How to run the Berlin Marathon: entry, training timeline and race weekend

1. Oct 1 to Nov 12, 2026Lottery Enter alone or as a team of 2 or 3. You pay only if drawn.Open now
2. Same windowFast-runner entry Proof of a qualifying time from 2025 or 2026. Not a guaranteed place.Open now
3. Dec 3, 2026Lottery results Payment is taken from December 4.Coming up
4. Other routesJubilee Club and Sozialticket Jubilee Club members have guaranteed entry. A €50 Sozialticket is available.Other route
5. Sep 26, 2027Race dayComing up

Need a qualifying time? See the full table on our Berlin Majors page.

We only list prices the race publishes. Flight and hotel prices swing too much to quote here.

1. Thu Nov 12, 2026Nov 12, 2026Lottery closes Enter alone or as a team of 2 or 3.In 5 days
2. Thu Dec 3, 2026Dec 3, 2026Lottery results Payment is taken from December 4.In 26 days
3. Sun May 23, 202718 weeks outDay one of an 18-week plan Eighteen weeks is the length of the official Chicago Marathon training plan with Nike. Pick a plan that fits the running you already do.In 197 days
4. Sun Jun 13, 202715 weeks outBook travel and a place to stay Lock in flights and lodging before race-week prices and availability get tight. Use the race’s official travel or housing partner if it has one.In 218 days
5. Sun Jul 18, 202710 weeks outPick a tune-up race A half marathon in the middle of your plan is a good check on your goal pace. Races Near lists halves near you.In 253 days
6. Sun Aug 15, 20276 weeks outDress rehearsal long run Run a long run in race-day kit and practice with what the course hands out: water, Maurten Drink Mix 160 and Maurten Gel.In 281 days
7. Thu Aug 26, 2027Aug 26, 2027Last day to change your PB Your start block comes from your personal best. Change it in My Registrations until 11:59 p.m.; times under 3:15 need proof.In 292 days
8. Sun Sep 5, 20273 weeks outTaper starts Follow your plan as it cuts back over the final weeks. Do not try to catch up on missed long runs now.In 302 days
9. Sun Sep 19, 20271 week outRace week Read the official participant guide, confirm your bib pickup slot and plan your route to the start.In 316 days
10. Thu Sep 23, 2027Thu, Sep 23EXPO opens Tempelhof Airport, 3 to 8 p.m. Pick up your wristband here.In 320 days
11. Sun Sep 26, 2027Race dayRace day Go get it.In 323 days

This is our suggested calendar, not a training plan. Use it to line up your plan of choice with the race's own dates. Running a different goal race? Try the pace calculator for your splits.

1. 0 to 5 km

   Start on Straße des 17. Juni

   You start between the Brandenburg Gate and Kleiner Stern. Your block comes from your PB; if you want to start slower, just line up further back. First water at 5 km.

2. 5 to 20 km

   Settle in

   Water at 12 and 17.5 km. Water, fruit, tea and Maurten Drink Mix 160 at 9, 15 and 20 km. Very little elevation gain, so hold an even pace.

3. 20 to 30 km

   Through halfway

   Full stations at 25 and 30 km, water at 22.5 and 27.5 km, and Maurten Gel at 27.5 km.

4. 30 km to finish

   Home through the Brandenburg Gate

   Water at 32.5, 34.5, 38 and 40 km, and a full station at 36 km. You run through the Brandenburg Gate on the way to the finish.

Course records: 2:01:09 (Eliud Kipchoge, 2022) and 2:11:04 (Tigst Assefa, 2026).

From the official race-day page.

• EXPO and wristband

  • Tempelhof Airport, Platz der Luftbrücke 5. Free entry. U6 to Platz der Luftbrücke.
  • Thu Sep 23, 2027: 3 to 8 p.m. Fri Sep 24: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat Sep 25: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Your wristband is issued at the EXPO.

• Getting to the start

  • Your bib is a transit ticket for zones A, B and C, September 23 to 26.
  • U-Bahn: Unter den Linden, Bundestag, Brandenburger Tor, Potsdamer Platz. S-Bahn: Brandenburger Tor, Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz.
  • Main entrance: Platz der Republik, opposite the Reichstag.

• Clothing

  • Clothing drop-off only if you chose it when you registered. Otherwise your bib shows a poncho symbol.
  • Warm-up clothes left in the start zone are donated to the Berlin City Mission.
  • Showers at the start and finish area.

• On the course

  • 15 aid stations, with refills at every one.
  • Maurten Gel at 27.5 km.

• The official interactive course map marks cheering points and road closures. It shows the 2026 route until the 2027 map is out.
• The finish area is near the Brandenburg Gate, close to Brandenburger Tor (U and S-Bahn) and Potsdamer Platz.
• Track runners in the official app and agree a meeting point before race day.