diff --git a/qiskit_ibm_runtime/utils/json.py b/qiskit_ibm_runtime/utils/json.py
index f0b85483c..3a5fa9b6e 100644
--- a/qiskit_ibm_runtime/utils/json.py
+++ b/qiskit_ibm_runtime/utils/json.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
     QuantumCircuit,
     QuantumRegister,
 )
+from qiskit.transpiler import CouplingMap
 from qiskit.circuit.parametertable import ParameterView
 from qiskit.result import Result
 from qiskit.version import __version__ as _terra_version_string
@@ -236,6 +237,8 @@ class RuntimeEncoder(json.JSONEncoder):
     """JSON Encoder used by runtime service."""
 
     def default(self, obj: Any) -> Any:  # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
+        if isinstance(obj, CouplingMap):
+            return list(obj)
         if isinstance(obj, date):
             return {"__type__": "datetime", "__value__": obj.isoformat()}
         if isinstance(obj, complex):
diff --git a/release-notes/unreleased/2026.bug.rst b/release-notes/unreleased/2026.bug.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..51e758405
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/unreleased/2026.bug.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+``CouplingMap`` was added to :class:`~.RuntimeEncoder` so it can now be passed to 
+the :class:`~.NoiseLearner` program.
\ No newline at end of file