2026 City2Surf Beginner’s Guide

Every August, my end of Sydney turns into a finish line - and the next one is Sunday 8 August 2027. The City2Surf has run from the city to Bondi since 1971 - it started as a newspaper stunt for The Sun with 1,576 starters, and it's now the world's largest fun run, tens of thousands strong. Whether I'm out on the course or cheering from the promenade, it's one of my favourite days of the year. The 2026 race has just been run - Andy Buchanan took the men's title in 40:27 and Holly Campbell the women's in 46:35 on 9 August, from a record field of more than 90,000 - and you can look up any finisher's time. Here's how to run it well, and enjoy it.

Distance

14 km (Sydney CBD → Bondi Beach)

First held

1971

When

Annually in August - next on Sun 8 Aug 2027

2026 result

Run Sun 9 Aug 2026 - Andy Buchanan 40:27, Holly Campbell 46:35

Next edition

Sunday 8 August 2027 (confirmed by the organiser)

The route - and yes, Heartbreak Hill

From the start near Hyde Park you drop down William Street, through the Kings Cross tunnel, then out along New South Head Road with the harbour glinting beside you through Rose Bay. What first-timers never expect is how hilly the whole thing is - there are plenty of climbs before the famous one. Then comes the bit everyone's heard about: Heartbreak Hill, a roughly 2 km climb from Rose Bay up to Vaucluse that rises about 75 metres. It hits near the halfway mark, around the 6 km point, it's twisty, it steepens near the top, and the cruellest part is psychological - just when you're certain you've crested it, it keeps going. From Vaucluse you head along Old South Head Road and Military Road before a glorious downhill toward the coast, a final turnaround, and the finish on Queen Elizabeth Drive above Bondi Beach.

My tips for a strong run

• Train on hills. Even a few weeks of hill repeats makes Heartbreak Hill far less scary.
• Go out easy - aim to run the second half faster than the first. Crowd energy will tempt you to sprint the opening kilometres; don't.
• On the hill, shorten your stride and hold a steady effort. The people charging past you early are usually the ones walking near the top.
• Nothing new on race day - no untested shoes, gear or gels.
• Keep moving through water stations rather than stopping dead; it's safer for you and everyone behind you.
• Sunscreen and a cap. It's August, but the Sydney sun still bites by the time you reach Bondi.

Getting there and home

Public transport is by far the easiest option - roads close across the eastern suburbs and parking near the start or finish is a nightmare. Bring an Opal card or tap on with a card or phone. For the start, trains to St James, Museum or Town Hall put you a short walk from the assembly area. Getting home from Bondi, there are usually free shuttle buses to Bondi Junction, where you pick up the T4 line back to the city. The exact shuttle and closure details change each year, so I check Transport for NSW's event page in the days before.

Then the reward: crossing the line above Bondi Beach with salt air in your lungs and the ocean right there never gets old. Once you've caught your breath, the Bondi pubs and the Pavilion turn on afterparties every year. I've written a separate guide to the best spots to recover and celebrate, and a companion piece on the things I wish I'd known before my first City2Surf. Train a little, pace it smart, and I'll see you at the Bondi end.