TULSA, Okla. — September 2, 2026, the Williams Route 66 Marathon unveiled its 2026 finisher medal and course map, offering runners a first look at two defining elements of the race that will close Tulsa’s yearlong Route 66 Centennial Celebration.
This year’s finisher medal celebrates the Route 66 Centennial while paying tribute to the award-winning 2009 medal that helped put the Tulsa race on the map. The 2026 design marries marathon nostalgia with the revitalization of America’s most historic road, echoing the 2009 medal while literally celebrating with confetti, the renewed energy surrounding Route 66 during its centennial year.
The confetti within the medal allows runners to earn a lasting bit of Williams Route 66 Marathon race tradition—the confetti that sets the tone, heightens anticipation, and fuels excitement at the start line each year. Its free-standing design lets runners display the medal as a lasting keepsake.
“This medal connects so many pieces of our story,” said Destiny Green, executive director of the Williams Route 66 Marathon. “It honors a design that helped establish our marathon’s identity, captures the energy runners feel at our start line, and celebrates the Route 66 Centennial in a way they can proudly display for years to come. We wanted it to feel unmistakably Route 66 and worthy of this once-in-a-lifetime race.”
Organizers also released the 2026 course map, which will remain largely familiar to returning runners while incorporating longer stretches of Historic Route 66 than ever before. The course will connect runners to Tulsa’s neighborhoods, landmarks, and the communities that bring race day to life.
The 2026 Williams Route 66 Marathon will serve as the official closing event for Tulsa’s yearlong Route 66 Centennial Celebration, transforming the city into a 26.2-mile birthday party honoring America’s most iconic highway. The race will also mark the marathon’s 21st running.
Following its first-ever sellout in 2025, demand for the 2026 event continues to build as runners from across the country and around the world prepare to take part in what is anticipated to be the marathon’s largest race weekend yet.
“Williams has a long history of supporting the communities where our employees live and work, and the Williams Route 66 Marathon is a meaningful part of that commitment,” said Dawson Smith, Communications Specialist at Williams. “The race draws thousands of runners and visitors to Tulsa, gives our employees opportunities to participate and volunteer, and brings the community together for one of the city’s signature events.”
The Williams Route 66 Marathon is a three-day celebration of running, wellness, and community featuring:
- Friday, Nov. 20: Health and Fitness Expo
- Saturday, Nov. 21: 5K, one-mile Fun Run, and Mascot Dash
- Sunday, Nov. 22: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay
Additional race details and registration information are available at route66marathon.com.
About the Williams Route 66 Marathon
The Williams Route 66 Marathon is a premier running event held annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The three-day race weekend brings together runners, volunteers, spectators, and neighborhoods for a community-driven celebration featuring the marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, 5K, one-mile Fun Run, and Mascot Dash. Known for its energetic course support and Tulsa hospitality, the event generates an estimated $10 million in economic impact through hotel stays, dining, shopping, and tourism.