Valencia hosts two road races that together draw tens of thousands of runners, and both are run by the same organisers. The Half Marathon comes first in late October and the Marathon closes the season in early December.
This guide covers what a runner travelling to Valencia actually needs: the 2026 dates, how entry works now that both races use a ballot, what the course is like and how to organise race week.
Valencia Marathon and Half Marathon 2026 dates
The 46th Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich runs on Sunday 6 December 2026, with the start at 08:15, according to the city's municipal sports foundation. It is organised by S.D. Correcaminos and the Ajuntament de Val猫ncia through the Fundaci贸 Esportiva Municipal.
The 35th Valencia Half Marathon runs on Sunday 25 October 2026, organised by the same club. Both dates were confirmed on the organisers' pages in September 2026; always check the official site before booking travel.
How entry works: the ballot
Both races now allocate places by ballot rather than first come, first served. Runners from the previous edition get a short loyalty window, then everyone else enters the draw for the remaining places.
The organisers' registration page gives the Marathon a quota of 35,000 to 36,000 bibs and lists the 2026 edition as sold out. The Half Marathon has 25,000 bibs. The ballot for the next edition opens soon after each race, so a runner who wants to race in 2027 should watch the registration page in the weeks after this year's event.
The course: flat and fast
The Marathon starts at the Pla莽a de la Marat贸 and finishes on the walkway over the water at the City of Arts and Sciences. The organisers describe the course as completely flat and at sea level, running along wide avenues and through the historic centre.
Early December usually brings cool morning temperatures, which is a large part of why so many runners target Valencia for a personal best. The municipal foundation quotes a typical race-morning range of 12 to 17 degrees.
Photo: Carlesmari, CC BY 3.0
Planning race week
Bib collection normally happens in person at the runners' fair in the days before the race, so plan to arrive by Friday or Saturday at the latest and follow the organisers' instructions. Book accommodation early: race weekend fills the city.
The start and finish sit close to the City of Arts and Sciences, so staying near the Turia gardens or in Ciutat Vella keeps race morning simple. Expect central roads to close for the course on race morning.
Running in Valencia before and after the race
The old Turia riverbed is a continuous park that crosses the city, and it is where local runners train. It is the obvious place for a shake-out run the day before.
After the race, the beaches at the Malva-rosa are a short tram ride away, and the city is at its most pleasant for walking in late autumn.
Travelling as a running club
Clubs and running groups add a layer of logistics: several bibs through the ballot, rooms close together, a meeting point on race morning and a place to celebrate afterwards. The ballot accepts groups of up to three runners, so a larger club cannot enter as one block: each runner still needs their own entry, and the trip is planned around the ballot dates first.
If your club is weighing up Valencia for next year, we can talk through the practical side with you.
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About the author
Michael Bastin
Founder, ValenciaMove - Valencia since 2016
Michael moved to Valencia in 2016 and has helped dozens of families relocate since. He writes every guide on this site personally and verifies every fact against Spanish government sources before publishing.
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