How to Register for the Berlin Half Marathon

Held every year in early April, the Generali Berlin Half Marathon is one of the fastest half marathons on the planet. With its ultra-fast course through the heart of the German capital and its iconic finish under the Brandenburg Gate, it attracts some of the best runners in the world. The event is also hugely popular with amateur runners: for the 2026 edition, nearly 42,000 participants from 134 countries joined the celebration. The Berlin Half Marathon is the younger sibling of the legendary Berlin Marathon, with the same perfectly organized experience delivered by SCC EVENTS and the same international race atmosphere. Now, the real question is: how do you join the party? With demand increasing every year, securing a bib requires a lot of luck, as entry is entirely based on a lottery.✓ So, how can you register for the 2027 Berlin Half Marathon? Here is everything you need to know.

Lottery registration: how does it work?

Like several other races in the SuperHalfs series, the Berlin Half Marathon became a victim of its own success and switched to a lottery system. All applicants register during a specific application window, announced in advance and usually opening around one year before the event. The draw then gives every applicant an equal chance of securing a place.

For the 2027 edition, scheduled for Sunday, April 4, lottery applications were open from April 2 to May 28, 2026, through the official race website. The results were announced by email relatively quickly, on June 16, 2026, and only the successful applicants were charged the €89 entry fee. No unpleasant surprise, then: you only pay if you are actually racing.

Because runners receive their answer so far in advance, they have plenty of time to organize their trip… or choose another race if their application is unsuccessful. That is definitely a positive.

One useful tip: apply as a team. It is possible to enter as a group of two or three runners using a shared team code during registration. If the team is selected, every member receives a bib. This is clearly the best option for anyone hoping to register with friends.

The organizer does not offer any official resale or bib transfer system. Entries are strictly personal. Bibs cannot be transferred to another person or deferred to another year, and no refund is available in the event of withdrawal or injury.

To play it safe, the organizers recommend purchasing cancellation insurance from their partner Generali during registration.

One welcome exception applies to female runners: in the event of pregnancy, entry can be deferred for up to three years upon presentation of a medical certificate. An initiative that more races should probably introduce.

Envie de courir le Semi-marathon de Berlin ? Loterie, tarifs, dossards caritatifs, tour-opérateurs : tout ce qu'il faut savoir pour avoir un dossard.

Key Information – Berlin Half Marathon

Event name: Generali Berlin Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, April 4, 2027
Start: 10:05 AM
Participants: 42,563
Distance: Half marathon (21.097 km)
Elevation gain: 40 m
Registration: Official race website
Price: €89
Time limit: 3 hours 15 minutes
Men’s record: 58:42 by Eric Kiptanui of Kenya in 2018
Women’s record: 1:03:35 by Fotyen Tesfay of Ethiopia in 2025
2027 edition: Sold out

Unsuccessful in the lottery? Other ways to enter

Didn’t get selected in the lottery? It is not completely over. Two other options may still allow you to reach the start line.

Charity entries. The race offers a comprehensive program involving partner charities that provide guaranteed bibs, even after the event has sold out, in exchange for fundraising. Humanitarian aid in crisis zones, environmental protection, support for struggling families and help for children in need: there are many different causes, and numerous runners choose this route to add meaning to their sporting challenge. Running fast is great, but running for others can be even more powerful. All partner programs are listed on the dedicated page.

Tour operators. The Berlin Half Marathon is also one of the major events offered by specialist marathon travel agencies and is widely featured in their programs. Some tour operators are official partners of the race and provide all-inclusive packages with flights, well-located hotels, guaranteed entry and sometimes even a city tour. It is the ultimate premium option for runners with the budget who want to travel without stress. It is more expensive, of course, but removes all logistical concerns and is ideal for turning the race into a sightseeing weekend in Berlin. Terms and conditions vary between agencies, but prices generally start at around €1,000 for a three-night trip.

A course built for records

The main reason Berlin attracts so many runners is its dream course.

The 21.097 km route is exceptionally fast, with long straight sections, wide avenues and very few turns. The greatest elevation difference across the entire route is just… 4.3 meters, recorded at Alexanderplatz. There is no official total elevation figure, but the course is believed to feature only around 40 meters of climbing.

In other words, it is almost perfectly flat.

The route even includes sections of the Berlin Marathon course, from the start near the Victory Column to the finish under the Brandenburg Gate, passing Charlottenburg Palace, the Ku’damm and Gendarmenmarkt.

It is a perfectly designed course combining performance and sightseeing, with a festive atmosphere provided by around 40 music groups positioned throughout the route.

Every year, runners from all over the world choose Berlin’s fast course to chase a new personal best.

The numbers speak for themselves: the race records are 58:42 for Kenya’s Eric Kiptanui in 2018 and 1:03:35 for Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay in 2025. Germany’s Amanal Petros also set a national record of 59:22 during the 2026 edition, which featured the strongest elite field in the race’s history.

The event holds a World Athletics Elite Label and is also part of the SuperHalfs series alongside Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.

In short, it is one of the safest choices on the international running calendar. Coming here guarantees participation in a major global running event, expertly organized by SCC EVENTS.

Good to know before race day

With so many runners taking part, logistics are crucial, and the race does not start particularly early.

The start is scheduled for 10:05 AM, with several waves and pacers covering target times from 1:25 to 2:30.

The official time limit is 3 hours 15 minutes based on chip time, with an additional cut-off point at kilometer 18. After that, roads reopen to traffic, meaning runners outside the time limit will have to move onto the sidewalk or board the broom bus.

Walkers are still allowed to participate, provided they remain within the official time limit.

As with many races, only adult runners may register, meaning participants must have been born in 2011 or earlier.

As with the marathon, bib collection must be completed in person at the Sports Community Convention. Runners must present their start card, sent by email, along with a valid form of identification.

A road mile held on Saturday

To involve as many people as possible in the event, the organizers also host a road mile on the Saturday morning before the half marathon.

It is the perfect opportunity for accompanying friends and family, or for runners who want to loosen up their legs the day before the race.

The Garmin Berlin Mile covers 1.609 km along the final section of the half marathon route, with a finish under the Brandenburg Gate.

A truly special setting and an excellent way to make the event even more accessible and inclusive.

Registration remains open until race day, subject to availability, with entry fees starting at €16 for adults. Children from the age of four may also participate.

The 2026 edition was a major success, attracting 3,000 participants.

It is the perfect warm-up for families, groups of friends, performance-focused runners or anyone looking to discover running.

An almost perfectly flat course through the streets of Berlin, flawless organization and one of the fastest elite fields in the world: the Berlin Half Marathon has everything needed for a personal best. The biggest challenge, however, is securing a bib. With the 2027 lottery now closed, charity entries and official tour operators remain the only alternatives. And for 2028, there is one key date to remember: the opening of the lottery next spring.

✔ Find all registration details for the Berlin Half Marathon.