The upcoming BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, organised by event management company SCC EVENTS, is set to feature a highly competitive women’s elite field on September 27, 2026.
Around 60,000 athletes from approximately 160 countries are expected to participate in the German capital, including runners, wheelchair competitors, handbikers and inline skaters. Men’s world record holder Sebastian Sawe has already confirmed his participation, and the women’s elite field features some of the international running community’s top performers.
Tigst Assefa has already won the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON twice. In 2022, the Ethiopian athlete improved her personal best by almost 20 minutes, clocking 2:15:37. One year later, she broke the world record with a time of 2:11:53. The 29-year-old, who claimed Olympic silver in the marathon at Paris 2024 and also won silver at the 2025 World Championships, currently holds the world record for a women-only marathon. Assefa first broke that record in London in 2025 with 2:15:50 before lowering it again to 2:15:41 while successfully defending her title there in the spring of 2026.
Tigst Assefa said “It is a great pleasure for me to return to the streets of Berlin three years after setting my world record here in 2023. I am excited to once again try to break the world record.”
Amane Beriso is another international Ethiopian marathon runner who trains alongside Tigst Assefa in Addis Ababa. The 34-year-old finished the 2022 Valencia Marathon in 2:14:58, which was the third-fastest women’s marathon ever at the time. Following that victory, she went on to win the marathon at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. After struggling with injuries, Amane Beriso is now looking to make her comeback in Berlin.
Rosemary Wanjiru will return to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 27, 2026 as the defending champion. The 31-year-old Kenyan had already performed well in Berlin in 2022, finishing runner-up in her marathon debut with a time of 2:18:00. Six months later, she won the Tokyo Marathon. In 2025, Wanjiru returned to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and claimed victory in challenging hot conditions, winning in 2:21:05.
Esther Pfeiffer, representing Düsseldorf Athletics, is aiming to move into the top five on the German all-time list in what will be her first serious marathon campaign. The 28-year-old won her marathon debut in Cologne in 2023 in 2:37:00, racing virtually unchallenged. She has not raced the marathon distance since then. In March 2026, Pfeiffer improved her half marathon personal best to 67:25 at the GENERALI Berlin Half Marathon.
Esther Pfeiffer said “If I can complete my training as planned leading up to the marathon in Berlin, and if the weather cooperates, I will be aiming for the German record. I have deliberately put myself in this position.
“My performances over the shorter distances justify this ambitious goal, and in recent years I have benefited from being willing to take risks. I also consciously gave myself plenty of time before returning to the marathon. It will certainly be the biggest challenge of my career, but I am really looking forward to it and want to embrace that challenge. Berlin is exactly the right place for it.”
Mark Milde, Race Director, said “The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 once again promises to be an event of superlatives. Around 60,000 participants from approximately 160 nations reflect the extraordinary international appeal of this race.
“We are particularly excited about the outstanding women’s elite field, with athletes such as Tigst Assefa, Amane Beriso and defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru all set to deliver a thrilling competition. From a German perspective, Esther Pfeiffer’s continued development will also be fascinating to watch. Berlin remains the stage for records, emotions and remarkable sporting achievements.”
www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com
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