The Irish Life Dublin Marathon Expo runs at the RDS Simmonscourt on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026, and it is where runners collect their race packs before the marathon on Sunday 25 October. The footfall is the easy part. Getting a stand booked, specified, printed and staffed in time is the actual work. This checklist covers the booking route, stand logistics, the printed materials worth bringing, how to approach runners the day before a marathon, and what to do with the leads afterwards. Exhibitor details can change between editions, so confirm them on the official Irish Life Dublin Marathon site before you book.

When and where is the 2026 Dublin Marathon Expo?

Summary: the expo is at the RDS Simmonscourt in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on Friday 23 October 2026 from 12:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 24 October 2026 from 11:00 to 18:00. Entry is free and open to everyone, not just entered runners, and race pack collection closes at 6pm on the Saturday, as confirmed on the official expo page.

Runners come to the expo to collect their race packs, so everyone in the hall has a reason to be there. That gives you two days of visitors, often with a partner, friend or family member alongside them. The marathon itself starts at 8:45am on Sunday 25 October 2026, the 45th edition of the race, per the organiser's FAQ.

Detail	Confirmed information
Venue	RDS Simmonscourt, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Friday 23 October 2026	12:00 to 19:00
Saturday 24 October 2026	11:00 to 18:00
Race pack collection	Closes 6pm Saturday
Public entry	Free, open to everyone
Marathon day	Sunday 25 October 2026, 8:45am start

Exhibitor access is a separate matter from public opening hours, and the organiser does not publish build-up, dismantling or stand-dressing deadlines on the website. Ask for them in writing when you enquire, along with the loading bay arrangements, the correct hall entrance for deliveries, and whether vehicles can be brought in or unloaded and moved. Ask the organiser about parking and access for marathon weekend, and plan on your team arriving by public transport and only the van coming to the venue. Confirm everything against the official Irish Life Dublin Marathon site before you commit to travel or print.

How do I book an exhibitor stand?

Summary: there is no public booking form. Brands enquire directly with the organiser by email to [email protected] or [email protected], or by phone on 01 661 2956, and stand details come back in an exhibitor information pack.

Have your information ready before you make contact, because it makes the conversation quicker:

Business name, trading name and website
What you sell or promote, and whether you intend to sell on the day
Stand size you want, and whether you need a corner or an end of aisle
Named contact, mobile number and email for the exhibitor information pack
Public liability insurance details and certificate
Electricity, lighting, furniture and Wi-Fi requirements
Accessibility requests, delivery times and anything oversized or heavy

An enquiry is not an acceptance. Ask the organiser how space is allocated and whether any categories are limited by partner agreements, and wait for written confirmation before you spend anything. What you want in that confirmation: the stand number and its position on the floor plan, exact dimensions, what the fee includes, payment terms, the cancellation policy and the delivery address for graphics.

Book as early as you can, then order print only once the dimensions and any branding restrictions are confirmed. Ordering a 3m backdrop for a 2m stand is a mistake that is expensive to fix in the week of an event, so confirm the size first.

Should I choose a shell-scheme stand or a space-only pitch?

Summary: a shell scheme gives you walls and a structure to hang graphics on, while space only gives you a bare footprint and full control of what you build in it. The organiser's exhibitor pack will tell you which options are offered at Simmonscourt for your stand size.

	Shell scheme	Space only
Structure	Supplied walls, fascia board, name panel	Bare floor, you provide everything
Branding freedom	Panel graphics within fixed wall sizes	Full control of height, shape and layout
Installation	Light, often one or two people	Build time, crew, sometimes contractor approval
Likely extras	Power, lighting, furniture, carpet	All of the above plus flooring and rigging
Suits	First-time exhibitors and small teams	Established brands wanting a bespoke look

Before anyone opens a design file, get the exact stand width and depth, which sides are open, the internal wall height, the usable branding area and what you are allowed to fix to the walls. Velcro, hook systems and clip rails all behave differently, and drilling is usually forbidden. If the fascia carries your company name, check the character limit.

Then work out what is included and what you are paying extra for: electricity and socket count, lighting, Wi-Fi, tables and chairs, flooring, a lockable store, waste removal and overnight security. Assume the venue Wi-Fi will be congested in a busy hall full of phones and do not rely on it for card payments or lead capture. Bring a mobile data backup and a charged battery pack for every device. Plan where stock, coats, bags and empty boxes will live, keep valuables out of sight, and cover any cable that crosses a walkway.

Anything unusual needs written approval in advance: tall structures, hanging elements, large screens, demonstrations, food or drink samples, amplified sound, extra lighting and heavy equipment. Ask, get it in writing, and keep the email.

What should be on my Dublin Marathon Expo stand checklist?

Summary: work backwards from Friday 23 October 2026 in five stages. Everything below is meant to be ticked off rather than read twice.

Four to six weeks before

Written stand confirmation, stand number and floor plan on file
Exhibitor information pack read, deadlines diarised, passes requested
Public liability insurance certificate in date and submitted
Stand dimensions and fixing method confirmed, then artwork briefed
Power, furniture and any extras ordered
Stock quantities, price list and card reader arranged
Staff rota drafted, covering both days plus build and break down

The week before

Print delivered, unwrapped and checked for damage and colour
Full dry build in the warehouse or office, including graphics
Kit box packed: cable ties, gaffer and double-sided tape, scissors, Allen keys, pens, notebook, cloths, wipes, bin bags, first aid, spare bulbs
Organiser-approved extension leads and cable covers packed and PAT tested where required
Chargers, battery packs, card reader charged and tested on mobile data
Delivery slot, driver details and emergency phone numbers circulated
Water, snacks and something to sit on for staff

Set-up day

Arrive with the full team for the build window, not the last hour of it
Back wall first, then counters, then stock and small items
Check nothing blocks a fire exit, an aisle or a neighbour's stand
Test power, screens, lighting and payment before the hall closes
Stand back and look at it from the aisle at walking pace
Stand fully dressed and staffed before doors open, with stock replenishment stacked and out of sight

Each expo day

Open with tidy surfaces, charged devices and the offer clearly displayed
One short opening question per visitor, agreed in advance and not a sales pitch
Lead capture with clear consent, plus a paper backup if the signal drops
Breaks rotated so the stand is never left with one tired person
Stock counted at lunchtime, rubbish cleared, floor kept clear
Comfortable shoes, branded layers and a bottle of water each

Dismantling

Nothing packed away before the published close, however quiet it gets
Graphics rolled, not folded, and returned to their cases
Leads, forms and cash reconciled before anyone leaves the hall
Hired items returned and the pitch left clear

Two things shape how the stand should feel. Visitors on Friday and Saturday are conserving energy for Sunday, so anything that asks them to queue, bend, lift or run will be politely declined. Useful advice, a quick chat and something easy to carry will not be. Brief your team to be helpful rather than persuasive, and the conversations will come.

Which signs, banners and printed materials work best at a marathon expo?

Summary: build a visual hierarchy that reads in about three seconds from the aisle. One headline high up, one benefit underneath it, one call to action, and supporting detail only at arm's length.

Format	Its job on the stand	Where it goes
Pull up banners	Height and your headline message	Stand corners, visible down the aisle
Vinyl and fabric banners	Wide branding across the back wall	Full-width backdrop
Printed boards and posters	Prices, offers, demo times	Eye level, beside the counter
Printed tablecloths	Branding at low level, hides storage	Counter or trestle table

Before anything goes to press, run through the artwork basics: dimensions confirmed against the stand drawing, correct bleed and safe area, type large enough to read from two metres, strong contrast under bright hall lighting, contact details current, and every QR code scanned on a real phone by someone who did not design it. Leave production and delivery time for a proof round, and print a spare of any sign you cannot trade without.

Keep the take-away print light and genuinely useful. Visitors are already carrying a race pack and whatever they have bought, so a thick brochure ends up in the bin by the door. A card with a QR code to a training guide or an expo-only offer does the same job and survives the journey home. Keep a small printed version for anyone who would rather not scan. For the creative side of the stand, our companion piece on Irish Life Dublin Marathon Expo ideas goes further into layout and design.

How can I attract runners and tell whether the stand was worthwhile?

Summary: give runners something relevant to race weekend, then measure the outcome against what the stand actually cost you.

Hooks that work in this room tend to be quiet and quick: practical advice from someone qualified, a short demonstration, samples where the organiser has approved them, an expo-only offer, a simple prize draw, or a giveaway that helps on Sunday. Avoid anything that builds a queue across the aisle or asks for physical effort the day before a marathon. Remember you are sharing the hall with the race pack collection itself and other exhibitors. Those are part of why people are there, not services you supply, so plan for the traffic flow around them rather than competing with them.

Sponsors, official partners and suppliers hold rights you do not. Do not describe yourself as an official anything, and do not use event logos, the race name or protected branding on your graphics without written permission from the organiser.

Set targets before you go: qualified conversations, opt-in sign-ups, QR scans, samples given out, sales, bookings and discount code redemptions
Label every lead hot, warm or cold while the conversation is fresh
Record consent properly at the point of capture, not afterwards
Send the thing you promised within two working days, and avoid Sunday and Monday entirely
Compare revenue and qualified opportunities against stand fee, staffing, travel and print

Track the codes and scans separately so you can tell print from conversation. Our guide to measuring print marketing performance sets out a simple way to do that without a complicated system.

Frequently asked questions

Which types of businesses are suitable marathon vendors at the Dublin Marathon Expo?

Businesses whose product or service genuinely fits race weekend are the best fit. That typically covers running gear and footwear, sports nutrition, recovery and physio, health and wellbeing, fitness technology and apps, destination races and travel, charities with race places, and lifestyle brands with a running audience. Relevance does not guarantee a stand, though. The organiser allocates space and may limit categories where partner agreements apply.

How much does a stand cost, and what is included in the fee?

The organiser does not publish a rate card, so you will need to request a quotation by email to [email protected] or [email protected], or by phone on 01 661 2956. When the quote arrives, confirm in writing whether VAT is included, what deposit is required, and whether furniture, power, Wi-Fi, exhibitor passes and any mandatory service or waste charges are inside the fee or billed separately.

What stand rules, insurance or safety requirements should marathon vendors know about?

Stand regulations are issued in the exhibitor information pack rather than on the public site, so ask for the current version before you build anything. Expect requirements covering public liability insurance, a risk assessment, tested and certified electrical equipment, approval for any food or drink samples, fire safety and clear access to exits, maximum stand height, sound levels, use of protected event branding, and set times for build-up and dismantling.

Can charities and relevant service businesses exhibit at the Dublin Marathon Expo?

Charities and service businesses should enquire through the same route as any other exhibitor. Acceptance depends on the organiser, available space, whether an official partner already holds that category, and the commercial terms offered. Get the answer in writing before you plan a campaign around it.

Ready to prepare your Dublin Marathon Expo stand?

Summary: with the expo landing on 23 and 24 October 2026, the order of work is straightforward.

Confirm the current exhibitor details and request the information pack from the organiser
Secure the stand in writing, with its number, size and terms
Check the specification, fixings and what the fee includes
Brief and order print with time left for proofing and delivery

Tell us your confirmed stand size and we will recommend portable display materials that fit it, ship on time and pack down small enough to carry out of Simmonscourt on Saturday evening. Contact Printroom for a print quotation and we will get your artwork checked and into production.

Irish Life Dublin Marathon Expo Display Stand Checklist