2026 PUBLIX ATLANTA KIDS MARATHON

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The Publix Atlanta Kids Marathon is FREE for all ages 14 & under thanks to Coca-Cola UNITED!

The youth portion of Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend lets kids experience the excitement of a big-city race in the heart of Running City USA! Held alongside the 2026 Atlanta Marathon, this festival of events invites young runners to get active, have fun and experience the excitement of race day. The event will take place in The Home Depot Backyard, adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

3K participants will run on the streets nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium and finish at the event's main finish line, while Dashers will sprint 50 meters through the same finish chute, also utilizing the same finish line as adults the following day.

In addition to the 3K and 50m Dash, we'll have plenty of other activities for the children, including:

  • RUN JUMP THROW Track & Field Zone
  • Coloring Station
  • Face Painting Station
  • Friendship Bracelet Station
  • And more!
REGISTER
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTH OFFERINGS
VOLUNTEER
DATE & TIME

February 28, 2026

LOCATION
  • The Home Depot Backyard - 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313
DISTANCE
  • 5K (ages 8 and up)
  • 3K (ages 7 to 14)
  • 50M Dash (ages 6 and under)
EVENT SWAG (MILE & DASH)
  • Commemorative Item
  • Medal
COST

5K:

  • $45 through 2/16/26
  • $50 through 2/27/26
  • $50 through 2/28/26 and at Expo

3K:

  • FREE!

50M Dash:

  • FREE!

Online registration closes on February 27 at 9:00 p.m. Race Day registration will be available if the event is not sold out.

SATURDAY EVENT SCHEDULE

6:30 a.m.

Youth Number Pickup/5K Will Call Opens

7:45 a.m.

5K (ages 8 & up)

8:00 a.m.

Track & Field Zone/Youth Festival Activities Open

9:30 a.m.

3K (ages 7 to 14)

10:15 a.m.

50M Dash (ages 3 & under)

10:30 a.m.

50M Dash (ages 4 through 6)

10:30 a.m.

3K Awards Ceremony

10:30 a.m.

Track & Field Zone/Youth Festival Activities close

RACE NUMBER PICKUP

LOCATION: Home Depot Backyard - 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA, 30313

Race Number Pickup details will be outlined closer to event day. Participants will be able to pick up their bibs race morning for free; no will call needed.

RACE DAY REGISTRATION

Day Registration: Providing we have not reached race capacity, we will offer registration for the 3K and 50m Dash at the expo and on race day. Please check on availability before coming to the event for race day registration. There is no race day registration for the 5K.

Deadline to register online is through 9:00 p.m., February 27, 2026

EVENT DAY MAPS, LOGISTICS AND SAFETY

The 2026 event will take place in The Home Depot Backyard. 3K runners will line up in their Age Group Corrals in the Youth Festival Area. Participants will parade out of the Youth Festival Area with their age groups to the start line. The 3K start line is also our official finish line inside The Home Depot Backyard. 3K runners will exit The Home Depot Backyard traveling south on Northside to Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. to Broad St., turning around and returning to the Home Depot Backyard. The 3K will cross the same finish line as the 5K, Marathon and Half Marathon. Once finished, ALL 3K finishers will receive their medal, drink and snack and be held in the Child Pickup Area (see Start/Finish map) until a parent/guardian picks them up at the end of this finish chute.

50m Dash participants will line up in their Age Group Corrals in the Youth Festival Area. Note that there are two different start times for the Dash to ease congestion and wait times. Participants will walk out to the start line with parents/guardians and their appropriate age group. Dashers will run from the start line to the official finish line, where they will receive their medal and snack.

Make your way to the Youth Festival Area for fun activities and guidance.

Start/Finish Area Map

3K & Dash Course Map

Safety is our top priority at Publix Atlanta Kids Marathon. The following measures are taken for our 3K participants:

  • Over 30 course monitor volunteers and police officers to make sure participants stay on track and move safely down the course
  • Lead (bicyclist or police motorcycle) and a sweep, ensuring that all participants finish safely
  • Secure Child Pickup Area after the finish line, where we will hold your child until you arrive.

For the safety and enjoyment of all participants, parents are not allowed on the 3K course.

Additional Information

EVENT ADDRESS

The Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes Benz Stadium - 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313

YOUTH NUMBER PICKUP

Youth Number Pickup will be available race morning. Additional details and options coming soon.

PUBLIX ATLANTA MARATHON WEEKEND EXPO

Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28

Location: Home Depot Backyard, 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313

Times: TBD

KILOMETER KIDS

Brought to you by Atlanta Track Club, Kilometer Kids is a flexible, game-based running program designed to get children in the community active. The free program is a great way to engage children, ages 14 and under, in the sport of running. Contact [email protected]. Additionally, Atlanta Track Club offers numerous youth events each year. For more details click here.

WEATHER POLICY

Atlanta Track Club events are held rain or shine. However, the threat of lightning or other severe weather in the vicinity of the event may result in a delay or cancellation. For full details on our event policies, including weather, refunds and cancellations, click here.

PET POLICY

Pets are not allowed in The Home Depot Backyard unless they are certified service animals and identified as such.

MARTA

We encourage all participants to take MARTA on race morning to avoid traffic delays due to race related street closures. Rail service start times for Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend are as follows:

  • Saturday, February 28 service will begin at 5:50 a.m.
  • Sunday, March 1 service will be begin at 6:00 a.m.

The frequency will be as follows: both days and both lines (N/S & E/W) will be on a 20 minute headway. Trains will run every 10 minutes between Lindbergh and the Airport. Extra trains will be inserted as needed The extra trains will decrease the headways from 20 to 12 minutes (and 6 minutes between Lindbergh and Airport) during peak periods.

The Vine City Station is directly across Northside Drive from the Home Depot Backyard and allows for worry free travel to the event. Be sure to look for FREE Parking at any of the 23 MARTA rail stations.

PARKING

If MARTA is not an option, there is ample parking in and around the Home Depot Backyard area. We recommend you research parking options and have backup options in mind for race day should your first choice be filled or closed.

AWARDS

Age Group Awards for the 3K male, female, and nonbinary categories will be given for the top 3 in each of the following age groups: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 year olds. The awards ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on race morning.

TIMING & RESULTS

5K and 3K registrants will be timed and unofficial results will be posted Saturday evening. No personal race registration information will be included.

The timing device for this event is a MyLaps timing tag. The device is adhered to the back of the race number. DO NOT REMOVE OR BEND. Wearing the race number improperly could result in improper scoring and possible disqualification. In order to receive an accurate time, please confirm the race number is:

  • Clearly visible on the front of the torso
  • Unaltered and unmodified (Do not fold or wrinkle)
  • Pinned in all four corners
  • Not covered (jackets, fuel belts, water bottles, etc.)
  • If you do not wish to have your child timed, you may peel off the timing device or simply bend it several times.

Atlanta Track Club is a member organization of both the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) & USA Track & Field (USATF) and adheres to the guidelines and rules of competition the events Atlanta Track Club conducts & provides.

ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES

In order to serve all our athletes, Atlanta Track Club offers opportunities for Athletes with Disabilities (AWD). If you are an AWD and interested in participating in Publix Atlanta Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K, please email [email protected], to discuss what reasonable accommodations can be made based on your specific needs. Atlanta Track Club officials will provide reasonable accommodation to Athletes with Disabilities on an individualized and event by event basis.

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Interested in giving back to the sport of running? Come volunteer with us! To learn more and to register, please visit here for more details. For questions about volunteering, email [email protected].

QUESTIONS

If you have additional questions regarding the event, please email [email protected].

Become a Member

Did you know as a member of Atlanta Track Club you receive a discount on all Atlanta Track Club events? Join today to begin receiving discounts and be a part of Running City USA.

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