World’s Fastest Marathons – February 2026 edition released
The February 2026 edition is now live, presenting the full rankings for all included races. Data is drawn from publicly reported results and presented using Sub-3’s standard methodology.
The February 2026 edition of the Sub-3 World’s Fastest Marathons is now live. As the second monthly update of the 2026 cycle, it captures a broader and more competitive stretch of the early-season calendar, where established destination races and major city marathons begin to assert themselves.
At the head of the rankings stands Maratón de Sevilla, which delivered one of the most decisive performances of the year so far. Perfect race-day conditions combined with an amended course designed to improve flow and reduce turns produced exceptional results. A remarkable 2,282 runners broke three hours from 12,448 finishers, giving Seville both the highest sub-3 total and the highest percentage (18.3%) of any race held globally in February. A winning time of 2:03:59 reinforced its dominance across every indicator. For runners who committed through the winter months, Seville provided a clear competitive reward.
Behind Seville, Osaka Marathon combined scale and depth, recording 1,370 sub-3 performances from 11,164 finishers and a winning time of 2:05:18. Its balance of volume and density secured a strong second place. Ventura Marathon rounded out the podium with one of the highest sub-3 percentages of the month, placing 137 runners under three hours from a compact field of 1,313. While smaller in scale, its concentration of fast amateur performances secured a well-earned third place.
The Sub-3 World’s Fastest Marathons lists are based on verified finisher data, with emphasis placed on depth rather than reputation. Rankings balance the proportion of sub-3 finishers, the absolute number of sub-3s, and the fastest winning time. The methodology remains unchanged for 2026, ensuring direct comparability across months and with previous editions.
February’s table reflects the diversity of the global marathon calendar: major international events, efficient regional races and competitive early-season fixtures all feature prominently. As always, the rankings reward sustained field strength rather than isolated elite outcomes.
This release forms part of the wider 2026 World’s Fastest Marathons programme, which will update monthly throughout the year ahead of the full annual Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings.
The full February 2026 rankings, including all included races and banded performance data, are available now.
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