GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2027 – Germany

What to expect in 2027

The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2027 returns to the German capital on Sunday, April 4, 2027, bringing one of Europe’s major spring road races back to Berlin. The event is built around a fast 21.0975-kilometre course through the city, combining competitive international running with a sightseeing experience featuring the Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, Kurfürstendamm, Potsdamer Platz, Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin Palace, Alexanderplatz and Unter den Linden. The course has an extremely low elevation profile, with a maximum difference of only around 4.3 metres.

The 2027 race is part of the SuperHalfs series and offers several ways to participate. The main running places were allocated through a lottery, while charity entries and official tour operators provide additional routes to secure a bib. Wheelchair athletes, handbikers and inline skaters have separate registration procedures and starting times.

The event weekend also includes the HALF MARATHON EXPO at Flughafen Tempelhof and a programme of additional races. The Garmin BERLIN MILE takes place on Saturday, April 3, while the Bambini Run and Kids Skating provide opportunities for younger participants.

On race day, runners start on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column. After passing through Berlin’s western and central districts, the course heads through the historic heart of the city before finishing close to the Brandenburg Gate. Around 40 bands, cheering points and large crowds contribute to the atmosphere along the route.

Match/event dates

The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2027 takes place on Sunday, April 4, 2027. The main running competition covers 21.0975 kilometres, with runners starting in several waves from 10:05 a.m. onwards.

The wider event programme begins before the main race.

Friday, April 2: The HALF MARATHON EXPO opens at Flughafen Tempelhof, where participants collect their race materials.

Saturday, April 3: The Expo continues, while the Garmin BERLIN MILE takes place at Schlossplatz in front of the Humboldt Forum. The children’s Bambini Run and Kids Skating programme also takes place at the Expo venue.

Sunday, April 4: Inline skaters start at 9:15 a.m., wheelchair competitors and handbikers start at 9:55 a.m., and runners begin from 10:05 a.m. in several waves.

The official organizer notes that the schedule and course remain subject to change, so participants should check their final race information before travelling to Berlin.

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Stadium & sports venue

The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON is not held inside a conventional stadium. Berlin itself becomes the sporting venue, with the race taking place on closed city streets and major avenues.

The starting area is on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. This provides runners with an immediate view of two of Berlin’s most recognizable landmarks before they head west toward Charlottenburg.

The finish is located at the Brandenburg Gate. The final kilometres take runners along Unter den Linden through Berlin’s historic centre before the Brandenburg Gate appears near the final section of the race.

The course is exceptionally flat. According to the official elevation information, the maximum difference between the lowest and highest points is approximately 4.3 metres, making the route suitable for runners targeting fast times as well as participants who want a relatively accessible city half marathon.

The route passes major cultural and historical attractions including Charlottenburg Palace, Kurfürstendamm, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Potsdamer Platz, Gendarmenmarkt, Humboldt Forum, Berlin Cathedral and the Red Town Hall.

Full fixture or event schedule

The 2027 programme extends beyond the main half marathon.

HALF MARATHON EXPO: The Expo takes place at Flughafen Tempelhof, Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin. It is the central location for race-material collection and also functions as a large running, fitness, health and lifestyle exhibition. The organizer describes the Expo as attracting more than 60,000 visitors in recent years.

Garmin BERLIN MILE: The 1.609-kilometre race takes place on Saturday, April 3, at 2:00 p.m. It starts at Schlossplatz in front of the Humboldt Forum and has a 30-minute time limit.

Bambini Run: Children born in 2017 or later can participate in distances between 200 and 800 metres. The races begin at different times according to age group.

Kids Skating: The event programme also includes skating distances from 500 to 1,600 metres for children and young participants.

Main Half Marathon: The principal road race takes place Sunday morning, with inline skaters first, followed by wheelchair and handbike athletes and then runners in multiple waves.

Teams, athletes & participants

The main half marathon is an individual road-running competition rather than a team sport. Athletes are classified individually, although runners can register as teams of two or three people through the lottery process. Teams do not receive a separate team ranking; each participant starts and appears individually in the results.

The race attracts elite athletes alongside recreational runners, club runners and international participants. The flat course and major-city setting make it suitable for competitors targeting personal records as well as visitors running their first major international half marathon.

Runners: Participants born in 2011 or earlier are eligible for the running competition. Nordic walking is not permitted, while walkers are allowed provided they remain within the 3-hour-15-minute time limit.

Wheelchair athletes: Wheelchair competitors have a dedicated competition and start before the main running field. Participants must be able to complete the race under their own power, and auxiliary drives are not permitted.

Handbikers: Handbikers have a dedicated start and competition category and must also comply with the applicable equipment and safety regulations.

Inline skaters: Inline skating is held over the same half-marathon distance, with a separate starting time and a shorter overall time limit.

Tournament format & competition structure

The main running event covers the official half-marathon distance of 21.0975 kilometres. Runners are divided into starting blocks and waves according to their declared best or expected finishing time.

The 2027 starting-block allocation is made shortly before the event based on the best time or expected finish time entered during registration. Participants can adjust their best or expected time through their user account up to two months before race day.

Pacemakers are distributed throughout the starting waves. The official 2027 programme lists target finishing times of 1:25, 1:35, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15 and 2:30. These pacemakers carry visible flags and help runners maintain a consistent pace toward their selected target.

The race uses electronic timing and intermediate timing points. Participants must cross all required checkpoints on the official route. Missing required split times can result in disqualification.

The running time limit is 3 hours and 15 minutes from the individual runner crossing the starting line. There is also a cut-off at kilometre 18. Participants who have not reached that point by 2:15 p.m. must leave the official course or use the organizer’s transport to the finish.

Match/event times

The 2027 starting programme begins with inline skaters at 9:15 a.m. Wheelchair competitors and handbikers start at 9:55 a.m., while runners begin from 10:05 a.m. in multiple waves.

Individual runner starting times depend on the assigned starting block and wave. Participants should therefore follow the letter or information displayed on their bib rather than assuming that every runner begins at the same time.

Inline skating: 9:15 a.m.

Wheelchair and handbike: 9:55 a.m.

Running: From 10:05 a.m. in several waves.

The runner time limit is 3 hours and 15 minutes from crossing the starting line. The kilometre-18 cut-off is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

Ticket types

The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON uses race entries rather than traditional spectator tickets.

The 2027 running participation fee is $101.29, converted from the official entry fee using an exchange rate of approximately 1 EUR = $1.14. The entry fee is charged only after the lottery draw and only when a participant has been allocated a place.

Main running entry: $101.29.

Wheelchair and handbike entry: $83.08.

Social ticket: $39.83 for the limited Social Ticket programme.

Clothing bag: $5.69 if selected during registration.

Garmin BERLIN MILE adult entry with timing: approximately $18.21.

Garmin BERLIN MILE adult entry without timing: approximately $15.36.

The Social Ticket is limited to 50 runners with the relevant German social-benefit qualification. The organizer provides access through a dedicated application procedure.

The main running entry includes the race participation package, while optional extras can be selected during registration. Once the clothing-bag or poncho selection has been completed, it cannot be changed later.

Ticket release phases

The main 2027 running places were allocated through a lottery.

Lottery registration: The lottery registration period ran from April 2 to May 28, 2026.

Lottery result: Participants were informed of their result by email on June 16, 2026.

Payment: The participation fee is charged only after a successful lottery allocation.

Alternative entry: Runners who did not receive a lottery place can seek a bib through the official Charity Program or official tour operators, subject to availability.

Other disciplines: Inline skaters, wheelchair competitors and handbikers can register from April 2, 2026 until March 11, 2027, provided their participation limits have not already been reached.

The race entry is personal and cannot be transferred to another participant or moved to another year.

VIP & hospitality options

The event is primarily designed as a participant-focused city road race rather than a stadium event with conventional VIP boxes. Hospitality is therefore centered on race participation, the Expo, official tour packages, charity programmes and premium extras.

Official tour operators can provide secure race entries combined with travel arrangements, including accommodation and other elements of a Berlin visit. This can be particularly useful for international runners who were unsuccessful in the general lottery.

The HALF MARATHON EXPO also provides an important event experience before race day. Participants and visitors can explore running equipment, fitness products, health services and lifestyle exhibitors at Flughafen Tempelhof.

Additional participant services include optional clothing storage, event merchandise, photography, medal engraving and other race-related extras. The organizer also provides free massage services after the race for participants.

Stadium & event rules

Participants must wear their own assigned race number and athlete wristband. The wristband is applied when race materials are collected and is required for access to the start and finish area on race day.

Personal entry: Race entries and bib numbers are personal and cannot be transferred.

Headphones: Only open-ear headphones are permitted on the course so participants can remain aware of surrounding runners and official announcements.

Animals: Animals are not permitted on the course.

Wheeled equipment: Baby carriages, skateboards and other wheeled devices are not permitted, except for participants in the designated inline-skating, wheelchair and handbike competitions.

Selfie sticks: Selfie sticks are prohibited on the course.

Helmets: Helmets are mandatory for inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and handbikers.

Clothing storage is available only to participants who selected the clothing-bag option during registration. Other runners receive a warming poncho at the finish.

How to get there

The main race starts on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column. Because the course passes through central Berlin, extensive road restrictions should be expected around race morning.

Berlin’s extensive U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus network makes public transport the practical way to reach the central race area. Participants should avoid planning to drive directly to the start because streets around the route are closed or restricted for the event.

The HALF MARATHON EXPO is at Flughafen Tempelhof, Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin. Participants should travel to the Expo separately from their race-day journey because race materials must be collected before Sunday.

Public transport & parking

Berlin’s U-Bahn and S-Bahn network provides connections to locations around the course. Spectators can also use public transport to move between several viewing points.

The organizer specifically recommends public transport for spectators who want to follow the race at multiple locations. For example, spectators can use U2 connections between Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Wittenbergplatz and Potsdamer Platz before continuing toward the Brandenburg Gate.

Race start: The start is on Straße des 17. Juni between Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column.

Race finish: The finish is at Brandenburg Gate.

Expo: Flughafen Tempelhof, Platz der Luftbrücke 5.

Parking: Participants should not rely on parking immediately around the start and finish. Road closures and large crowds make public transport a more practical option on race day.

Accommodation areas

Berlin offers accommodation across many districts, allowing visitors to choose between staying close to the historic centre, the start area, the Expo or major transport connections.

Mitte: Staying in Mitte places visitors close to Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral and many of the final kilometres of the course.

Tiergarten: This area provides convenient access toward the Victory Column, Straße des 17. Juni and western parts of the course.

Charlottenburg: Useful for visitors interested in the Charlottenburg Palace and Kurfürstendamm sections of the route.

Kreuzberg and Tempelhof: These districts can provide convenient access to Flughafen Tempelhof for Expo visitors while also offering strong public-transport connections.

City West: Areas around Kurfürstendamm and Zoologischer Garten are useful for runners who want shopping, restaurants and access to the western part of the course.

For international runners, accommodation near a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station can make race-week travel easier than selecting a hotel solely by walking distance to the finish.

Food & drink at the venue

The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON provides refreshments for finishers after the race. Official information lists tea, water, ERDINGER non-alcoholic and isotonic drinks and fruit in the finish area.

Participants should also prepare their own race-day nutrition strategy. The half marathon is a long-distance event, and runners targeting particular finishing times may want to carry familiar nutrition rather than relying entirely on on-course supplies.

Berlin itself offers an extensive selection of restaurants, cafés, bakeries and food markets around the course. Areas such as Mitte, Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg are particularly convenient for runners staying in the city for several days.

The HALF MARATHON EXPO at Flughafen Tempelhof also functions as a major gathering point for the running community, with exhibitors focused on fitness, health, running equipment and lifestyle products.

Accessibility

The event provides dedicated competitions for wheelchair athletes and handbikers. These participants start before the main running field and compete under specific regulations. The official eligibility rules require participants to complete the race under their own power, without auxiliary drives.

The event also accommodates inline skaters through a dedicated competition with its own start time, timing structure and rules.

The start and finish areas are restricted to registered participants. Spectators and family members cannot enter the participant-only start and finish zone, but designated viewing areas are available near the route and before the finish.

The race organizers also provide toilets, changing and shower facilities around the finish area. Free massage is available after the race for participants.

Best matches/events to attend

Main half marathon: The 21.0975-kilometre race is the centerpiece of the weekend, combining international competition with a route through Berlin’s historic districts.

Start at Victory Column: The beginning of the race offers views toward the Victory Column and Brandenburg Gate, creating a distinctive opening to the course.

Kurfürstendamm: Around the western section, runners pass Berlin’s famous shopping boulevard, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Wittenbergplatz. The area is also known for strong spectator support and live music.

Potsdamer Platz: This section marks the transition toward Berlin’s historic central districts and provides a popular spectator location.

Gendarmenmarkt: The course passes one of Berlin’s most recognizable historic squares, with the German Cathedral, French Cathedral and Concert Hall nearby.

Unter den Linden: The final kilometres pass Berlin Cathedral, Humboldt University, the State Opera and other major landmarks before the Brandenburg Gate.

Brandenburg Gate finish: The final approach to the Brandenburg Gate is one of the defining moments of the race. The landmark stands only around 150 metres before the finish line.

Garmin BERLIN MILE: The 1.609-kilometre race on Saturday offers a shorter competition on an iconic central Berlin route and can be a good option for visitors who want to experience the event without running the full half marathon.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON was the 45th edition and produced a highly competitive elite race.

Andrea Kiptoo of Kenya won the men’s race in 59:11. Dennis Kipkemoi, who had served as a pacemaker, finished with the same recorded time, while Amanal Petros of Germany placed third in 59:22 and broke his own German record.

The women’s race was won by Ethiopian athlete Likina Amebaw in 65:07. The performance was the third-fastest women’s time ever recorded at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Veronica Loleo of Kenya finished second in 65:21 and Daisilah Jerono of Kenya was third in 65:35.

Esther Pfeiffer was the fastest German woman and finished fifth overall in the women’s competition with a personal best of 67:25. The 2026 event also produced six national records across the competitions.

The wheelchair and handbike competitions were also part of the 2026 programme. Mathias Behr won the men’s handbike race in 44:09, Yvonne Pijahn won the women’s handbike competition in 49:31, Amos Ruben Donath won the men’s wheelchair race in 56:24 and Shauna Bocquet won the women’s wheelchair race in 59:11.

The 2026 event also saw the successful premiere of the Garmin BERLIN MILE, creating an additional competition within the wider event programme.

Official tickets

Participation in the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON is arranged through the official registration system rather than through ordinary spectator ticket sales. The main 2027 running places were allocated through a lottery, while charity entries and official tour operators provide alternative routes to obtaining a bib.

The official 2027 running participation fee is approximately $101.29, while wheelchair and handbike participation is approximately $83.08. These amounts are converted from the official published fees using an approximate September 2026 EUR/USD rate.

Race materials must be collected personally at the HALF MARATHON EXPO. Participants receive their start card by email approximately 7–10 days before the event and must bring the start card and an accepted photo ID when collecting their race materials. Collection is not available on race day.

The official event website is the appropriate place to check registration availability, charity opportunities, tour operators, participant instructions, course information and any final schedule changes.

Official GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON website (https://www.generali-berliner-halbmarathon.de/)