A reimagined route improves the participant experience by eliminating potential train delays and route crossovers, while a debut half marathon opens one of the country’s most welcoming races to even more participants.
BURLINGTON, VT — Sept. 23, 2026 — RunVermont today unveiled a redesigned course for the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay and announced a brand-new half marathon distance separate from the 2 Person Relay, both debuting at the 2027 event over Memorial Day weekend, on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
Building on the race’s reputation as one of the most accessible and welcoming marathons in the country, the changes directly improve participant experience and allow for more ways to take part, all while preserving a community event that has served as the unofficial start of summer in Vermont for decades.
Since its founding in 1989, the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay has grown into Vermont’s largest single-day sporting event and New England’s third-largest marathon, drawing participants and their families to Burlington for a Memorial Day weekend set against Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and the Green Mountains. The 2027 updates are built to protect what participants love about the course, while opening the weekend to a wider field.
What’s new for 2027
- A new half marathon with a capped field size. For the first time, participants can take on Burlington’s celebrated course at the half marathon distance solo, an on-ramp for first-timers, a fresh challenge for seasoned racers, and a new draw for out-of-state visitors looking to make a weekend of it. For those looking to make this a team event, the 3-5 Person and 2 Person Relays, both presented by Darn Tough Vermont, will still be options.
- Eliminates possibility of an Amtrak delay. The redesigned route removes all at-grade Amtrak rail crossings, eliminating the possibility of train-related delays affecting a participant’s official time.
- A clearer course. Untwisting the prior course’s two-loop, figure-eight layout removes crossover confusion and eases congestion, while still keeping multiple spectating spots within the downtown core.
- The same fast profile. The course retains its net-zero elevation, with the start adjacent to Waterfront Park and the finish in Waterfront Park, with an optimized wave start to reduce congestion.
“Our goal with these changes is simple: put the participant experience first,” said Anthea Dexter-Cooper, Executive Director of RunVermont. “These changes are the result of listening to participant feedback and an extensive workshopping process. By making small tweaks to a beloved tour of Burlington, we are able to improve the participant experience and by adding a half marathon we are creating more avenues for participation.”
“As title sponsor of the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, we’re excited to welcome the new half marathon and open registration for 2027,” said Heidi Stumpff, M&T Bank’s Regional President in Vermont. “The addition of the half marathon gives even more runners the opportunity to be part of one of Vermont’s most celebrated community traditions. We’re proud to support an incredible event that brings people together, inspires healthy lifestyles, fuels the local economy and showcases the energy and hospitality that make Burlington such a special place.”
Registration for the 2027 M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay, as well as the youth M&T Bank Mini Marathon and Vermont City Two Mile, opens Oct. 1, 2026.
For full details, please visit runvermont.org/vermont-city-marathon-relay.
About RunVermont
RunVermont was formed in 2004 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to foster a lifelong love for the sport of running through year-round race events, coaching services, and youth engagement programs. It is home to New England’s third-largest marathon and Vermont’s largest single-day sporting event, the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, which was founded in 1989 and was the first marathon in the United States to include a marathon relay in conjunction with a marathon. For more information, race over to www.runvermont.org.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services with a branch and ATM network spanning the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.