International Marathon and the street-race calendar

With a gold seal from the Brazilian Athletics Confederation, the João Pessoa International Marathon is the largest road race in the Northeast.

The João Pessoa International Marathon is organized by the Municipal Government, through the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation (Sejer), in partnership with the company TRCRONO Eventos Esportivos. The race holds a Gold Seal from the Brazilian Athletics Confederation, the only one of its kind in Paraíba, according to the event's official website, and the 2026 edition is scheduled for August 1.

Besides it, the city also hosts the Maratona de João Pessoa, starting at Busto de Tamandaré with four distances — 42.195 km, 21.097 km, 10 km and 5 km — catering to everyone from beginners to high-performance athletes. The 2026 edition, the race's fourth, brought together more than 7,000 entrants from several Brazilian states and is scheduled for April 19, according to information from the event's official website.

In July 2026, the João Pessoa City Hall noted that the International Marathon was already attracting runners from 21 states ahead of the starting gun, reinforcing the national profile the city has been gaining as a hub for sports tourism linked to road racing. The national Track&Field Run Series circuit has also come through João Pessoa in previous years, expanding the number of races in the city throughout the calendar.

For those who move to João Pessoa and already run, the waterfront between Manaíra and Cabo Branco tends to be the main training spot, but it's also worth following the official calendars of these races to take part in organized events, which usually include kits, hydration stations and medical support along the course.