AIA Rock 'n' Roll Manila Marathon: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)

Four distances, one park

Luneta Park is the start, and it is a fitting one. This is Rizal Park, the long green rectangle between Manila Bay and the old walled city. Its flagpole, fountains and the Rizal Monument have hosted Manila’s biggest public gatherings for over a century.

On November 29, 2026, it hosts the AIA Rock ‘n’ Roll Manila Marathon. Four races share the day:

• Marathon, the full 42.195 km
• Half marathon, 21.1 km
• 10K
• 5K

The Rock ‘n’ Roll name comes from a global running series built on one idea. Live music plays at stations along the course, so the hard middle kilometres come with a soundtrack rather than silence.

Why the bands matter at kilometre 30

Music on a race course sounds like a gimmick until you need it. In a marathon, the stretch past the halfway mark is where pace drops and conversations stop. A band or sound stage appearing up ahead gives you something to run toward.

The stations sit along the route itself, so spectators gather around them too. Friends and family often pick a music stop as their meeting point. You get a recognisable landmark to aim for, and they get a reason to stand on a kerb at dawn.

The organiser does not publish the full act list in the facts we hold, so we won’t guess at names. Expect the stations to change character from one to the next; that variety is the point of the format.

Luneta in the dark

Manila road races usually start before sunrise, and the reason is simple. By mid-morning the city’s heat and humidity make long distances punishing, even in late November.

That timing gives race morning its particular look. The park is lit by floodlights and phone screens. Corrals fill with runners in club singlets, and the Rizal Monument stands behind them with its ceremonial guard posted at the base. Manila Bay sits to the west, still dark.

Late November falls at the turn into the Philippines’ cooler, drier months, when the northeast monsoon (amihan) arrives. “Cooler” is relative here. Runners from temperate countries still find the air thick, and pacing for heat is the usual approach.

Getting to Rizal Park

The park sits in Ermita, on the edge of Manila’s bayfront. Several stable reference points make it easy to find:

• LRT Line 1: United Nations and Central Terminal stations are both a short walk from the park.
• Roxas Boulevard: the bayside avenue runs along the park’s western side.
• Intramuros: the Spanish-era walled city borders the park to the north.
• The Manila Hotel: the historic hotel stands at the park’s northwest corner, near Manila Bay.

Because races start so early, the train may not suit a pre-dawn arrival. Most visiting runners stay within walking distance in Ermita or Malate, or use a ride-hailing app such as Grab. Road closures around a major race are standard, so drop-offs usually happen a few blocks out, followed by a walk in.

Race-morning habits at Luneta

Filipino race culture has its own rhythm, and fitting into it makes the day smoother.

Getting to the corral. Runners usually walk the last stretch in from the edge of the closure zone. Experienced locals treat that walk as part of their warm-up, not an annoyance.

Paying for things. GCash, the mobile wallet, is accepted widely in Manila. Small vendors around parks, though, often deal in cash pesos only. That includes the taho sellers who carry warm soybean pudding in two aluminium buckets on a shoulder pole. Runners who want a post-race snack usually carry a few small notes.

Talking to marshals and volunteers. “Sir” and “ma’am” are standard courtesy in the Philippines, even between strangers of the same age. A quick “salamat” (thank you) at a water station is noticed and appreciated.

At the water tables. Cups get dropped close to the tables so volunteers can clear them. Runners who need to stop step to the side rather than braking in the middle of the lane.

Finding your people. Many groups agree to meet at a fixed landmark after the finish, such as the Rizal Monument or the park’s large flagpole. That beats searching for faces in a crowd of thousands.

Where tickets and details live

The AIA Rock ‘n’ Roll Manila Marathon is organised under the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series banner, with AIA as title sponsor. The organiser publishes the race dates, venue, registration and ticket links on its official site. Bib collection details, corral assignments and course maps are distributed through the same channel.

Each of the four distances is entered separately. Runners usually pick a distance based on their current training, not ambition. The 5K and 10K are popular with first-timers and groups of friends, while the half and the full draw the club runners.

Staying on after the finish line

Luneta puts you a short walk from some of Manila’s best-known sights, which makes a post-race afternoon easy to plan around tired legs.

• National Museum of Fine Arts: in the former Legislative Building on the park’s eastern edge, home to Juan Luna’s huge painting Spoliarium.
• National Museum of Anthropology and National Museum of Natural History: neighbouring buildings on the same museum complex.
• Intramuros: the walled city, with Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines.
• Manila Bay sunset: the Roxas Boulevard seawall is where Manileños go to watch the sun drop over the water.

Many runners save Intramuros for the day after. Its cobbled streets are easier on fresh legs, and a calesa (horse-drawn carriage) ride covers the walls without much walking at all.