Rome Half Marathon 2026 – Road Running Event Italy

What to expect in 2026

The Rome Half Marathon 2026, officially known as the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks, returns to the Italian capital for its third edition on October 18, 2026. The 21.0975-kilometre road race combines competitive running with a sightseeing experience through some of Rome’s most recognizable historic areas. The 2026 edition introduces a new starting location at Porta Ardeatina while retaining its spectacular finish near the Colosseum. The race has also received the World Athletics Elite Label, underlining its international competitive status.

The course is designed around central Rome rather than a conventional closed-loop stadium environment. Runners pass historic landmarks and major avenues, including the Baths of Caracalla area, Circus Maximus, the Lungotevere, Castel Sant’Angelo, St Peter’s Square, Foro Italico, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Venezia and the Imperial Forums before reaching the finish at Via degli Annibaldi beside the Colosseum.

The weekend also includes community-focused running activities. The Gemelli – Longevity Run presented by Altograno offers a non-competitive approximately 5-kilometre event focused on physical activity and cardiovascular prevention, while the Arcaplanet Dog Run gives runners the opportunity to participate with their dogs. The event therefore combines elite road racing, mass participation, wellness and family-oriented activities.

Match/event dates

The Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks takes place on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Rome, Italy. The main half marathon covers the official distance of 21.0975 kilometres. The confirmed starting area is at the arches of Viale di Porta Ardeatina, between Viale delle Terme di Caracalla and Via Cristoforo Colombo, with the race beginning at 8:00 a.m.

The event village operates before race day at Eataly Roma Ostiense, where registered runners collect their race kits and can visit partner stands. The official 2026 village schedule is Thursday, October 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday also features the Arcaplanet Dog Run and the Gemelli – Longevity Run, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the wider event programme before the principal half marathon.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Stadium & sports venue

The Rome Half Marathon does not use a traditional stadium as its primary competition venue. It is a major city road race that uses the streets and avenues of Rome as its course, turning the historic centre into the sporting arena.

The 2026 start is at Porta Ardeatina, framed by the ancient Roman walls and positioned between the Baths of Caracalla area and Via Cristoforo Colombo. This is a new starting location for the third edition.

The finish is at Via degli Annibaldi, beside the Colosseum. The location gives runners a highly recognizable finish area and places the final part of the race close to the Roman Forum and other archaeological landmarks.

The route also passes through the area around Foro Italico at approximately kilometre 13, before turning back toward the central historic district. The final kilometres take runners through several of Rome’s most prominent streets and squares before the Colosseum finish.

Full fixture or event schedule

The principal event programme is built around the race weekend.

Thursday, October 15: The Rome Half Marathon village opens at Eataly Roma Ostiense. Registered athletes can begin collecting their race kits and visiting partner areas.

Friday, October 16: The village continues at Eataly Roma Ostiense. The Longevity Run village at the Terme di Caracalla is also active, providing registration-related services, race-kit collection for that event and health-screening activities.

Saturday, October 17: The final pre-race programme includes the Gemelli – Longevity Run presented by Altograno and the Arcaplanet Dog Run. The Dog Run is a 1.3-kilometre non-competitive event for dogs and their owners, starting around the Colosseum.

Sunday, October 18: The main Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks takes place, beginning from Porta Ardeatina at 8:00 a.m. The course then travels through Rome’s historic centre before finishing beside the Colosseum.

The programme is designed so visitors can make the race part of a longer Rome trip rather than treating it solely as a Sunday sporting event.

Teams, athletes & participants

The race attracts a mixture of elite international athletes, club runners, recreational runners, walkers and international visitors. Unlike a team sport, competitors participate individually, with rankings determined through electronic timing.

The 2026 event had already passed 26,000 registrations by April, with international runners accounting for approximately 89% of registrations at that point. The organizers also reported more than 14,000 women registered at that stage.

Participants must satisfy the applicable FIDAL or international participation requirements. Foreign athletes residing outside Italy can participate through recognized foreign athletics federations or through the tourist-sporting participation route, which involves completing the required liability waiver and identity verification.

The race also includes athletes with disabilities under the applicable Paralympic and Italian federation regulations. Teams of at least 10 participants can use the designated team-registration procedure.

Pacemakers are also part of the race experience. These experienced runners maintain predetermined speeds to help participants target specific finishing times. The organizers planned to announce the final 2026 pacemaker groups closer to the event.

Tournament format & competition structure

The Rome Half Marathon is a mass-participation road race covering the standard half-marathon distance of 21.0975 kilometres. It uses multiple starting waves rather than sending every participant across the starting line simultaneously. Starting grids are assigned according to bib numbers, with different bib colours corresponding to the allocated grid.

General classification is based on Real Time, meaning the clock starts when an individual runner crosses the start line and stops when that runner crosses the finish line. Elite athletes are treated differently for official classification, with gun time applying to the elite group and positions eligible for cash prizes.

Electronic timing is recorded at the start, finish and intermediate points including 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres and 15 kilometres. Each participant receives a bib with an attached timing chip, which must remain attached throughout the race.

The race has a maximum completion time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. There are intermediate control points at kilometre 10 and kilometre 15 to support the gradual reopening of Rome’s roads to normal traffic.

Match/event times

The official 2026 start of the main half marathon is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. from Porta Ardeatina. Because runners are divided into waves, individual competitors may cross the starting line after the first wave begins. The organizers state that final starting-wave details are communicated to participants as the event approaches.

The maximum race duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Participants who have not passed the kilometre 10 checkpoint within 1 hour and 40 minutes or the kilometre 15 checkpoint within 2 hours and 30 minutes can be stopped by race officials.

The Saturday programme includes the Arcaplanet Dog Run, scheduled to start around 10:00 a.m. near the Colosseum. Its route takes participants through the area around Piazza di Porta Capena and Circus Maximus before finishing at the Nando Martellini Stadium.

Ticket types

The Rome Half Marathon uses race registration rather than conventional stadium tickets. A participant’s registration provides access to the competitive race and associated runner services.

For 2026, standard race registration is sold out. The official organization states that remaining participation opportunities are available through the Charity Program and travel packages.

The published 2026 registration structure originally used progressive participation tiers:

First tier: $56.85

Second tier: $62.53

Third tier: $68.21

Fourth tier: $79.58

Fifth tier: $90.95

Sixth tier: $102.32

These dollar figures are converted from the official published registration fees using an approximate exchange rate of $1.14 per €1. The original fees increased according to registration numbers and participation thresholds.

The registration included the official race shirt, partner promotional items, refreshments along the course, a final refreshment and a finisher medal.

Ticket release phases

The 2026 registration process was structured around several progressive price tiers rather than a single fixed-price release.

Early registration: The first published tier was available through the initial registration deadline, followed by a second tier.

Participation-based phases: Later tiers became active as registration numbers reached specified thresholds, with the price increasing as participation grew.

Final registration phase: Once the published participant threshold was reached, standard registrations were no longer available and only charity bibs remained.

The race is currently sold out through ordinary registration. The official website states that runners who still want to participate can use the Charity Program or an official travel package, subject to availability.

Registered participants who cannot attend may have options concerning cancellation, substitution or transfer depending on the applicable deadlines and conditions. The official regulations state that registration fees are generally non-refundable, while approved substitutions can involve a management charge.

VIP & hospitality options

The Rome Half Marathon is primarily a mass-participation road-running event rather than a stadium competition with conventional VIP seating. Hospitality therefore focuses more on the race village, partner experiences, travel packages, charity participation and premium event services than on reserved spectator boxes.

The official event programme places the main race village at Eataly Roma Ostiense, where participants can collect their race kits and visit partner stands. The village is also a social meeting point where runners can engage with event partners and running-related activities.

Travel packages provide another route to participation when standard registration is sold out. These packages can be particularly relevant to international runners who want to combine race participation with accommodation and a Rome visit.

Charity participation provides an additional special-entry route. The 2026 Charity Program supports organizations including Fondazione Bambino Gesù ETS, Sport Senza Frontiere, UNICEF – Fondazione ETS, Fondazione Italiana Diabete, Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, PlayMore! with RunChallenge and Liberi Nantes ADS.

Stadium & event rules

Participants must run with their assigned bib and timing chip. Entering a different starting grid from the one assigned can lead to disqualification. Using another runner’s bib or chip is prohibited and may result in disqualification and reporting to the relevant sporting authorities.

Runners must follow the official course. Cutting the route, taking shortcuts or entering the race course from an unauthorized point is prohibited. Participants must also avoid throwing clothing or other objects into the starting grids or onto the course where these could obstruct or endanger other runners.

The official bag-drop system uses trucks positioned for the transfer of participants’ belongings to the finish area. Runners must use the official event bag and attach the appropriate identification tag.

Medical assistance is provided by the Italian Red Cross. Refreshment stations are positioned along the route, with at least three planned for the 2026 race and an additional sponging point potentially added depending on weather conditions.

How to get there

The 2026 race starts at Porta Ardeatina, close to the Baths of Caracalla and Via Cristoforo Colombo. Because the event uses central Rome roads, runners should plan their journey around temporary traffic restrictions and the closure of streets used by the race.

The race village is located at Eataly Roma Ostiense, Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492. The official event information recommends using public transportation where possible because the area is well connected and race-week traffic can be busy.

Visitors arriving in Rome can also use the city’s major railway, metro, bus and airport connections before continuing toward their accommodation or the race village. Participants should allow additional travel time around race weekend because roads around the course may be restricted.

Public transport & parking

For race-kit collection at Eataly Roma Ostiense, Metro Line B provides a direct connection to Piramide station, from where the venue can be reached quickly. Bus services also serve the area, including routes 715 and 716 near Benzoni/Pigafetta and routes 769 and 23 near Ostiense/Matteucci.

Eataly is also accessible from Fiumicino Airport through the TAM bus service, according to the official event information.

For drivers, Eataly Roma Ostiense is accessible from Via Ostiense and Via Cristoforo Colombo, with parking areas near the venue. However, parking close to the start and finish should not be relied upon on race morning because the road-race course creates extensive traffic restrictions.

Public transportation is generally the more practical choice for participants staying in central Rome, especially on the morning of the race.

Accommodation areas

Staying in central Rome makes it easier to combine race participation with sightseeing and access to the event village. Areas around the historic centre, Colosseum, Monti, Testaccio, Ostiense and Aventino can provide convenient access to different parts of the event.

Colosseum and Monti: Useful for runners who want to stay close to the finish and explore Rome’s archaeological attractions.

Ostiense: Particularly convenient for race-kit collection at Eataly Roma Ostiense and for accessing Metro Line B.

Aventino and Caracalla: Close to sections of the course and the Longevity Run activity area.

Historic centre: Suitable for visitors who want easy access to Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Venezia and other attractions.

Runners should book accommodation early because a large international race can create significant demand for hotels and short-stay accommodation around the event weekend.

Food & drink at the venue

The race village is hosted at Eataly Roma Ostiense, a major food destination in the Ostiense district. This provides a substantial food-and-drink environment during race-kit collection and the pre-race period.

During the race itself, participants receive refreshments at designated stations along the route. The official regulations specify at least three refreshment stations, with additional arrangements potentially added according to race-day conditions.

A final refreshment is also provided after the race. The organizers state that the finish-area package includes water, a saline supplement and additional refreshments.

Runners should still follow their personal hydration and nutrition strategy rather than relying entirely on event supplies, particularly if they are targeting a specific finishing time.

Accessibility

The event has provisions for athletes with disabilities through the applicable regulations of FISPES, FISDIR and other recognized Paralympic sporting structures. The 2026 regulations specifically recognize disabled athletes registered with the relevant Italian Paralympic federations.

Foreign participants can also participate under the event’s international and tourist-sporting procedures, subject to the required documentation and liability-waiver process.

Because the race takes place on public roads, accessibility can vary depending on the specific location along the course. Participants requiring assistance should contact the organizers before race weekend so that the appropriate procedures can be confirmed.

The event also promotes broad participation through non-competitive activities such as the Longevity Run, while pacemakers and multiple starting waves allow runners with different performance levels to take part in the main event.

Best matches/events to attend

The main half marathon: The central attraction is the 21.0975-kilometre race on Sunday. Its combination of international competition and historic Roman scenery makes the main race the key event of the weekend.

Porta Ardeatina start: The 2026 start is particularly notable because the race begins from a new location framed by Rome’s ancient walls.

St Peter’s section: The new 2026 course passes along Via della Conciliazione toward St Peter’s Square, introducing a major Vatican-area landmark to the route.

Colosseum finish: The final section through Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via Cavour leads to the finish at Via degli Annibaldi, creating one of the race’s defining visual moments.

Gemelli – Longevity Run: This approximately 5-kilometre non-competitive event combines running with cardiovascular-prevention activities and free health checks for participants.

Arcaplanet Dog Run: A 1.3-kilometre non-competitive event for dogs and their owners, starting near the Colosseum and finishing at the Nando Martellini Stadium.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 edition was the second running of the Rome Half Marathon and attracted 18,540 runners. Simon Maywa of Kenya won the men’s race in 59:44, while Regina Cheptoo of Kenya won the women’s race in 1:08:26. Both men’s and women’s podiums were swept by Kenyan athletes.

The men’s race was particularly fast. Maywa’s winning performance established a new course record, while Vincent Kimaiyo finished just one second behind in 59:45 and Kalipus Lomwai completed the podium in 59:56. All three men broke the one-hour barrier.

In the women’s competition, Cheptoo finished ahead of Milicent Jelimo and Gladys Cherop. The strongest Italian finishers included Lorenzo Martelli in the men’s race and Sofiia Yaremchuk in the women’s competition.

The 2025 event also demonstrated the scale of the wider weekend programme, with the event village becoming a major gathering point for runners and visitors and additional wellness and family activities taking place around the race.

Official tickets

The official registration system is the primary source for participation in the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks. Standard 2026 registrations are currently sold out. The organizers have stated that participation can still be pursued through the official Charity Program or an official travel package, subject to availability.

For participants already registered, bib and race-kit collection takes place at the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon village at Eataly Roma Ostiense. There is no race-bib or race-kit delivery service on the morning of the main race. Participants must bring the required confirmation letter and identification document when collecting their bib.

The safest way to arrange participation is through the official Rome Half Marathon website and its registration, Charity Program and travel-package channels. The organization can also be contacted directly at +39 06 57288029 or info@romehalfmarathon.it.

Official Rome Half Marathon website (https://www.romehalfmarathon.it/)