BerlinTriathlon 2027: Distances, Relays and a Runner's Way In

On 5 and 6 June 2027, Treptower Park hosts swim, bike and run from a 400 m swim up to middle distance. Here's which format suits you, what it costs and how to enter as a relay with your running group.

Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 7 min read

BerlinTriathlon 2027: Distances, Relays and a Runner's Way In

BerlinTriathlon 2027 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 June 2027, around Bulgarische Straße in Treptower Park (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). The organiser, Ausdauerfreunde e.V., calls it the "Hauptstadttriathlon" (capital city triathlon). It isn't one race but a weekend of five triathlon formats, relays and a swim-only event. That's especially interesting for runners trying the water for the first time: the shortest format starts with just 400 metres of swimming, and in a relay you don't have to swim at all.

The weekend at a glance

Format Swim Bike Run Day and start Entry fee
Middle distance 1.9 km (2 laps) approx. 88 km (12 laps of 7.37 km) 19 km (4 laps) Sun, 8:30 €189
Olympic distance 1.5 km (2 laps) approx. 36.4 km (5 laps) 9.2 km (2 laps) Sun, from 9:30 €99
Sprint 0.75 km (1 lap) 21.7 km (3 laps) 4.7 km (1 lap) Sat, from 16:00 €84
Fitness triathlon 400 m 14.08 km (2 laps) 2.8 km Sat, 15:30 €69
Kids' triathlon 100 m 2.5 km 400 m Sat, from 15:05 free
Spree swim (new) 1 km – – Sat, 14:00 €37
Relay middle / Olympic / sprint as above as above €209 / €139 / €109

Sources: berlin-triathlon.de (Ausschreibung, Strecken, Zeitplan), the organiser's entry form (fees). As of 3 October 2026.

Swim round the island, bike and run in loops

All swims are in the River Spree around an island. The sprint swims one lap, the Olympic distance two laps of 750 m, the middle distance two laps of 950 m; the fitness triathlon uses a triangle course in front of the island (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Strecken). Whether wetsuits are allowed is decided under the rules one hour before the start by measuring the water temperature (source: berlin-triathlon.de, FAQs) – so pack yours regardless.

Bike and run are loops on fully closed roads (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). The bike lap is 7.37 km and the middle distance rides it twelve times (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Strecken). A chip in your bib counts the laps, with live tracking at the timing partner (source: berlin-triathlon.de, FAQs). Good news for supporters: stand by the course and you'll see your people pass several times on the bike and on the run.

Drafting allowed: what that means for your bike

Something that surprises many beginners: at BerlinTriathlon, drafting is allowed on all distances, but only within the same gender (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). That brings equipment rules. On middle, Olympic and sprint, only bikes that meet the German Triathlon Union (DTU) rules for drafting races are allowed. Aero bars must not extend beyond the brake levers and must be bridged; according to the organiser, a classic road bike is the safe choice (source: berlin-triathlon.de, FAQs). The fitness triathlon allows mountain bikes and hybrids. New this year: helmets with ear covers or visors are not permitted.

The Olympic and sprint races have a separate women's wave alongside two men's waves (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). If you plan to ride in a pack, practise in a group beforehand: keep your distance, hold your line, no sudden braking.

From running to your first triathlon

For runners, the fitness triathlon is the obvious entry point: 400 m swim, two bike laps totalling 14.08 km and a 2.8 km run, for €69 (sources: berlin-triathlon.de, Strecken; entry form). No race licence needed, and a mountain bike or hybrid is fine. It's open to anyone born in 2015 or earlier (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung).

Next up is the sprint: 750 m swim, 21.7 km bike, 4.7 km run, born 2011 or earlier. Only for the Olympic and middle distance do individual starters need a DTU Startpass (race licence) or a day licence, costing €15 (Olympic) or €17 (middle) at packet pick-up (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). Those distances are open to anyone born 2009 or earlier.

From 3 October to 5 June is about 35 weeks. For runners, running is rarely the issue – swim technique is what takes time. A weekly session at the indoor pool through winter, plus a front-crawl course or club group in spring, makes June a lot calmer. Add the bike in April once the days get longer. Keep your running form with your group; find Lauftreffs (group runs) and run clubs at Running in Berlin.

Enter as a relay with your running group

Middle, Olympic and sprint distances all have relays. A relay has two or three people; the handover happens at the bike rack in the transition zone, with timing chip and bib as the baton (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung). No licence is needed, and relays are ranked without age groups in men's, women's and mixed categories.

For a running group, that's a great shared goal: find a swimmer and someone with a road bike, and pick the distance where your runner shines. It's 4.7 km in the sprint relay, 9.2 km in two laps for the Olympic, and 19 km in four laps of 4.75 km on the middle distance (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Strecken). A relay costs €109 (sprint), €139 (Olympic) or €209 (middle) for the whole team (source: entry form). Relay members must be born 2013 or earlier for the sprint, 2011 or earlier for Olympic and middle (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung).

Schedule: short Saturday, long Sunday

Packet pick-up is Friday, 4 June, 15:00–19:00 for all races and Saturday 11:00–16:00 for Sunday starters, at Bulgarische Straße 22 (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Zeitplan and Ausschreibung).

On Saturday, the new 1 km Spree swim starts at 14:00. Kids go at 15:05 and 15:15, the fitness triathlon at 15:30, the sprint women's wave at 16:00, then the other waves and the relays at 17:00. The finish closes at 19:00. On Sunday, the middle distance starts at 8:30, the Olympic distance from 9:30 with the women's wave, and the final waves and relays at 11:00. The finish closes at 15:00 (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Zeitplan). Transition check-in and check-out times are binding; bikes can only be collected from 15:00.

Entry and the small print

Register via the BerlinTriathlon entry page. The confirmation email only arrives once payment has been received (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Anmeldung). Worth knowing: there's no refund if you don't start, but if you fall ill you can transfer your place. The fee covers timing, swim cap, finisher medal, hot showers, bag drop, massage and post-race food among other things (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Anmeldung). A finisher shirt costs €34 extra. The form adds an online processing fee to every entry, for example €2.28 for the fitness triathlon and €6.24 for the middle distance (source: entry form).

More races in Berlin and beyond

For everything else on Berlin's running calendar, from half marathons to corporate runs, see our overview of running events in Berlin. If you'd rather race as a team in June without the water, the 5 x 5 km TEAM relay is a pure running format. For another big-city triathlon, look at the Hamburg Triathlon. How Germany's big races compare is covered in Germany's biggest triathlons and IRONMAN races.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is BerlinTriathlon 2027?
On 5 and 6 June 2027. Saturday has the Spree swim, kids' races, fitness triathlon and sprint; Sunday the middle and Olympic distances (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Zeitplan).
Where does BerlinTriathlon take place?
On Bulgarische Straße in Treptower Park. The swim is in the River Spree around an island; bike and run are loops on fully closed roads (source: berlin-triathlon.de).
Which distance suits a first triathlon?
The fitness triathlon: 400 m swim, 14.08 km bike, 2.8 km run. No licence needed, and mountain bikes or hybrids are allowed (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung).
How much does it cost?
Fitness €69, sprint €84, Olympic €99, middle distance €189, Spree swim €37; the kids' triathlon is free. Relays cost €109, €139 or €209 per team. A small processing fee is added when you register online (source: organiser's entry form).
Do I need a race licence?
Only as an individual on the Olympic or middle distance. A day licence costs €15 or €17 at packet pick-up. Relays, sprint and fitness don't need one (source: berlin-triathlon.de, Ausschreibung).
Is drafting allowed?
Yes, on all distances, but only within the same gender. So middle, Olympic and sprint only allow bikes that meet DTU drafting rules; a classic road bike is the safe choice according to the organiser (source: berlin-triathlon.de).

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