Jackson's marathon now runs in late February, and its field is small, 237 marathon finishers in 2026, so expect a club-race feel rather than a big-city crowd. You start and finish at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium and run multiple loops through the city on rolling hills that add up to nearly 1,200 feet of climbing, more than the flat Delta stereotype suggests, so train on hills. The race's signature is live blues musicians stationed along the route and at the finish; the sound of a guitar drifting up the street is the memory most people take home, though some runners say the music is sparse in stretches, so treat it as a bonus rather than the main event. Early entry is $110 for the marathon through October 31, 2026, and there are 10K, 5K and relay options if you are bringing family.
Multi-loop road course starting and finishing at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, with rolling hills that add up to roughly 1,200 feet of climbing.
Early pricing ends 2026-10-31 11:59 p.m. CDT; relay registration runs through 2027-02-20. Open now on RunSignup (as of 2026-10-13). Early fees: marathon $110 (regular $140), half $90 ($125), 10K $45 ($75), 5K $45 ($60), relay $200 ($250); virtual options $40-$60. Organized by Premier Event Management. Register ↗
- The inaugural race was held January 5, 2008, replacing the Mississippi Marathon that had run since 1976. ↗
- Live blues musicians play around the course and at the finish line. ↗
- Start/finish is Jackson State University's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2531 North State Street. ↗
- Elevation gain and loss are both 1,193 ft; 4.2% of 2026 finishers qualified for Boston. ↗
- Some reviewers report the on-course music is sparser than advertised. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.