Valencia Half Marathon 2027

Valencia is where the half marathon world record was broken in 2024: Yomif Kejelcha ran 57:30 on these streets, and Letesenbet Gidey’s 1:02:52 from 2021 is still the women’s course record. Almost nobody entering will be chasing those numbers. What matters is the reason behind them: a flat, wide, sheltered city course with very few sharp turns, which suits a first sub-2 as much as an elite world record.

Your wave decides your morning

The 2027 regulations put the first start at 8:25. Start times are staggered by the finish time you declare; the 2026 race used seven waves:

Declared time	Start
under 1:20	8:25
1:20–1:25:59	8:30
1:26–1:33:59	8:35
1:34–1:42:59	8:48
1:43–1:49:59	9:01
1:50–1:54:59	9:14
1:55 and slower	9:27

To get into a wave faster than 1:34 you need proof of a previous time over marathon, half, 15K or 10K. If you’re in the last wave, you start an hour after the elites, so plan breakfast, the toilet queue and your bag drop around 9:27, not 8:25. The 2:45 limit counts from when you cross the start line.

Weather and pacing

Late October in Valencia is not autumn as northern Europeans know it. The 2025 elite race started in around 20 °C with humidity above 60% and gusty wind. Later waves run warmer. Drinks are at about km 5, 10, 15 and 19. The gap to km 19 is the longest, so if you run hot, take something at 15 even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Because the course has so little elevation, even pacing works better than banking time early. Big packs form in every wave, so sit in one and let it shelter you.

Spain’s SuperHalf

Valencia is the only Spanish race in the SuperHalfs, a series of six big European half marathons (Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia). Runners who finish all six receive an extra SuperMedal. They can register for a free digital passport, run the races in any order, and collect a stamp at each one. Because of the series, part of the field travels in from abroad to tick Valencia off their list. Add the world-record reputation and runners chasing a PB, and demand is far higher than the 25,000 places. That’s why entry is by ballot, and why many applicants miss out.

Getting a bib for 2027

• Ballot, not first-come. Loyalty priority for 2026 bib holders ran from 5 to 9 November 2026 and has closed. The public ballot is open from 10 November (11:00) to 16 November (10:59). Entry is free, with a €5 hold on your card for 15 days. The draw is on 17 November before a notary, results go out on 18 November and drawn runners confirm and pay by 25 November (11:00).
• Price: €40 for bibs 1–10,000 and €80 for 10,001–25,000. Ballot winners pay €80; places after the draw or from the waiting list cost €100. A €4 day licence applies if you have no national, Valencian or Carnet Plus licence.
• Waiting list: the rules are still to be announced.
• Missed the ballot? Look at the official SuperHalfs travel agencies, which sell race packages, or at charity places.
• You must be 18 or over on race day.

Expo and race weekend

Pick up your bib at the Expo 21K at Feria Valencia on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October 2027; opening hours are still to be defined. The race is also a popular tune-up for the Valencia Marathon in early December. A good half here is a reliable guide to your marathon pace.