World Athletics is preparing to redraw the distance-running calendar, with Athens set to host the first standalone World Marathon Championships in 2030.
The governing body confirmed it is in discussions with the Greek capital—widely regarded as the birthplace of the marathon—to stage the inaugural edition of a new event that will break away from the traditional World Championships structure.
Under the proposed format, the marathon will remain part of the World Athletics Championships in 2027 and 2029, but from 2030 onward it will exist as a separate global showpiece. From 2031, it will no longer feature at the main championships.
The new competition is expected to follow an annual cycle, with men’s and women’s races held in alternate years—mirroring the current championship rhythm.
For World Athletics, the move signals a broader push to elevate road running as a standalone product, rather than a supporting act within track and field’s biggest stage.