The Shanghai Marathon, 4 days

Events Information

By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to the following 2026 Shanghai Marathon Regulations.

Competition Method
~ Subject to World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules, World Athletics Label Road Races Regulations, relevant rules approved by the Chinese Athletic Association and Organizing Committee of Shanghai Marathon.

~ Subject to the latest rules and regulations of World Para Athletics (WPA) and Race Regulations of Shanghai Marathon.

~ The marathon will start in waves.

~ Runners’ bibs will be arranged and distributed by the Organizing Committee. All participants should wear suitable sportswear, and put the bib (Big & fully visible) on the front of their body. For anyone who does not wear suitable sportswear, folds or blocks the bib, the Organising Committee is entitled to cancel their results; for anyone whose result is not recorded due improperly wearing the bib, their results will not be kept in record.

~ All the participants must present themselves for a roll call at the starting line and assemble at the designated corrals based on events and bib at 5:30 AM on 6 December 2026. The Organising Committee has set up a check-in carpet before each corral, after the starting order, the runners must first pass the check-in carpet of their corrals and then pass the timing carpet on the starting line.

~ ID Verification
Participants’ identity information will be verified when entering the event on the race day. In order to speed up the entry verification and optimise the experience, the race will use face recognition for identity verification. According to the relevant provisions of the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, all runners who have been chosen by the draw or have been qualified to participate in the registration process will authorise the race organising committee to collect facial recognition information (only for registered Shanghai Marathon users who use their ID Card of People’s Republic of China), and participants who have completed the collection will not need to bring their identity documents for entry verification on the day of the race.

Special Note: Since the qualification of Shanghai Marathon is bound to the personal information provided by the participant, if the participant refuses or cancels the authorisation of using the relevant personal information (such as name, identity card/passport number, cell phone number, emergency contact, etc.), the participant will bear the unfavourable consequences such as not being able to participate, or being disqualified, or having the participation results cancelled.

~ Ranking record: rankings for awards will be recorded according to the Gun Time, and rankings of other participants will be recorded according to the timing chips.

~ The Organising Committee will provide timing chips. Participants must wear their designated timing chips. If the results of any participant cannot be recorded as a result of failing to wear the timing chip correctly, the Organising Committee will not be held responsible. Requirements of wearing a timing chip:
# wearing the bib with timing chip on the chest.
# do not cover the bib and timing chip with your clothing or waist pack.
# the timing chip and foam on the bib cannot be folded, torn, damaged or removed.
# participants must pass each timing sensor carpet on the track during the race.

~ The marathon will start in waves. The timing chips will start timing (net time) when participants cross the starting line. There will be timing carpet at every 5 KM, the middle point (21.0975 KM), the turnback point, the finishing line and etc. Throughout the race, participants must run past all the timing sensors within the designated time. If a participant fails to register with any of the timing sensors, he/she will be excluded from ranking and certification.

~ Baggage services will be available for participants of the Marathon on site. The participant must insert/affix their bib (small) to the baggage provided by the Organizing Committee and leave it at the storage area at the starting point before 6:45 AM. After the race, the participant may claim their baggage to the same storage tent by showing their bib (big) to onsite staff before 14:30 PM. If the participant fails to claim their baggage within the allocated time, they can claim within 5 working days at the place designated by the Organising Committee; otherwise, the baggage will be disposed of. Please do not store anything of value in the baggage (for example, identity cards, pasports, mobile phones, cash, watches, keys, electronics, etc.). Please do not store fragile products, flammable, explosive and prohibited items in the baggage. The baggage’s owner will take full responsibility for any damage, loss or accidents.

~ Refreshment Stations

NOTE: DO NOT LITTER. Please throw cups, bottles, peels, and packing bags into designated place according to the correct garbage classification, or give them to the staff or volunteers.

~ Distance and Cut-off time
To ensure the safety of the participants, a cut-off time will be set for each section of the course, and public traffic will resume after this time. Any participant who hasn’t finished the corresponding distance within the allotted time should immediately stop and safely leave the track in order to avoid posing a danger to themselves and others. If necessary, participants who quit the race can take the sweep bus or public transportation to arrive at the finishing area.

The cut-off times are as follows:

~ For further information on the requirements and arrangements of the race, see <Notes on Participation> which will be handed out together with the bib and timing chip.

~ Elite Athletes – more information will be provided if you fall into this category.

Awards
The Marathon result of the top eight participants will be counted according to Gun Time.

NOTE: The men’s winner must finish within 2:07:30 hours and the women’s winner must finish within 2:23:00 hours. If the winner’s time does not meet the above criteria, the award will be reduced by 50%.

Awards for Record-Breaker: bonus for record-breaker of Shanghai Marathon: USD 20,000 (only for the 1st place).

The results of all awarded participants will be published on the event’s official website for 10 days and the award will be distributed after confirming the compliance of anti-doping measures. If a participant fails the doping control result, his/her ranking and award will be canceled and the result ranking will not be replaced.

According to the Individual Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, 20% personal income tax will be levied on the bonus.

Any runner who finishes the marathon within 6:00:00 hours will be awarded a finisher’s medal. The result digital certificate will be available for download on the official website and APP of the Shanghai Marathon 12 hours after the race was completed. The certificate will be available for download within a period of 90 days.

Penalties
The Organising Committee will employ video monitoring at the starting line and finishing line as well as along the route. In violation of the following terms, the participants may be deprived of the results, suspended from participating in the race for 2 years or for lifetime, and be reported to the Chinese Athletic Association for further punishment by the Organizing Committee:

~ Enrolling with a false age or identification documents.
~ Carrying two or more chips at the same time during the race (including male runner wearing female runner’s chip).
~ Finishing the race by relay.
~ Starting in a non-designated corral and order.
~ Violating race rules during the race.
~ Refusing to listen to instructions given by race staff, refusing to stop and leave the track beyond the allotting time or entering the track after quitting the race.
~ Failing to finish the race along a specified route, taking a shortcut, or using a means of transport other than running.
~ Repeatedly crossing the finishing line without following the race requirements, or crossing the finish line without completing the race in order to collect finisher’s articles and medals.
~ Forging a bib, using bibs from other events or crossing the finish line without wearing your bib or with a chip not used for this race to collect snack foods and medals.
~ Altering the bib or blocking a part of the bib without permission.
~ Transferring or accepting bibs or chips.
~ Disobeying the instructions given by race staff, disturbing the race, gathering a crowd to incite trouble, or getting into physical altercations.
~ Violating any of the race rules and regulations.

In cases where someone becomes eligible to run as a result of providing false information or taking another registrant’s bib, they will take sole responsibility for all consequences incurred.

Insurance
The Organising Committee will purchase personal accident insurance for all participants and staff during the competition (the specific type and insured amount (cap) will be subject to the final insurance policy and insurance contract, please refer to the following list of insurance). If the insurance cannot be purchased or claimed due to incomplete, inaccurate or untrue registration information, all legal liabilities (including but not limited to the inability to obtain insurance claims) will be borne by the participants.

Insurance period:
Race day (December 6), for regular athletes: 05:00 to 17:00 of the race day

Elite Athletes: 2 days before the race day (December 6) to the next day of the race day, depending on the time of arriving at and leaving Shanghai, no longer than 4 days.

Age limit: as required by the Race Regulations

Insurance liability and insured amount:

Medical Aid
Fixed medical aid stations will be available at the starting point and finishing line as well as along the route. Clearly marked signs will be displayed with clearly visible signs. Ambulance will follow runners along the route. The Organising Committee will post staff members and volunteers at fixed medical aid stations and drinking stations to assist with medical disposal and help maintain order. Participants may ask for help at any time if needed.

Special Notes:
# If the participant suffers from discomfort and related illnesses or symptoms due to his/her own reasons (including but not limited to chronic illness, invisible illness, lack of physical strength, etc.) during the competition, and the insurance company ultimately determines that the claim is not covered, then all legal liabilities and consequences (including but not limited to medical expenses, loss of work, disability compensation or compensation, death compensation, etc.) will be the responsibility of the participant and the Organising Committee takes no responsibility. Please evaluate your own health condition carefully before registering! Please consult professional medical facilities if necessary.

# The Organising Committee will provide actions free of charge during the competition, which is limited to first aid treatment on site. The participants can apply to the insurance company for claim or negotiate with the insurance company after settlement with the hospital for the related expenses incurred during subsequent treatment in the hospital. The Organising Committee may provide relevant information if necessary.

# If the participant is injured or dies due to doping or other prohibited drugs during the competition, the participant shall bear all the legal responsibilities and consequences (including but not limited to medical expenses, loss of work, disability compensation or compensation, death compensation, etc.).

# To ensure the safety of participants, judges and staff members authorized by the Organising Committee will have the right to prevent any participant from continuing the competition if the participant involved is deemed unable to continue.

Technical Officers, Delegates, and Judges
The technical officers and delegates will be selected by Chinese Athletics Association, and judges will be selected by Shanghai Athletics Association.

Contact Information
Consulting service for foreign runners (English)
E-mail: foreigner@shmarathon.com

Other matters are subject to further notice.

The Organising Committee reserves the right of final interpretation of these rules.