Spiridon Silvesterlauf Frankfurt 2026: deadlines, course, rankings

The 48th Spiridon Mainova Silvesterlauf takes place on 31 December 2026 – this time actually on New Year's Eve. By early October most of the 3,000 places are gone; in 2025 it sold out in November.

Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 7 min read

Spiridon Silvesterlauf Frankfurt 2026: deadlines, course, rankings

By early October 2026, more than 2,200 of the 3,000 main-race places at the Spiridon Mainova Silvesterlauf in Frankfurt were already taken (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026). Registration only opened on 21 September (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de). If you want to run the 10 km at the winter sports hall by the Deutsche Bank Park stadium on Thursday, 31 December 2026, don't wait until December. In 2025 the event sold out in November (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, archive 2025).

The calendar up to race day

In Frankfurt, the price depends on your bib number and the deadlines depend on the date. Everything you need to keep track of until New Year's Eve lunchtime (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race; datasport.de, registration service 2026):

You register through the Datasport registration portal, linked from the official race website. Clubs, companies, public bodies and schools can enter several people in one group registration (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026).

A New Year's Eve race that isn't always on New Year's Eve

Silvester means 31 December, but the archive tells a different story. The last edition was held on 28 December 2025, the one before on 29 December 2024, and 2019 was also 29 December (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, archive). In 2007, 2008 and 2009 the race was on 30, 28 and 27 December (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, archive). The club says the race was moved several times because of the Christmas holidays (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, history, numbers and winners).

In 2026 it is the real thing again: the 48th edition takes place on Thursday, 31 December (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de). For your planning, that means the race and the evening fall on the same day. The main race starts at 12:05; if the 10 km takes you about an hour, you finish shortly after 1 pm. That leaves plenty of time before the evening, but little slack for a late trip in from out of town.

Race-day schedule

Time Race
10:00 Bambini race, 200 m, born 2021 to 2025
10:30 Schools race 2 km, U8 to U12
11:00 Schools race 4 km, U14 to U16
12:00 Elite race, 10 km
12:05 Main race, 10 km

Source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de (main race), datasport.de (registration service 2026). As of 3 October 2026.

Start and finish are at the winter sports hall by the Deutsche Bank Park (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). One rule for teenagers: U14 and U16 athletes may enter only one race – either the schools race or the 10 km (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026).

10 km of forest: what the course means for you

The organiser describes the course as largely flat, accurately measured to AIMS rules and eligible for ranking lists, with every kilometre marked (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, course). The surface is mostly forest – asphalt and well-surfaced forest paths (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, course); Runner's World places the course in Frankfurt's Stadtwald, the city forest (source: runnersworld.de, Silvesterlauf Frankfurt 2025). The course page offers a PDF map and a Komoot route.

Two things follow for New Year's Eve. First, forest paths dry more slowly at the end of December than city asphalt; a shoe with a bit more grip is no bad idea if it has rained in the days before. Second, there is no aid station on the course (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). Over 10 km in winter you usually won't need one, but drink enough beforehand. At the finish there is water and sports drink from Rosbacher, alcohol-free beer from Faust, bananas and tea (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race).

Showers and changing rooms are limited (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). If you are driving in from the region, change at home and pack dry clothes for afterwards.

Elite race, district championship, team ranking

Frankfurt splits its 10 km field into two starts. The elite race starts five minutes before the main race; men need a personal best under 36 minutes, women under 43 minutes (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). The race also counts towards the Rosbacher Main-Lauf-Cup 2026 (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de) and hosts the district championships for Frankfurt clubs with a DLV (German athletics federation) licence (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race).

The most interesting part for running groups is the team ranking: three runners per team, regardless of age group (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). There are also prizes for the fastest woman and man from Frankfurt, by gun time. If you enter as a group, use the group registration so you show up together on the start list. In 2025, Eintracht Frankfurt Triathlon was the largest team (source: runnersworld.de, Silvesterlauf Frankfurt 2025). If you are looking for people to train with until the end of the year, check running in Frankfurt.

Since 1979: from the Waldstadion to the winter sports hall

The first race was held on 31 December 1979 as the "Großer Frankfurter Silvesterlauf" on Babenhäuser Landstraße, with around 600 runners. From 1985 to 2001 it finished inside the Waldstadion, and since 2003 at the winter sports hall next to the stadium (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, history, numbers and winners). In 1988 the field passed 2,000 for the first time, with 2,004 runners, and in 1995, according to the club, it was the first German event to use the Champion Chip timing system. In 2020 and 2021 the race was cancelled or held virtually because of the pandemic (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, history, numbers and winners).

The course records are recent: Marc José Tortell Herrero ran 29:29 in 2024, Annika Koch 33:59 the same year (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, history, numbers and winners). In 2025 Patrick Andres won in 29:59, and Annika Koch won the women's race again in 34:43. Across all races there were 3,471 registrations, and the schools and bambini races set finisher records: 182 children over 2 km, 81 over 4 km and 68 in the bambini race (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, archive 2025).

Getting to the stadium

The organiser lists three public transport options: S-Bahn S8 or S9 to Bahnhof Stadion, tram 21 to Stadion, and buses 61 and 80 to Stadion Osttribüne. If you drive, park at the Gleisdreieck car park for €5, cash only (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race). On a New Year's Eve lunchtime with more than 3,000 starters, the S-Bahn is the better bet.

Bringing the kids

The morning works well for families. The 200 m bambini race is free and untimed, and the children finish through the main race's big finish arch. The schools races cost €10 (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026). Once the kids are done at around 11, there is plenty of time before the adults start at 12:05.

If you are planning beyond New Year's Eve: the city's next big dates are the Frankfurt Half Marathon and, for the full distance, the Frankfurt Marathon. All races in the city are listed in the overview of running events in Frankfurt. If you spend New Year's Eve elsewhere, see our overview of New Year's Eve races in the Rhineland or the Silvesterlauf Hannover around the Maschsee lake.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the Frankfurt New Year's Eve race 2026?
On Thursday, 31 December 2026. The 10 km main race starts at 12:05, the elite race at 12:00 (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race).
How much is the entry fee?
The first 1,000 places cost €22, after that €26. Online late entry from 30 November costs €30, on-site late entry €35 (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026).
Is it sold out yet?
By early October 2026, more than 2,200 of the 3,000 places were already taken (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026). The Datasport registration portal shows whether places are still available. In 2025 the event sold out in November (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, archive 2025).
Is there a team ranking?
Yes, a team ranking with three runners per team, regardless of age group (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race).
How do I get to the start?
S-Bahn S8 or S9 to Bahnhof Stadion, tram 21 to Stadion or buses 61 and 80 to Stadion Osttribüne. Parking at the Gleisdreieck car park costs €5, cash only (source: spiridon-silvesterlauf.de, main race).
Are there races for children?
Yes: a free 200 m bambini race at 10:00 and schools races over 2 km (10:30) and 4 km (11:00) for €10 (source: datasport.de, registration service 2026).

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