The Cowtown Marathon is gearing up for its biggest year yet, with a record-breaking 29,000 runners descending on Fort Worth for the annual race weekend.

All race distances, from the marathon to the 10K and adult 5K, are officially sold out. This makes 2026 one of the largest Cowtown events in its 48-year history.

“We have about 4,300 people helping us produce the race from set up to clean up everything and around,” said Cowtown Marathon executive director Heidi Swartz.

The weekend kicks off Friday at the Cowtown Health & Fitness Expo inside the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall, where thousands of runners will check in, pick up race packets, and meet dozens of health and fitness vendors. The expo runs Friday until 6 p.m. and Saturday until 5 p.m.

One of the biggest additions this year is a brand-new course feature, as runners will pass directly through the TCU campus for the first time ever.

Organizers say the new stretch highlights Fort Worth’s university culture, giving runners a close-up look at Horned Frog landmarks and campus spirit as they make their way toward downtown.

Cowtown may feel like a hometown tradition, but this year’s participant list is international. Runners are traveling from all 50 states and nine countries, cementing Cowtown as one of Texas’ premier multi-distance race weekends and a certified Boston Marathon qualifier.

“It’s grown from a small race to 29,000 runners, and people love it. It’s a great spectator sport,” said Betsy Price, former Fort Worth mayor and current marathon board member. “It’s that vibe, it’s the fabric, it’s the friendliness.”

This will be Price’s 35th Cowtown Marathon, and this year, she’ll also be running in the half-marathon like she has many times in the past.

“I’m going to run/walk it, so come out and cheer on, I’ll be looking for everybody. We all need the encouragement,” she said.

With larger crowds comes heavier traffic, and Fort Worth will already be buzzing with other major events. Alongside the marathon, the area around Will Rogers will also host Lady Gaga and Eric Church concerts this weekend, along with an equestrian show in one of the arenas, adding to congestion around the Cultural District and downtown.

That means road closures are expected across several neighborhoods, including downtown Fort Worth, the Stockyards, and near TCU.

Swartz says her team has spent months coordinating with police and traffic teams.

“We’ve had a lot of logistical meetings, and we’re working really closely with the police and traffic control so that we can make sure that we get the message out about which streets are closed, which are open,” she said.

Click here for more details on the races, maps, and spectator information.

Swartz also emphasized the need for crowd support, with weekend temperatures expected to be warm in the upper 70s to low 80s.

“These runners are going to need motivation,” she said. “Volunteers who want to come out and help us cheer the runners on are really important. There’s spots all along the course.”

Organizers say Cowtown is as much a spectator event as it is a race. Some of the best places to cheer include:

Stockyards

Northside neighborhood

Sundance Square

Fairmount

Foster Park

Start Line in front of Will Rogers Memorial Center on Gendy Street

The finish line, always one of Cowtown’s signature moments, is located inside the Will Rogers Memorial Center, where crowds pack in for an emotional final stretch.

Alanna Quillen NBC 5Alanna Quillen NBC 5

Cowtown brings together elite competitors, first-time runners, comeback athletes, and entire families. The Kids 5K, with 8,000 children registered this year, remains the largest youth race in Texas and supports Cowtown’s year-round youth fitness mission.