The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich is organised by SD Correcaminos and holds the World Athletics Gold Label. The women's world record of 1:02:52 was set here, and seven of the ten fastest men's times in history at the distance have been run on this course. It is a member of the SuperHalfs series alongside Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen and Cardiff, and the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation has named it the best half marathon in Spain.
There are 25,000 bibs. Runners from the previous edition get a short loyalty period to rebook their place, and the rest go through a free public ballot drawn before a notary, with the same chances whether you apply on the first day or the last. For the official entry and all details, head to the Valencia Half Marathon website.
Key dates
- Ballot WindowExpected Nov 2026
- Race dayExpected Oct 2027
Windows are shown to the month until the organiser confirms them. Subscribers get the exact day, by email, on the morning it opens.
Don't miss the window. The Valencia Half Marathon ballot opens and closes quickly, and the dates shift slightly each year. Set up a BibsAlert and we'll email you the moment the ballot goes live.
How to enter the Valencia Half Marathon
Last year's runners can rebook first, the remaining places go through a public ballot, and official tour operators sell guaranteed places once the race is full.
1. Loyalty Period
Everyone registered for the previous edition can rebook a place for the next one during a four-day loyalty period, before the ballot opens. Runners who miss it can still enter the ballot like everyone else. The first 10,000 bibs cost 40 euros and the rest 80 euros. In the first year of the new system, about half of the 25,000 places went to returning runners this way.
2. Public Ballot
The remaining places are allocated through a ballot. Entering is free, but you need an active bank card: 5 euros is held for a short period and then released, whatever the result. You can enter alone or in a group of up to three, and a group has exactly the same chances as an individual entry. Only one entry per person is allowed, and the name, ID or passport number, date of birth and email you enter cannot be changed later. The draw is made before a notary and every applicant is told the result by email. Selected runners then have 12 days to complete their registration and pay 80 euros, plus a 3 euro day licence for runners without a Spanish athletics licence. Runners must be 18 or over on race day. Bibs are collected in person only, at the Expo on the Friday and Saturday before the race, and none are handed out on race day.
3. Waiting List
Ballot applicants who miss out join the waiting list. Places freed up by withdrawals, and any ballot places not paid for in time, go to the waiting list in order, at 100 euros plus the day licence. When your turn comes you receive an email and have at least 24 hours to register.
4. Tour Operators and SuperHalfs
Official international tour operators and the SuperHalfs travel agencies sell travel packages with a guaranteed bib, subject to availability, even after the race is sold out. The organisers warn that any operator not on their official list is not authorised to sell bibs. Runners holding a SuperHalfs SuperVoucher can register without entering the ballot.
5. Official Change of Owner
A registered runner can hand their place to someone else only through the official change of owner in the Runner's Area, from February. The new runner registers and pays the price in force at the time. Places won in the ballot that are given up this way go to the waiting list instead.
The course
The Valencia Half Marathon runs on a fast urban course with very few turns, starting and finishing in the university district.
- Start: Avinguda dels Tarongers, next to the Universitat Politècnica de València
- Finish: Avinguda dels Tarongers, near the Universitat de València Faculty of Economics
- Distance: 21.0975 km (13.1 miles) on an AIMS/RFEA-certified course
- Start Time: 08:25 for the first wave, with seven waves seeded by accredited times
- Time Limit: 2 hours 45 minutes from crossing the start line
The course heads out past the traditional tiger nut fields of L'Horta Nord, skirts the upper edge of the old Turia riverbed, the city's vast green park, and runs into the heart of the historic centre. On the way back you run through the streets of El Cabanyal before the final stretch on a blue carpet to the finish. Drinks stations are at around 5, 10, 15 and 19 km, and runners who reach the 10 km point after 11:00 must leave the race.
Why run the Valencia Half Marathon?
- Record-breaking pace: the women's world record was set here, and seven of the ten fastest men's times in history were run on this course.
- Gold Label quality: a World Athletics Gold Label race on an AIMS/RFEA-certified course, named Spain's best half marathon by the national federation.
- Part of the SuperHalfs: run it alongside Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen and Cardiff to work towards the series SuperMedal.
- The city in one run: the old Turia riverbed, the historic centre and the streets of El Cabanyal.
Didn't get in?
If you weren't selected in the Valencia Half Marathon ballot, you still have options:
- Charity entries: Many official charity partners offer guaranteed places in exchange for fundraising commitments. Check the official website for partner organizations.
- Waiting list: Ballot applicants who miss out go on the official waiting list, which hands out places freed by withdrawals and unpaid ballot places, in order, at 100 euros.
- Tour operator packages: Official international tour operators and the SuperHalfs travel agencies sell packages with a guaranteed bib, subject to availability. Only operators on the official list are authorised.
- SuperHalfs SuperVoucher: A SuperVoucher lets you register without going through the ballot.
- Avoid unofficial bibs: Places change hands only through the official change of owner. Runners caught with someone else's bib are removed from the race and can be barred from registering for four years.
- Try the full distance: The same organisers run the Valencia Marathon, which also allocates its places through a ballot.
- Try a similar race: Check the related races below for races with similar entry types, dates, or locations.
- Apply again next year: Set up a BibsAlert so you don't miss the next entry window.
Questions runners ask
What are the chances of getting into the Valencia Half Marathon?
Approximately 24%. This figure is based on the most recent edition, odds vary year to year as application volume changes.
How does the Valencia Half Marathon ballot work?
After a four-day loyalty period for last year's runners, the remaining places go to a free public ballot. You enter alone or in a group of up to three, with a 5 euro hold on your bank card that is released afterwards. The draw is made before a notary, and selected runners have 12 days to register and pay.
What are my chances in the ballot?
In the first ballot, 50,766 people applied for 12,402 places, so roughly one applicant in four was selected. Your chances are the same whatever day you apply, and entering as a group does not change them.
How much does entry cost?
Returning runners pay 40 euros for the first 10,000 bibs of the loyalty period and 80 euros after that. A place won in the ballot costs 80 euros. Runners without a Spanish athletics licence also pay a mandatory 3 euro day licence. Places from the waiting list cost 100 euros plus the day licence.
What happens if I am not selected?
You join the waiting list automatically and may be offered a place freed by a withdrawal. You can also book a travel package with a guaranteed bib through an official tour operator or SuperHalfs travel agency, subject to availability.
What's the time limit?
Runners have 2 hours 45 minutes from crossing the start line. Anyone who reaches the 10 km point after 11:00 must leave the race.
Looking ahead
The Valencia Half Marathon moved to a ballot for its places. In the first year of the new system, the loyalty period for returning runners opened on the Thursday after race day, and the public ballot opened in early November and stayed open for ten days. The draw followed the next week, before a notary, with results sent by email. Set up a BibsAlert to get notified when the next ballot opens.