The BMW Dallas Marathon begins and ends at Dallas City Hall Plaza at the corner of Marilla St. and S. Akard St. in downtown Dallas. The course winds through the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods \u2014 including Deep Ellum, Uptown, Knox-Henderson, and Lakewood \u2014 with iconic views of the Dallas skyline and some of the city’s most celebrated murals and architecture. The 50K Ultra adds an additional loop for the most ambitious competitors. Tens of thousands of spectators line the streets, making it one of the loudest urban marathons in the South.<\/p>\n
The 2026 BMW Dallas Marathon Festival runs December 11\u201313. Friday, December 11 features the Friday Night Lights 1-Mile Race at 7:00 PM \u2014 an iconic under-the-lights sprint that’s a local fan favorite. Saturday, December 12 hosts the 10K (8:00 AM), 5K (8:10 AM), and Kids Races. The main marathon, half marathon, and ultra all start Sunday, December 13 beginning at 8:00 AM in staggered corrals. Packet pickup is at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Dallas Convention Center, Hall B.<\/p>\n
The BMW Dallas Marathon has been recognized as the official marathon of the City of Dallas, carrying civic pride that translates into enormous spectator support. The December date provides the best running weather in Texas \u2014 cool, crisp mornings perfect for PRs. The multi-day festival format means you can run the Friday night mile, cheer friends on Saturday, and race Sunday. The course’s tour through Dallas’ most beloved neighborhoods gives runners a genuine sense of the city’s diversity and energy.<\/p>\n
December in Dallas typically sees temperatures in the 40s\u201350s at start time, warming to the 50s\u201360s by the finish \u2014 ideal marathon conditions. Book hotels near downtown Dallas early, as the race weekend draws runners from across the country. The Convention Center packet pickup is in Hall B and is open Friday and Saturday. For the Saturday races, corrals open early \u2014 plan to arrive at Dallas City Hall Plaza well before your start time.<\/p>\n