When is the Berlin Marathon 5K in 2027?

On Saturday, 25 September 2027, the day before the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON on 26 September (source: scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).

Is the GENERALI 5K the same as the 5K of the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON?

Yes, it's the same SCC EVENTS format. In 2026 it was called the GENERALI 5K im Rahmen des BMW BERLIN-MARATHON; since the sponsor change the marathon is named GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON (sources: 2026 race briefing; scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).

Where does the course go?

In 2026 it ran from Potsdamer Platz to the Brandenburg Gate, covering the last five kilometres of the marathon course. The 2027 route hasn't been published yet (sources: 2026 race briefing; SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026).

How much does it cost?

The 2026 entry fee was €34.50. No price for 2027 has been announced as of 3 October 2026 (sources: 2026 race briefing; scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).

Can I run the 5K if I don't get a marathon place in the ballot?

Yes, the 5K has its own registration, independent of the marathon ballot. The 2027 ballot runs from 1 October to 12 November 2026, with results on 3 December 2026 (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, running registration).

GENERALI 5K Berlin 2027: 5 km on marathon Saturday

On 25 September 2027, the day before the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON, the race covers the last five kilometres of the marathon course to the Brandenburg Gate. More than 13,000 took part in 2026 – and the field sold out.

Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 6 min read

GENERALI 5K Berlin 2027: 5 km on marathon Saturday

On Saturday, 25 September 2027, the day before the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON, the last five kilometres of the marathon course once again belong to everyone who doesn't want to, or can't, run 42 km (source: scc-events.com, 2027 calendar). In 2026 more than 13,000 runners took part and the event was completely sold out (source: SCC EVENTS press release of 26 September 2026, via germanroadraces.de). If you want to run through the Brandenburg Gate in 2027, keep an eye on registration.

The 2027 5K at a glance

Item	Details
Date 2027	Saturday, 25 September 2027 (marathon on Sunday, 26 September)
Distance	5 km
Name in 2027	5K im Rahmen des GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON (5K of the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON)
Start and finish 2026	Start at Potsdamer Platz, finish at the Brandenburg Gate
Start time 2026	10:00
Entry fee 2026	€34.50
Participants 2026	more than 13,000, sold out
Registration 2027	not yet published (as of 3 October 2026)
Organiser	SCC EVENTS GmbH

Sources: scc-events.com (2027 calendar), bmw-berlin-marathon.com (2026 race briefing), SCC EVENTS (press release 26 September 2026). As of 3 October 2026.

New name: from GENERALI 5K to the 5K of the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON

Search for this race and you'll find two names. After 16 years BMW's title sponsorship ends, and from 2027 the Berlin Marathon is called the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON (source: bmw-berlin-marathon.com). In 2026 the 5K ran as the "GENERALI 5K im Rahmen des BMW BERLIN-MARATHON"; the 2027 calendar lists it as the "5K im Rahmen des GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON" (sources: 2026 race briefing; scc-events.com, 2027 calendar). It's the same format: five kilometres on the Saturday before the marathon, organised by SCC EVENTS.

Don't confuse it with the R5K Tour Finale, which also covers 5 km between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate on the same Saturday. That is the final of a race series for young runners aged 12 to 22 (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, Kids and Youth).

The last five kilometres of the marathon course

In 2026 the 5K started at 10:00 at Potsdamer Platz and finished at the Brandenburg Gate (source: bmw-berlin-marathon.com, 2026 race briefing). According to the organiser, participants got to experience the final five kilometres of the next day's marathon course (source: SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026). A press photo shows the field at Gendarmenmarkt (source: germanroadraces.de). The organiser's interactive course map includes the 5K route alongside the marathon course; it still shows the 2026 routes and will be updated once the 2027 map is ready (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, courses).

In practice: five kilometres through the city centre, with a finish usually reserved for marathon runners. Start time and exact route for 2027 haven't been published yet.

Who the Saturday is for

If the marathon ballot doesn't go your way. Places for the 2027 GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON are allocated by ballot. You can enter from 1 October to 12 November 2026, and results come out on 3 December 2026 (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, running registration). If you miss out, the 5K still makes you part of the weekend – on the closing stretch of the marathon course.

If you're travelling with a marathon runner. Partners, friends or your running group are coming anyway. The 5K on Saturday morning turns spectating into a race of your own, and you're still fresh to cheer along the course on Sunday. Everything about the marathon itself is in our guide to the Berlin Marathon.

If it's your first race. The organiser says the 5K is aimed at people of all ages and running backgrounds; more than 2,000 Berliners took part in 2026 (source: SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026). Five kilometres is a distance you can build up to over one summer.

If you're bringing children. On the same Saturday there's the mini-MARATHON over 4.2195 km for school pupils (born 2008 or later, start at Potsdamer Straße/Ebertstraße) and the Bambini-Lauf (kids' run) for children up to 10 over 200 to 800 metres (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, Kids and Youth). In 2026 around 10,000 young runners started the mini-MARATHON (source: SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026).

Eight weeks to 25 September: your 5K summer

Count back from Saturday, 25 September 2027, and the whole plan falls in summer:

From Monday, 2 August 2027: eight weeks out. Three sessions a week are enough. If you're new, alternate walking and running and lengthen the running parts a little each week.
August: heat is the main opponent. Run early in the morning or in the evening, ease off when in doubt and drink beforehand. Once a week one session can be a bit quicker, for example five times three minutes brisk with walking breaks.
Early September: run the full distance once without stopping and without looking at your watch. If you can do that, you're ready.
Race week: less volume, one or two short easy runs with a few strides. No new shoes or new kit now.
Saturday, 25 September: with more than 13,000 starters (2026), the start gets crowded. Let the flow carry you for the first few minutes rather than weaving through. You'll make up the time more comfortably once the field opens up.

If you already run regularly, you can use the 5K as a speed test. If you then fancy doubling the distance, Berlin has options such as the Great 10K. Looking for people to run with over the summer? You'll find Lauftreffs (group runs) and run clubs with fixed weekly sessions on Running in Berlin.

Looking back: the 5K on 26 September 2026

The 5K opened the 2026 marathon weekend in ideal running weather. More than 13,000 runners took part, among them former Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen. The fastest were Julien Le Nedic of France in 15:24 and Alexandria Scearce of the USA in 16:37 (source: SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026). Registration was open until 25 September and the entry fee was €34.50 (source: bmw-berlin-marathon.com, 2026 race briefing).

Registration for 2027

As of 3 October 2026, SCC EVENTS has published only the date and distance for the 2027 5K – no registration date and no price yet (source: scc-events.com, 2027 calendar). Since the 2026 field sold out, check the official GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON website regularly. For every other race in Berlin, from New Year's Day to autumn, see the running events in Berlin.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the Berlin Marathon 5K in 2027?: On Saturday, 25 September 2027, the day before the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON on 26 September (source: scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).
Is the GENERALI 5K the same as the 5K of the GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON?: Yes, it's the same SCC EVENTS format. In 2026 it was called the GENERALI 5K im Rahmen des BMW BERLIN-MARATHON; since the sponsor change the marathon is named GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON (sources: 2026 race briefing; scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).
Where does the course go?: In 2026 it ran from Potsdamer Platz to the Brandenburg Gate, covering the last five kilometres of the marathon course. The 2027 route hasn't been published yet (sources: 2026 race briefing; SCC EVENTS press release, 26 September 2026).
How much does it cost?: The 2026 entry fee was €34.50. No price for 2027 has been announced as of 3 October 2026 (sources: 2026 race briefing; scc-events.com, 2027 calendar).
Can I run the 5K if I don't get a marathon place in the ballot?: Yes, the 5K has its own registration, independent of the marathon ballot. The 2027 ballot runs from 1 October to 12 November 2026, with results on 3 December 2026 (source: generali-berlin-marathon.com, running registration).