The Race
| Next Race Date | 1 November 2026, 04:00 (sold out); 2027 date not announced |
|---|---|
| Course type | Single-lap road circuit with a bridge out-and-back |
| Registration | Ticketed through TicketSports; 2026 sold out |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Total finishers | About 1,370 (2025) |
| Average race day temperature | 24 to 30°C (November daily range; not a 04:00 reading) |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours, with gates at km 15, km 25 and km 32 |
| Free race-day transport | None found |
| Course certification | CBAt permit 43/2026; measurement certificate not confirmed |
History
The current Maratona de Aracaju is a young race. Its first full marathon ran on 26 October 2025, organised by Speed Sports and Speed Produções e Eventos under director Rodrigo Tuchê. The weekend also offered 5, 10, 15 and 21 km races, with about 10,000 registrations, roughly 30% of them from outside Sergipe.
João Marcos Santos Ferreira and Adriana Teodósio Gonçalves won the first marathon. Reports give the men's winning time as 2:30:16 and as 2:30:07, so neither is treated here as a course record. About 1,370 runners finished the marathon, and about 8,800 finished across all distances.
The 2026 edition moved to a two-day weekend. The half marathon and 10 km run on Saturday 31 October and the marathon on Sunday 1 November, still at 04:00, with the 5 km an hour later. The 15 km race is no longer listed. All 16,000 weekend places sold out on 11 September 2026, and the event has joined the Brasil Gigante completion circuit.
The course
The marathon starts and finishes at the Praça de Eventos on the Orla de Atalaia, on Avenida Santos Dumont in the south of Aracaju. The course is one large circuit with two out-and-back sections, not repeated laps.
From the arena it runs north through Coroa do Meio on Avenida Mário Jorge Menezes Vieira and Avenida Delmiro Gouveia, then along Avenida Paulo Barreto de Menezes and Avenida Ivo do Prado into the centre by km 9. It crosses the Ponte Construtor João Alves into Barra dos Coqueiros at about km 12, reaches its farthest point from the arena, 9.5 km away, near km 11, and turns at about km 14 on the Rodovia Desembargador Antônio Xavier de Assis Júnior. It recrosses the bridge at km 16, returns through the Industrial district and the centre, and runs south on Paulo Barreto de Menezes and Ivo do Prado, with a short double-back near Jardins at km 25 to 27.
The course passes the arena again at about km 31 and then runs south-west along Avenida Santos Dumont and Avenida Inácio Barbosa to a turn in Aruana at about km 36.4, 5.3 km from the arena. The return follows the same road to the finish.
The ground is flat. The whole course stays between 2 and 7 m above sea level, and the high point of 7 m is at km 36. Time gates stand at km 15 on the Rodovia Desembargador Antônio Xavier de Assis Júnior, at km 25 opposite Embrapa and at km 32 on Avenida Santos Dumont opposite the Celi hotel.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 10: north in the dark. The marathon starts at 04:00, so the first hour is run by streetlight along the coast and into the city. The road runs north from the arena through Coroa do Meio and 13 de Julho, wide and flat, to the centre at km 9. Warmth is the first problem: the November mean minimum is 23.5°C, so the start is not cool. Settle into a pace you can hold in humidity.
Km 10 to 16: the bridge. The course crosses the Ponte Construtor João Alves at about km 12, turns on the Barra dos Coqueiros side at about km 14 and recrosses at km 16. The deck is exposed and the wind depends on the day. The first time gate is at km 15 on the Barra dos Coqueiros side, to be reached within 2 hours of the start, which is 8:00 per km.
Km 16 to 25: back through the city. The route returns through the Industrial district and the centre, then runs south along Avenida Ivo do Prado and Avenida Paulo Barreto de Menezes. Daylight arrives somewhere in this stretch for most runners. The second gate, at km 25 opposite Embrapa, closes at 3 hours 26 minutes.
Km 25 to 32: home to Atalaia. After a short double-back near Jardins the course returns to Coroa do Meio and passes within a few hundred metres of the arena at about km 31. The third gate, at km 32 on Avenida Santos Dumont opposite the Celi hotel, closes at 4 hours 24 minutes.
Km 32 to 42.2: the waterfront. The last ten kilometres run south-west along Santos Dumont and Inácio Barbosa for 5.3 km to a turn in Aruana, then return along the same road. A runner in 2025 described this late section as exposed and hard in the heat, with little shade as the sun rises. The medal comes at the arena, where one runner reported a queue for finisher items.
Staying on course. Follow the marked course and pass every official control: a valid result and the finisher shirt depend on it. A GPS watch will not match the signed kilometre markers exactly, and one runner reported small, low distance signs in 2025.
North in the dark on wide, flat roads. Hold a pace you can keep in warm, humid air.
The João Alves bridge is exposed to the wind. The first time gate is at km 15, at 8:00 per km.
Keep the rhythm through the Industrial and central sections to the gates at km 25 (3h26) and km 32 (4h24), passing the arena at about km 31.
A south-west out-and-back gives no shade from the rising sun. Water is every 2 km; use it.
Course Map
The course as recorded, from the Praça de Eventos north through the city, across the João Alves bridge to Barra dos Coqueiros and back, then south-west along the waterfront and home. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
The organiser recruited official pacers for the 2026 marathon. Targets and start positions were not published at the time of writing.
The festival runs over two days. The half marathon and 10 km take place on Saturday and the marathon and 5 km on Sunday, at 04:00 and 05:00 respectively. Marathon entrants should plan around Sunday and collect their bib by Saturday evening.
Runners registered in the Combo category who finish both the 21 km and the 42.195 km earn a separate prize. It sits on top of the ordinary individual marathon, and informal double running does not count.
Aracaju is warm in November. The monthly normals give a mean temperature of 26.7°C, a mean daily minimum of 23.5°C and a mean daily maximum of 29.8°C. Those are not 04:00 readings, but they show that an early start does not mean a cool race. November rainfall averages 38.3 mm, well below the wettest months, though showers are possible.
Wear light, breathable kit and a cap. There is no need for a throwaway layer, and no clothing-donation point was announced. Sun protection helps anyone still running after first light, which is most of the field, and the final waterfront section has little shade. Carry a small amount of salt or electrolytes if you sweat heavily, since official gel and drink positions are not published.
Entry
The 2026 marathon is sold out. The organiser announced on 11 September 2026 that all 16,000 weekend places had gone, and the athlete guide confirms registrations are closed. No date, price or entry launch has been published for the next edition.
Entry is ordinary paid registration through TicketSports. There is no ballot and no general qualifying time. The minimum age for the marathon is 20, counted on 31 December of the race year. Registration and proxy forms use Brazilian identity numbers (CPF), and no passport-only route for an overseas runner is published, so ask the organiser how a foreign entry works.
For 2026 the marathon fee ran in tiers from R$129.90 to R$179.90 for the Quero Correr kit and from R$149.90 to R$219.90 for the Completo kit, which adds a race shirt and gift. Both include a bib, chip and finisher medal. The finisher shirt is separate and goes to full finishers who pass all controls.
Elite entry requires an official marathon in 2023, 2024 or 2025 of 2:30 or faster for men or 3:00 or faster for women, uploaded as evidence through the entry site. Senior and disabled-athlete entries are 50% of the last-tier price with proof. Clubs can request a 10% coupon.
Bib transfers are possible only through the official channel, via the athlete platform or collection kiosks. The earlier rules set a 30 September deadline and a R$10 fee, while the current guide says distance changes are closed, so confirm before paying anyone. Never lend or sell a bib privately. A 100% refund can be requested within seven days of purchase.
| Category | Elite standard |
|---|---|
| Men | 2:30 marathon in 2023, 2024 or 2025 |
| Women | 3:00 marathon in 2023, 2024 or 2025 |
Fast runner standards
No age-banded fast-runner entry exists; the elite standard above is the only time-based route.
See TicketSports →Race Weekend
Bib collection
Bib collection for the 2026 race is at Shopping RioMar, Avenida Delmiro Gouveia 400, Coroa do Meio. It runs from 10:00 to 22:00 on 28, 29 and 30 October and from 10:00 to 20:00 on Saturday 31 October. Marathon runners can collect on the Saturday. Half marathon and 10 km runners race on the Saturday, so they must collect earlier.
Missed collection means loss of the kit and the right to run. No later or out-of-hours collection exists. Bring the registration confirmation, the payment receipt and photographic identity (RG). Proxy collection needs the official authorisation form and a copy of the runner's ID. Senior and disabled-athlete entries must collect in person with proof. Elite runners attend a technical congress with a place and time still to be announced.
Check your distance, bib and kit before you leave. A shirt-size change costs R$20, subject to stock. The expo includes commercial activations, but no talks or recovery services were confirmed. No hotel-to-expo shuttle was found. The mall is about 3.5 km from the arena in a straight line.
Getting to the start
The marathon starts at 04:00 on Sunday at the Praça de Eventos on the Orla de Atalaia. The starting order is elite men, elite women, disabled athletes and then the general field, and no further pen detail was published. The 5 km starts at 05:00 on the same day.
Arrival times conflict. The regulations ask for 90 minutes in one clause and 30 minutes in another, and the athlete guide says at least one hour, which means 03:00. Plan for the earlier time if the arena is open and wait for the final organiser instruction.
Choose a walkable hotel. Hotel da Costa quotes about 300 m to the square, Del Mar says it faces the square, and Simas Praia estimates 1.5 km. These are operator distances, not measured routes. For farther hotels, book a taxi or car in advance and agree a drop-off outside the road closures. No free public transport, shuttle or car park pass was found. Airport buses 413, 008 and 502 run ordinary services but nothing confirms a pre-dawn timetable.
Wear the wristband and the bib on the front of the shirt, with the disposable chip untouched. Headphones and outside assistance are banned. Baggage storage is promised near the start and finish, but the closing time is written two ways (11:00 or 30 minutes after the race ends), so ask at deposit and collect promptly.
At the finish expect a medal, a hydration kit and a snack kit. Finishers who passed all controls are eligible for the finisher shirt. A concert programme is advertised. Reclaim your bag before settling in.
Nutrition on course
Water is offered every 2 km, with emergency medical support and ambulances on the course. Exact gel and sports-drink positions, cup type and any personal-bottle service were not published. Forcell is the official gel brand, but that does not show what is handed out. At the finish runners receive a hydration kit and a snack kit.
Outside hydration and unauthorised assistance are prohibited, so a friend cannot hand you drinks. Carry your own gels and electrolytes for a warm race.
Spectating
The start and finish share one arena, and the route passes within a few hundred metres of it at about km 31. A spectator who stays near the Praça de Eventos can see the 04:00 start, a pass at about km 31 and the finish, with no transport. After km 32 the south-west out-and-back lets a spectator on Avenida Santos Dumont see the same runner twice within a few kilometres.
At 5:00 per km a runner reaches km 31 at about 06:35 and at 6:00 per km at about 07:05. Runners finishing in 3, 4 or 5 hours reach the line at about 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00. The athlete platform advertises results and tracking, but public live access was not tested.
- Walk from a nearby hotel to the Praça de Eventos for the 04:00 start.
- Stay near the arena for the pass at about km 31, then wait at the finish. No transport is needed.
- Walk from the arena to the pavement on Avenida Santos Dumont south-west of the arena. Runners pass outbound around km 33 to 36 and return around km 39 to 41.
- Return to the finish area on foot.
Post-race food
Veleiros, inside Del Mar Hotel at Avenida Santos Dumont 1500, faces the Praça de Eventos. It welcomes the public every day, with breakfast from 06:00 to 10:00 and service from 11:30 to 22:00, and the menu covers seafood, meats and regional and international dishes. An early finisher can ask about breakfast. A later runner should expect the 11:30 changeover. Reserve for a group.
Maramar, inside Celi Hotel at Avenida Conselheiro João Moreira Filho 500 in Atalaia, serves Sunday breakfast from 06:30 to 10:30, lunch from 12:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00. Breakfast includes tapioca, cuscuz, fruit and cakes. The hotel is about 1.4 km from the arena, so plan a taxi if needed.
The finish snack kit is not a meal. Collect your bag before a long lunch.
Where to Stay
Start and finish are the same place, so staying near the Praça de Eventos is the simplest plan. The 04:00 start and the conflicting arrival times make walking distance the main test of a hotel. Distances below are straight line from the arena unless an operator figure is given.
Orla de Atalaia and Coroa do Meio
Hotel da Costa quotes about 300 m to the square, roughly four minutes on foot before crossings and access. Del Mar says it stands opposite. Neither has confirmed an early breakfast or late checkout. Rooms facing the square may hear the Saturday concerts before a Sunday start.
Atalaia, central waterfront
Vidam (Rua Doutor Bezerra de Menezes 40) is about 0.5 km from the arena. Celi (Avenida Conselheiro João Moreira Filho 500; check-in 14:00, checkout 12:00) is about 1.4 km away. Both are larger hotels with restaurants and leisure facilities, so confirm the walk.
Southern Atalaia
Simas Praia (Avenida Santos Dumont 285) quotes about 1.5 km to the square, around 18 minutes at walking pace. Anauê Hostel (Avenida Lions Clube 289) is a lower-cost option near the Passarela do Caranguejo, with no distance published.
Centro
The Museu da Gente Sergipana gives the centre a sightseeing reason, but no early transfer or price advantage was found. Book a reliable road departure before choosing it.
Hotel breakfast opens at 06:00 at Del Mar and 06:30 at Celi, after the start. Ask for an early arrangement in writing.
Recommended hotels
Avenida Santos Dumont 1835. Named official hotel for the 2026 race. Checkout is at 12:00. No race rate, early breakfast or shuttle is confirmed.
Avenida Santos Dumont 1500, with Veleiros restaurant open to the public. Standard breakfast starts at 06:00, after the marathon start.
Avenida Conselheiro João Moreira Filho 500. Check-in 14:00 and checkout 12:00. Maramar restaurant serves Sunday breakfast from 06:30. The km 32 time gate stands on Santos Dumont opposite this hotel.
Avenida Santos Dumont 285. Checkout is at noon and quiet is requested after 22:00. A longer early walk, so check the route.
Avenida Lions Clube 289, near the Passarela do Caranguejo, with 24-hour contact. Shared rooms need checking for storage and a pre-dawn departure.
Booking timeline
For the 2026 race, entry is closed and sold out. Do not plan a late entry or an informal bib loan. The official transfer channel exists, but its deadline differs between the PDF and the current guide, so confirm before paying anyone.
For the next edition, no date or entry launch has been announced. Keep any hotel booking refundable. The 2026 sale began in November 2025, which does not establish an annual pattern.
Once a place is secured, book a hotel near the arena approach, then flights that allow collection before the deadline. The 2026 marathon could collect on Saturday, while the half and 10 km collect earlier. Check noon checkout against your finish time.
No hotel sell-out date or race-week premium was found. Hotel da Costa is the named official hotel in 2026, but that guarantees no discount, early meal or shuttle.
See & Do
Distances are from the arena, in a straight line, kilometres first.
Projeto Tamar Oceanário
A sea-turtle conservation centre with aquariums. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, with adult admission of R$44 and a concession of R$22. A short visit suits a tired runner, but it is closed on Mondays, the day after the race.
Museu da Gente Sergipana
A museum of Sergipe's culture on Avenida Ivo do Prado in the centre, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 with last entry at 15:00. It is listed as closed on 2 November, the Monday after the 2026 race, so check before going.
São Cristóvão
A World Heritage square with museums, craft and food venues. Visit the square and skip the full circuit, because cobbles, steps and heat make a long walk hard. Several cultural venues open Tuesday to Sunday.
After the Race
The marathon is on a Sunday and the Monday after it is the first free day, when the Tamar centre and the museum are shut. São Cristóvão and Croa do Goré are day trips or an overnight from Aracaju. Xingó and Mangue Seco need two or three nights. Allow for stiff legs on the long road legs and check tide and ferry times before any boat trip.
A sandbank outing on the Vaza-Barris river, with a road approach to Mosqueiro of about 40 minutes. Timing depends on the tide.
A World Heritage square and small museums, spread over an overnight stay so that the walking is split in two.
A boat trip through the Xingó canyon on the São Francisco river, spread over two nights to avoid a 12-hour day.
A village across the Bahia border reached by road and boat, with sand underfoot and buggy rides as an option.