Halloween Runs 2026 in Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Rhineland

On Saturday, 31 October 2026, the Rhineland has two Halloween runs with race bibs: in Cologne's Forstbotanischer Garten and in Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Here's the schedule, entry fees, deadlines and what you need in the dark.

Chris Mühlnickel · 4 October 2026 · 9 min read

Halloween Runs 2026 in Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Rhineland

Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, and the Rhineland has two events that evening where you run in costume with a race bib: the Sparda-Bank Halloween-Run in the Forstbotanischer Garten (forest botanical garden) in Cologne-Rodenkirchen, and the Halloween Run in Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, a former steelworks turned park. Both start in the late afternoon, both have races for kids, and in both you run after dark. In Düsseldorf, Bonn, Neuss, Leverkusen, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Ratingen and Dormagen we found no Halloween event with a confirmed 2026 edition (as of 3 October 2026). If you live there, head to Cologne or Duisburg – or turn your own running group's session into a costume night.

Halloween runs 2026 at a glance

Halloween-Run Cologne Halloween Run Duisburg
Date Saturday, 31 October 2026 Saturday, 31 October 2026
Venue Forstbotanischer Garten, Schillingsrotter Straße 99, Cologne-Rodenkirchen Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, Emscherstraße 71, Duisburg-Meiderich
Distances 5 km, 10 km, double ranking 5 + 10 km 2.5 km, 5 km, 10 km (run or walk)
Kids Little Candy-Run 500 m, Big Candy-Run 1.5 km Bambini race approx. 500 m, school race approx. 1.2 km
First start 5:00 pm (kids), 6:00 pm (5 km) 5:30 pm (kids), 6:30 pm (5 km)
Entry fee (as of 4 October) €26 (5 or 10 km), €36 (double ranking) €34.90 (5 km), €38.90 (10 km)
Good to know Headlamp required, parts of the course are deliberately dark Race packs are sent by post

Sources: halloweenrun-koeln.de (Infos), halloween-run-duisburg.de (home page, Ausschreibung). As of 3 October 2026.

Cologne: Halloween-Run in the Forstbotanischer Garten

The organiser, pulsschlag, makes clear up front what the Halloween-Run is not: it is no obstacle race, and no zombies will chase you. Instead, a 5 km course winds through the botanical garden, lit for effect – and in some places deliberately not lit at all. That is why you need a headlamp. If you don't have one, you can order one with your registration, but only until 18 October 2026 (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos). The partner club is the triathlon section of TV Rodenkirchen.

On costumes for the 5 and 10 km races, the organiser only writes: "Strange question, isn't it?" So a costume is expected. For the kids' races it says "Absolutely!" for the little ones and "You don't have to, but you should!" for the older ones (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos).

Schedule on 31 October (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos):

The kids' races are untimed; at the finish there are sweets and a "spooky certificate". All adults get a finisher medal and run with a timing chip. Worth knowing if you watch your GPS: according to the organiser, the course is around 60 metres (5 km) and 120 metres (10 km) short. This is not an evening for a personal best (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos).

Entry fees: Until 25 October 2026, the 5 or 10 km costs €26, the double ranking €36, the Big Candy-Run €10 and the Little Candy-Run €6. From 26 October, late-entry prices apply: €29, €40, €12 and €8. Online entry stays open until shortly before the start. There are no refunds if you withdraw, not even with a doctor's note, and entries cannot be transferred. A spot at the bag drop has to be booked with your entry, otherwise you can't leave a bag (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos). Register for the Halloween-Run Cologne.

The double ranking: 15 km in one evening

Run both races and you enter a separate ranking, with prizes for the fastest (source: halloweenrun-koeln.de, Infos). The schedule makes it possible, but not comfortable: the 5 km starts at 6 pm with a 50-minute cut-off, the 10 km starts at 7:15 pm. Depending on how fast you run the first 5 km, you'll be standing around for half an hour or more – sweaty, in the dark, at the end of October. A few things help:

For everything else coming up in Cologne, from the St Nicholas event in December to the spring races, see our page on running events in Cologne.

Duisburg: Halloween Run in Landschaftspark Nord

From Düsseldorf, Ratingen or Krefeld, Duisburg is the shorter trip. The Halloween Run goes through Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, in what the organiser calls an "autumnally lit setting" with light accents and Halloween-style details. The park is the venue "once again" – so the event has been held before (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de). You can run or walk every distance.

Schedule on 31 October (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de, Ausschreibung):

The 2.5 km is one small loop, the 5 km one large loop, the 10 km two large loops. Splitting the 5 km into a fast and a slow start is handy: if you want to jog or walk in costume, you won't be in anyone's way (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de, Ausschreibung).

Entry fees: Since 1 October the second price tier applies: €34.90 for 5 km, €38.90 for 10 km, €15.90 for the bambini race and €18.90 for the school race. For the 2.5 km, the Ausschreibung (race information) says €32.90 while the home page says €34.90. Late entry on site costs €36 to €42 (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de). Register for the Halloween Run Duisburg.

Two deadlines are worth noting: a personalised bib is only available if you register by 5 October. And if you register by 23 October, your race pack is posted to you in the week before the event. Later entrants pick it up on site from 4 pm (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de, Ausschreibung).

For families there's a tattoo station, a painting and craft corner and a selfie wall. Pumpkin carving can be added for €5 when you register, limited to 100 places. The organiser also sells a chest-strap running light for €19.90 (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de, Ausschreibung). Getting there: tram line 903 from Duisburg Hbf (main station) to "Landschaftspark Nord", then about ten minutes on foot. By car, there are around 1,600 parking spaces opposite the main entrance (source: halloween-run-duisburg.de, Ausschreibung). For more races in the city, see running events in Duisburg.

A week earlier: two events on 25 October

On the Sunday before Halloween, the Rhineland has two events without the scares. At the PINK-5K Run Cologne, everyone runs or walks 5 km around the Decksteiner Weiher lake in the city forest, starting at 10:15 am (run) and 10:20 am (walk). Until 24 October, entry costs €30.50, of which €5 is donated to the fight against breast cancer; late entry on site is €35 (source: pink-5k.de, Köln).

The Rhein City Run, a point-to-point half marathon from Düsseldorf to Duisburg, is completely sold out: 6,000 people have a place, and there is no late entry (source: rhein-city-run.de). If you're not registered, you can cheer from the roadside. All other dates in Düsseldorf are in our overview of running events in Düsseldorf.

No Halloween event in your city? Run with your group

Düsseldorf, Bonn and the rest of the region having no Halloween race of their own in 2026 doesn't mean the evening is off. Many running groups turn their regular session in Halloween week into a costume night: same loop, same time, just dressed up. It costs nothing and needs no organiser. A few lessons borrowed from the two events above that work for your own evening too:

Find a group near you among the running groups in Cologne and in Düsseldorf. If you live in Bonn, the city's next dates are in our overview of running events in Bonn – the Bonner Nikolauslauf is on 6 December. For how to dress for the dark months, read our article on running in winter.

After Halloween: St Nicholas and New Year's Eve

After 31 October the Rhineland doesn't get quieter, the costumes just change theme. In early December there are St Nicholas events, hats included, in Cologne, Bonn, Neuss and Düsseldorf, plus a Christmas jumper run in Leverkusen. All dates are in our article on St Nicholas and Christmas runs in the Rhineland, and the biggest has its own page: the Kölner Nikolauslauf. To finish the year with a bib, see our overview of New Year's Eve runs in the Rhineland.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the Halloween-Run in Cologne in 2026?
On Saturday, 31 October 2026, in the Forstbotanischer Garten in Cologne-Rodenkirchen. Kids start at 5 pm and 5:30 pm, the 5 km at 6 pm and the 10 km at 7:15 pm.
Do I have to wear a costume at the Halloween-Run Cologne?
For the 5 and 10 km races the organiser answers that with "Strange question, isn't it?" – so a costume is expected. What you definitely need is a headlamp, because parts of the course are deliberately unlit.
How much does the Halloween-Run in Cologne cost?
Until 25 October 2026, the 5 or 10 km costs €26 and the 5 + 10 km double ranking €36. From 26 October, late-entry prices of €29 and €40 apply. The kids' races cost €6 or €10, or €8 or €12 as late entries.
Is there a Halloween run in Düsseldorf?
For 2026 we found no Halloween race with bibs in Düsseldorf (as of 3 October 2026). The closest is in Duisburg: the Halloween Run in Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord on 31 October, with 2.5, 5 and 10 km.
Can I walk the Halloween Run Duisburg?
Yes. You can run or walk every distance – 2.5, 5 and 10 km. The 5 km has two starts: 6:30 pm for the fast run and 6:45 pm for the slow run and walk.
Are the Halloween runs suitable for kids?
Yes, both have their own kids' races. Cologne has the Little Candy-Run over 500 m and the Big Candy-Run over 1.5 km, both untimed. Duisburg has a bambini race of around 500 m and a school race of around 1.2 km, plus pumpkin carving and a craft corner.

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