Downtown St. Louis is getting ready for a full weekend of running, cowbells and finish-line selfies, as more than 12,000 participants are expected for the Go! St. Louis Marathon events on April 11, 2026. The schedule packs in a full 26.2-mile marathon, a half marathon, 10K, 5K and a 1-mile family fun run, plus everything from a pre-race expo to a post-race celebration. Registration is still open in the final weeks while organizers tighten up logistics for runners and spectators.
Race weekend essentials
Packet pickup and the official race expo will be based at Union Station, with expo hours on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 leading into Saturday’s events. GO! St. Louis outlines start times, age minimums and a new early-start option for walkers, and it strongly recommends grabbing race packets at the expo instead of chancing race-morning lines. Full schedules, rules and course details are posted on the official site.
Sponsors and scale
According to Running USA, Emerson has signed on as the marathon’s title sponsor, with PNC Bank and Lockton also listed as major partners alongside returning locals such as 4 Hands Brewing Co. The same report notes that organizers expect more than 12,000 participants across all distances for the weekend.
Organizers point to a GO! St. Louis commissioned study estimating that the event supports roughly $4.5 million in annual economic activity for the city, a boost that downtown businesses and hotels watch closely every spring.
Course and celebration
Per the RunSignUp event page, the course winds through historic neighborhoods and past several of St. Louis’s signature landmarks. Organizers say live music will line parts of the route and local food vendors will be set up near the finish, with a downtown start and a lively post-race party planned to greet finishers. Spectators are advised to expect crowded viewing areas close to the finish and to pick designated meeting spots to reconnect with runners.
Medical support and safety
According to WashU, WashU Medicine is the event’s official medical provider, overseeing on-course aid stations, finish-line medical care and emergency response planning. Katherine Caldwell, MD, will serve as race medical director, and WashU will staff a hospitality hub on Memorial Plaza that includes gear check and recovery services. Race leadership says the partnership is built to ensure quick access to care for runners, volunteers and fans.
Registration and logistics
General registration remains open online, with prices increasing after April 8 for most distances, per the RunSignUp listing. The marathon and half marathon are both scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m., the 5K at 7:30 a.m. and the family fun run at 9:00 a.m., so out-of-town runners are encouraged to time their travel and lodging around those early starts. Volunteers and spectators can find packet pickup details, volunteer sign-up links and accessibility information on the race site and the RunSignUp page.
Organizers and local media describe the weekend as a major moment for downtown businesses and running clubs. Running USA highlights the race’s regional reach, while local previews, including coverage from KSDK, round out what to expect. Organizers continue to urge participants and spectators to check the GO! St. Louis site for the latest maps, schedules and race-day instructions.
