The Melbourne Marathon Festival has been held every year from 1978, except 2020. The festival is composed of the marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, 5.7 km, 4 km walk, and Kids 2.5 km races. Because of Covid-19 related restrictions, it was decided in September that the 2021 event would be postponed to December and split over two days. The shorter events will be held on the afternoon of Saturday December 11 and the marathon and half marathons will be held on Sunday the 12th, starting an hour earlier There was a virtual festival in 2020.