Sydney Marathon charity spots

Sydney is the newest of the majors, and its charity program is one of the most straightforward routes in. The 2027 TCS Sydney Marathon is on Sunday, 29 August 2027. General entry is by ballot, which for 2027 opened on 29 September 2026 and closed on 19 October 2026, with the draw due in November 2026. The organisers say every unsuccessful applicant will be offered other ways to enter through the Travel and Charity Programs.

The official site describes running for charity as a path to a guaranteed entry, no ballot required. It works in three steps: pick one of the 50 plus official charity partners, apply directly to that charity (each charity chooses who represents it), and once your place is confirmed, fundraise through Grassrootz, the event's fundraising platform. Fundraising targets are set by each charity rather than by the race. Pankind, for example, is offering 20 places for 2027 to runners who commit to raising $3,000 or more, with the entry fee covered.

Read the participant agreement before you commit. It says that if you register for the event before meeting your fundraising commitment, the organisers can cancel the entry, and if you meet the commitment but never register, the entry cannot be deferred to another year or passed to someone else. All donations are non-refundable.

Because charity places do not depend on the ballot, you do not have to wait for the November draw. Smaller charities on the official list often have only a handful of places, so applying early, and to more than one charity, gives you the best chance. International travel partners are the other official route for overseas runners.