Cat Spring.
• Race feel: Ultra weekend with a marathon option.
• Best for: Runners who want a long summer challenge and do not mind a heat-heavy weekend.

The August slot is valuable because it gives runners one more verified 26.2-mile choice before the fall road season opens up. It is also the toughest summer pick on this calendar because the endurance focus is much stronger than the speed focus.

September 2026 Texas Marathons

September brings the calendar back to trail racing and a clean trail-to-road crossover in Paris. The month gives runners a holiday-weekend trail challenge and a rails-to-trails marathon that feels much flatter than the summer trail events.

Labor Day Trail Challenge

Labor Day Trail Challenge runs September 5, 2026, at McKinney Roughs Nature Park in Cedar Creek and includes a marathon on a course that moves through four ecosystems. The marathon sits inside a larger Labor Day weekend lineup with shorter distances and a strong trail focus.

The setting makes the race feel scenic and technical without being remote. Runners who want trail mileage near Austin can use it as a September benchmark before the road-marathon season opens later in the year.

• Date: September 5, 2026.
• Location: Cedar Creek.
• Race feel: Labor Day trail marathon.
• Best for: Trail runners who want a holiday-weekend challenge near Austin.

According to the race listing, the marathon uses the same park setting that gives the shorter races their mix of terrain and shade. That makes the event a good late-summer test for runners who prefer dirt and rolling ground.

Paris Texas Marathon

Paris Texas Marathon runs September 19-20, 2026, in Paris, Texas, with the marathon on Saturday, September 19. The course uses the NETT Trail, which gives the race a rails-to-trails feel rather than a technical off-road profile.

That makes it one of the easiest fall marathons to compare with a road race, even though the course surface is trail-based. Runners who like flat, fast mileage can use it as a bridge between summer endurance and the December city races.

• Date: September 19-20, 2026.
• Location: Paris.
• Race feel: Rails-to-trails marathon with a flat profile.
• Best for: Runners who want a trail surface without technical terrain.

The Eiffel Tower finish area gives the event a clear identity that is easy to recognize on a Texas calendar. It also makes Paris a good fall destination for runners who want a smaller-town weekend before the big city marathons arrive in December.

October 2026 Texas Marathons

October is the bridge month between summer endurance and the big winter race slate. The clearest verified marathon-distance option in the state is in Wichita Falls, where the race weekend adds a full marathon on Saturday after a Friday evening packet-pickup and dinner setup.

Home For Freedom Marathon

Home For Freedom Marathon runs October 16-17, 2026, in Wichita Falls, with the full marathon on Saturday, October 17, at Lucy Park Pavilion. The race includes a Friday packet-pickup and spaghetti dinner, which makes the weekend feel organized before the first mile starts.

According to the event listing, the marathon has a more traditional city-race feel than the summer trail options. That makes it a strong early-fall choice for runners who want a standard marathon weekend without waiting until December.

• Date: October 16-17, 2026.
• Location: Wichita Falls.
• Race feel: City marathon weekend with pre-race dinner and packet pickup.
• Best for: North Texas runners who want a fall road-marathon option.

Wichita Falls gets a fall marathon option before Thanksgiving travel starts to crowd the calendar. The race does not require trail gear or park shuttles.

November 2026 Texas Marathons

November is the quietest month in the current Texas marathon roundup, but it still has one verified marathon-distance event. The race sits on the Thanksgiving-weekend edge of the calendar and works best for runners who want a late-fall endurance day before December becomes crowded.

Colorado River Run

Colorado River Run takes place November 27-28, 2026, in Lago Vista, and the marathon is one of the event’s core options on Saturday, November 28. The weekend also includes much longer distances, so marathon runners share the course with a broader ultra field.

The marathon starts at 8:30 in the morning and does not allow pacers. That keeps the focus on solo pacing for a late-fall endurance challenge.

• Date: November 27-28, 2026.
• Location: Lago Vista.
• Race feel: Late-fall marathon inside an ultra weekend.
• Best for: Runners who want a Thanksgiving-weekend endurance test.

The November slot also works as a last meaningful tune-up before the December marathons bring bigger crowds and more city logistics. It is the month for runners who want endurance without a huge urban race footprint.

December 2026 Texas Marathons

December is the deepest month in the calendar and the strongest month for runners who want both road and trail choices. It brings a flat state-park trail marathon, a major downtown marathon, a South Texas road marathon, and a Spicewood holiday ultra weekend with a marathon option.

Brazos Bend 100

Brazos Bend 100 runs December 5-6, 2026, at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville and includes a marathon on the Saturday schedule. The race is built around a multi-loop setup and is widely known for its unusually flat trail profile.

According to the event description, the course is 99.9% flat, which makes it a very different December marathon than the city races later in the month. That flatness is one reason the event keeps attracting trail runners who want speed without giving up dirt underfoot.

• Date: December 5-6, 2026.
• Location: Needville.
• Race feel: Flat, multi-loop trail marathon.
• Best for: Trail runners who want a December marathon with very little elevation.

That makes Brazos Bend a strong final-month option for runners who want one more trail marathon before the year ends. It also helps explain why the event sits in such a different lane from the big-city marathons later in December.

San Antonio Marathon

San Antonio Marathon runs December 4-6, 2026, with the marathon on Sunday, December 6. The race uses a downtown San Antonio setup with a finish-line celebration that gives the event a much more urban feel than the trail races elsewhere in the month.

According to the official listing, the marathon is the centerpiece of a full weekend that also includes shorter race distances and city spectator energy. That makes it one of the best winter road-marathon options in Texas.

• Date: December 4-6, 2026.
• Location: San Antonio.
• Race feel: Downtown city marathon weekend.
• Best for: Runners who want a major Texas road marathon in early December.

The timing makes it useful for runners who prefer a December marathon before holiday travel ramps up. It also gives South Texas a major road-race anchor on the year-end calendar.

BMW Dallas Marathon

BMW Dallas Marathon runs December 11-13, 2026, with the marathon on the second Sunday of December. The race covers major neighborhoods and city landmarks and stands as Dallas’ largest and Texas’ longest-running marathon.

According to the Dallas Marathon site, the race also includes a half marathon, 50K, relays, 10K, 5K, and kids events. That makes the weekend one of the biggest winter race gatherings in the state.

• Date: December 11-13, 2026.
• Location: Dallas.
• Race feel: Major city marathon weekend with large spectator energy.
• Best for: Runners who want the biggest Texas road-marathon weekend of the year.

The Dallas race is the cleanest choice for runners who want a marquee winter marathon in a large city rather than a trail race or small-town event. It also closes the year with the strongest mix of crowd support and urban route variety.

Holiday Victory Lap and Star of Texas Marathon

Holiday Victory Lap and Star of Texas Marathon runs December 13, 2026, at Pace Bend Park in Spicewood and includes a marathon alongside a 50-miler, 50K, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The marathon is part of a larger holiday-weekend endurance slate rather than a standalone road race.

According to the event listing, the marathon sits in the same weekend as a Boston-qualifier-friendly setup and multiple ultramarathon distances. That gives Spicewood one of the most flexible December race menus in Texas.

• Date: December 13, 2026.
• Location: Spicewood.
• Race feel: Holiday endurance weekend with a marathon option.
• Best for: Runners who want a trail marathon inside a bigger winter festival format.

That makes the race a good fit for runners who want one more special-event marathon before the year closes. It also offers a different tempo from Dallas and San Antonio, which keeps the December calendar from feeling repetitive.

Road vs Trail: Which Texas Marathon Fits Best

The 2026 list breaks into a road-style option, a multi-day city option, and a trail-heavy group. Garland is the most traditional marathon-weekend choice, Texas Triple uses repeated fast-loop racing, and the rest of the list leans toward dirt, ranch terrain, park logistics, or night trail effort.

Road marathons reward steady pacing and simple logistics, while trail marathons ask for more attention to footing, hydration, headlamps, and course-specific planning.

Runner goal	Best match	Why it fits
Closest thing to a classic road marathon	Garland Marathon	Traditional city race weekend in the DFW area
Hard trail day with serious terrain	MERUS Marathon & Ultra	Remote off-road race with forest and hill terrain
North Texas trail marathon	Full Circle Trail Race	Marathon option at LLELA in Lewisville
Scenic ranch-style challenge	Pandora’s Box of Rox	Reveille Peak Ranch adds granite, creek crossings, and big outdoor feel
Hill Country trail weekend	Pechanga Trail Run or Wildflower	Both deliver Central Texas trail scenery and spring travel appeal
Multi-day endurance race	Texas Triple	Marathon-distance entries on three consecutive days
Night trail challenge	Texoma Challenge	Evening start, rolling hills, and a classic summer endurance setup

Texas trail racing usually rewards runners who plan for heat, footing, and fueling instead of just finish time. That is why Wildflower, Pandora, MERUS, Texoma, Habanero Hundred, and Brazos Bend feel more like endurance outings than simple race entries, even when the marathon distance remains the headline number.

Runners who want a cleaner course and a more predictable day usually start with Garland or Texas Triple. Runners who want scenery, elevation change, and a more rugged effort usually land on the trail side of the calendar.

Texas Marathon 2026 FAQ

Which Texas marathons happen in April 2026?

April 2026 has four verified marathon-distance events in Texas: Garland Marathon on April 4-5, MERUS Marathon & Ultra on April 11, Full Circle Trail Race on April 18, and Pandora’s Box of Rox on April 25. The month is the densest part of the spring calendar, and it gives runners both road and trail options without leaving the state.

Runners who want the simplest race weekend usually start with Garland, while trail runners have three consecutive Saturdays to choose from after that. The April stretch is the easiest part of the season for matching a marathon to a specific surface and destination.

Which Texas marathons happen in May 2026?

May 2026 includes Pechanga Trail Run on May 2, Wildflower on May 9-10, and Texas Triple on May 23-25. The month combines a Hill Country trail run, a Bastrop park weekend, and a Dallas three-day marathon-distance event.

May is the only month in the window that combines a single-day trail race, a two-day trail weekend, and a three-day marathon-distance event.

Which Texas marathons happen in June 2026?

June 2026 has one verified marathon-distance race in this window: Texoma Challenge in Denison on June 6. It is the most distinct entry on the list because it uses a night trail format with rolling hills and a clearly endurance-focused setup.

Runners who want a summer marathon that does not feel like a standard daylight road race will find the format useful. The headlamp requirement and trail surface make it a better fit for experienced runners than for a first marathon attempt.

Which race is the best road-style option?

Garland Marathon is the best road-style option in the group because it follows the most traditional marathon-weekend structure. It gives runners a city-based setup in DFW rather than the ranch, park, or trail logistics that shape the rest of the spring lineup.

Texas Triple also fits runners who want a fast, flat, loop-based effort, but its real identity is different because it stretches across three days. For a classic one-weekend marathon feel, Garland is the cleanest choice.

Which race is the best trail option for a longer weekend?

Wildflower and Pandora’s Box of Rox are the strongest choices for a longer trail weekend because both combine the marathon with a broader festival-style race setup. Wildflower adds two days at Bastrop State Park, and Pandora brings Reveille Peak Ranch, which gives the trip a more scenic, destination-heavy feel.

MERUS and Texoma are serious trail options. Wildflower and Pandora offer the strongest travel-friendly balance of scenery, lodging, and social time.

Texas in 2026 offers marathon-distance options across road, trail, and multi-day formats. Runners can choose by surface, pace, or travel style instead of by distance alone.

Which Texas marathons happen in July and August 2026?

July 2026 adds Austin Solstice Circuit in Spicewood and Texas Endurance Runs 24/48 in Fort Worth. August adds Habanero Hundred in Cat Spring, which includes a marathon option inside a larger ultra weekend.

Those summer races are more endurance-minded than the spring calendar, so runners who prefer cooler weather often skip straight to September or October. Runners who want a warm-weather test, however, have a clear July-to-August path.

Which Texas marathons happen in the second half of 2026?

September brings Labor Day Trail Challenge and Paris Texas Marathon, October adds Home For Freedom Marathon, November brings Colorado River Run, and December closes with Brazos Bend 100, San Antonio Marathon, BMW Dallas Marathon, and Holiday Victory Lap and Star of Texas Marathon.

That second-half stretch is useful for runners who want to wait for cooler weather or save their big effort for a fall or winter race weekend. It also gives Texas a more balanced marathon calendar than the spring-only window does.

Which Texas marathon is the best December road race?

BMW Dallas Marathon is the biggest December road race in the group, while San Antonio Marathon is the other major city option. Dallas has the larger spectator scene and the deeper weekend program, which makes it the marquee road choice for the month.

San Antonio is the better fit for runners who want a major city marathon without Dallas-scale crowds. Both races give Texas a strong winter road-marathon finish.