Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon 2026 - Live Stream
View the live stream, results and race day schedule for the 2026 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.
Japan’s historic winter marathon season will once again spotlight Kyushu as the 74th edition of the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon returns on Sunday, February 1, 2026, promising fast racing, deep domestic fields, and a scenic yet deceptively demanding coastal course.
How to Watch - Streaming and TV Info
The race is scheduled to start at 12:00 noon JST, with live television coverage on RKB YouTube Channel beginning shortly before the gun at 11:50. For international viewers, that corresponds to 03:00 GMT/UTC, making it an early-morning watch in Europe and a late-night option in the Americas.
Event Overview
Long regarded as one of Japan’s premier elite marathons, the event carries World Athletics label status and serves as a key fixture in the MGC Series 2025–26 (G1 men’s division)—a pathway toward future national team and championship selections. With an expected field of around 4,000 runners, the race blends top professionals with serious club athletes chasing personal bests on one of the country’s most respected courses.
The route stretches between the cities of Beppu and Oita, hugging the coastline with wide, flat roads that often encourage aggressive early pacing. Athletes start near Takasakiyama and head toward Beppu before looping back toward Oita, finishing inside J:LEASE Stadium, where crowds traditionally create a raucous final-lap atmosphere.
Despite the flat profile, the course can be shaped by winter winds off the bay, adding a tactical edge that rewards disciplined pack running. Historically, the race has produced numerous Olympic and national-team selections, and it remains a benchmark for Japanese marathon excellence thanks to strict entry standards—typically favoring runners with sub-2:30 credentials or stronger.
As always, the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon blends tradition with performance. From its long legacy to its fast seaside straights, it continues to attract athletes hunting breakthrough times and selectors watching closely. Expect bold pacing, compact lead packs, and a dramatic charge into the stadium as another chapter of this storied race unfolds on Kyushu’s coast.
