Wrong landmark spotted on Sydney Marathon medal a week out from event

The 2026 Sydney Marathon finisher medal erroneously features a football stadium in Munich, instead of Moore Park.

Organisers say a week out from the event, they will not replace the medals and are instead embracing the mistake.

The marathon takes place next Sunday, with 40,000 entrants preparing to participate.

Runners gearing up for the Sydney Marathon next weekend will receive a medal featuring a football stadium in Germany instead of Moore Park due to an "unfortunate error".

Organisers say the design on the back of the 2026 medal features eight circles to represent the Abbott World Marathon Majors, encircled by a "beautiful Sydney skyline" that "brings the course to life, featuring the landmarks runners will experience along the way".

However, a structure meant to depict the Sydney Football Stadium, which under naming rights is currently Allianz Stadium, was actually the Allianz Arena in Munich .

Eagle-eyed internet dwellers were quick to recognise the blunder among local landmarks like the harbour bridge, Sydney Tower Eye and St Mary's Cathedral.

Sydney Marathon acknowledged the issue, saying it was not going to run away from the mistake.

"A little too much international flavour has found its way onto the back of the finishers medal, with an incorrect depiction of the stadium. We're not going to run from it," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"It was an unfortunate error, though it's certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour."

The organisers did not apologise and made clear there would not be a replacement medal.

"With the event a week away, this is the medal our finishers will receive. It's a beautiful medal, and now a little more unique," they said.

"We're grateful to our participants and partners for taking it in such good humour.

"Behind every one of these medals is months of early mornings, long runs and quiet determination, and having it placed around your neck at the Sydney Opera House is a moment our participants will never forget."