Barcelona marathon sets a new participation record in March 2025

The Zurich Marató de Barcelona took place on 16 March 2025 and set a new participation record, with more finishers than in any previous edition of the race.

The event, run through the streets of the Catalan capital and sponsored by the insurer Zurich, drew runners from dozens of countries alongside many local participants. Its flat, fast course and mild spring weather have helped it build a reputation among both elite athletes and amateurs, and it now ranks among the largest marathons in Europe.

The record mattered because it showed how far running had grown in Barcelona and in Spain more widely. Mass-participation races have become popular social and sporting events, filling hotels and boosting the local economy. The 2025 edition became a reference point for the city's running boom, and later events, such as the half marathon that sold out its places within a week, have been measured against it.