Running Events in Dresden 2027: DRESDEN-MARATHON, Oberelbe-Marathon and Team Challenge

Citylauf through the city centre in March, the Oberelbe-Marathon from Königstein to the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in April, the REWE Team Challenge in June, the Nachtlauf on the Elbe in August and the second edition of the DresdenHALF in September: all the key running events in Dresden for 2027 – plus what's still coming before New Year's Eve 2026, from the DRESDEN-MARATHON to the Nikolauslauf.

Chris Mühlnickel · 30 September 2026 · 10 min read

Running Events in Dresden 2027: DRESDEN-MARATHON, Oberelbe-Marathon and Team Challenge

Dresden runs along the Elbe and in the forest. On the Elbe riverbank, with a view of the Old Town skyline, the Nachtlauf, the DresdenHALF and the Frauenlauf run from the Citybeach to the Albertbrücke, and along the river the Oberelbe-Marathon comes into the city from Saxon Switzerland. Its finish is the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, where the DRESDEN-MARATHON and the REWE Team Challenge also start. And then there's the Dresdner Heide (Dresden Heath): this is where the clubs from Bühlau, Weißig, Weixdorf and Niedersedlitz hold their traditional events, from the Stundenlauf in May to the winter race series. On top of that come smaller stages such as the Alaunpark in the Neustadt and the Sportpark Ostragehege.

This overview shows which events are coming up and who they suit. Where the organizer has already confirmed the 2027 date, it's listed; otherwise we give the date of the last edition for orientation. As of 30 September 2026.

Which event suits you?

Your goal Events that fit
Your first race bib 5 km at the Citylauf, DRESDEN-FRAUENLAUF, 5 km at the DresdenHALF, Nikolauslauf
Your first half marathon DresdenHALF, Half marathon at the DRESDEN-MARATHON, Half marathon at the Oberelbe-Marathon
Your marathon DRESDEN-MARATHON, VVO Oberelbe-Marathon
A new personal best DRESDEN-MARATHON
In the forest instead of on asphalt Herbstwaldlauf, Hochlandlauf, Quer durch die Dresdner Heide
Fit through the winter Bühlauer Winterlaufserie, Herbstwaldlauf, Nikolauslauf
Running in the evening VSB Dresdner Nachtlauf, Bühlauer Stundenlauf
With colleagues or as a team REWE Team Challenge, 100km Duathlon
For a good cause Dresdner Familienlauf
Something completely different 100km Duathlon, Bühlauer Stundenlauf, VSB Dresdner Nachtlauf
Triathlon IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig

Still in 2026: marathon in October

The most important date of Dresden's autumn is still to come. On 25 October 2026 the DRESDEN-MARATHON takes place, according to the organizer in its 26th edition. The marathon weekend begins on Saturday, 24 October, and the main races are on Sunday. Start and finish are in the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, and the flat course leads through the Altstadt and the Neustadt (dresden-marathon.com).

Alongside the 42.195 km there's a marathon relay, a half marathon, 10 and 5 km, plus a children's marathon over 1.8 km and a Bambinilauf over 400 m for the little ones. So there's something for almost everyone: the relay shares the distance across several shoulders, the half marathon is a good setting for your first long race, and if you've been training for a marathon personal best, you'll find a flat profile here. The organizer hasn't published the 2027 date or participant numbers yet.

Still in 2026: Heide, winter series and Nikolauslauf

After the marathon, the clubs take over, and the running year retreats into the Dresdner Heide.

On 7 November 2026 the VfL Dresden-Bühlau starts the Bühlauer Winterlaufserie (winter race series) 2026/27. The running and hiking series has several dates in the Dresdner Heide, and according to running.life it runs until 6 March 2027 (vfl-dresden-buehlau.de). The club doesn't list distances on its website; if you want to wear a race bib regularly over the winter, you'll still find a steady rhythm here.

One day later, on 8 November 2026, comes an event with a long tradition: the Herbstwaldlauf – Dresdner Heide mit Hofewiese-TRAIL (autumn forest run) of the Skiklub Dresden-Niedersedlitz, according to the organizer in its 69th edition. The start is at the Landgut Hofewiese. You run on a rolling loop with around 50 metres of elevation gain, which you complete one to three times depending on the distance: 4.5, 9 or 13.5 km, plus 8.7 km of Nordic walking and children's and youth races. The Herbstwaldlauf is part of the Stadtrangliste Dresden/Radebeul (Dresden/Radebeul city ranking), and registration has been open via the timekeeper since 25 September 2026 (herbstwaldlauf.com).

To close the year, the Post SV Dresden invites you to the Dresdner Nikolauslauf (St Nicholas run) at the Sportpark Ostragehege on 6 December 2026. The main course is just 3.1 km, plus 2.2, 1.2 and 0.5 km for children and young people. It's the 33rd edition and also the final race of the Stadtrangliste Dresden/Radebeul. In 2024, according to hdsports.org, 358 people reached the finish (post-sv-dresden.de). For a first event with a race bib, this is a manageable setting.

March: Citylauf through the city centre

Dresden's running year 2027 begins in the city centre. The Novaled Citylauf Dresden (city run) on 21 March 2027 opens the season with a 10 km course through Dresden's city centre. There's also 5 km, a 2 km children's race and a Bambinilauf over 450 m. According to the organizer, the 2026 edition brought a participant record; according to hdsports.org there were around 3,000 participants (citylauf-dresden.de).

The 5 km are a good first race, the 10 km a spring fitness test. If you want to start at the Oberelbe-Marathon in April, this gives you a benchmark five weeks beforehand.

April: Oberelbe-Marathon from Königstein to Dresden

The city's second marathon doesn't start in Dresden – it comes to it. The VVO Oberelbe-Marathon (Upper Elbe Marathon) starts in Königstein in Saxon Switzerland and runs as a scenic marathon along the Elbe to the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden. On 25 April 2027 it takes place for the 28th time (baer-service.de).

Alongside the 42.2 km there's a half marathon, 10 and 5 km on sections of the same course, plus a mini-marathon over 2.7 km and a Bambinilauf over 400 m. By 30 September 2026 the official timekeeper had already received 1,989 registrations for 2027 – registrations, not finishers, but a sign that you shouldn't wait until spring (baer-service.de). The long training runs for it fall in January and February – along the Elbe, for example.

May: as a team and for an hour

May has two formats on the calendar where it's not about your time over a fixed distance. For both, the organizer hasn't announced the 2027 date yet.

At the 100km Duathlon Dresden, five people share four bikes: one person is always running, you swap whenever you like, until the team has covered 100 km around Dresden. Among other places, the course leads through the Dresdner Heide, and start and finish are at the Gymnasium Dresden-Plauen. The duathlon has taken place every spring since 1996, most recently on 2 May 2026 (100km-duathlon.de). If you have a running group that also cycles, this is a team goal for the spring.

A few days later, on 6 May 2026, the Bühlauer Stundenlauf (one-hour run) of the VfL Dresden-Bühlau took place for the 53rd time. The principle is simple: in the evening you run for one hour, and the distance covered is what counts. From the W70 and M75 age groups, the ranking is over 30 minutes. The start is at the Sportplatz Milkeler Straße in the Dresdner Heide, and this event is part of the Stadtrangliste too (vfl-dresden-buehlau.de).

With your team: REWE Team Challenge

In June, Dresden's companies run. The REWE Team Challenge Dresden is a 5 km Firmenlauf (corporate run) for teams from companies and organisations, with start and finish at the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion. On 17 June 2026, according to hdsports.org, around 20,000 participants took part. The next edition is on 22 June 2027 (team-challenge-dresden.de).

The 5 km are manageable for almost everyone, even without regular training. If you want to get your colleagues running, this is a good first goal – June leaves enough time to start together in spring.

August: Nachtlauf and Familienlauf

In late summer, it's the Elbe in the evening and the park at the weekend, for a good cause.

The VSB Dresdner Nachtlauf (night run) on 20 August 2027 starts at the blue hour. The illuminated course on the Elbe riverbank offers a view of Dresden's Old Town skyline, and you run 11.5 or 6.2 km, with 1.8 km and 400 m for children. Registration for 2027 is already open (dresdner-nachtlauf.de). In 2026, according to hdsports.org, the Nachtlauf took place on 14 August.

The Dresdner Familienlauf (family run), organised by the UNICEF working group Dresden in the Alaunpark in the Neustadt, has no entry fee at all. You run laps of the park, as many as you manage in the set time, and the proceeds go to UNICEF projects against child malnutrition. On 30 August 2026 the Familienlauf took place for the 14th time; the working group hasn't announced the 2027 date yet (familienlauf-dresden.de). With a free number of laps, the format suits families and everyone who wants to take part without time pressure.

September: DresdenHALF, Heide and Elbe riverbank

In September the dates pile up in Dresden: a new half marathon, two traditional events in the Heide and a relaunch on the Elbe riverbank.

Since 2026, Dresden has had its own half marathon date: the DresdenHALF celebrated its premiere on 6 September 2026. The course leads through the city centre and along the Elbe riverbank. On the Saturday before, there's 5 km, a KidsRUN over 2.1 km and a BambiniRUN over 400 m. The second edition is on the weekend of 4/5 September 2027, with the half marathon on 5 September 2027 (dresden-half.com). For a first half marathon, this is a good autumn date, and the 5 km on Saturday are a way in for everyone else.

On the same day as the DresdenHALF premiere, 6 September 2026, the Hochlandlauf Dresden (highland run) took place in Dresden-Weißig for the sixth time. The SG Weißig sends participants from the Hutberg by the Gasthof Weißig onto forest and field paths in the Schönfelder Hochland and the Dresdner Heide, over 13.7 or 6.9 km, with the 6.9 km also as walking or Nordic walking, plus children's courses between 600 m and 2 km. According to the timekeeper, 628 people reached the finish (baer-service.de). The 2027 date hasn't been published yet.

Two weeks later, on 19 September 2026, the DRESDEN-FRAUENLAUF (women's run) was back. After the previous Frauenlauf was discontinued in 2024, the DRESDEN-MARATHON team relaunched it: 5 km from the Citybeach on the Elbe cycle path to the Albertbrücke and back, with a view of the Old Town skyline. According to the organizer, 613 women reached the finish (dresden-frauenlauf.com). The 2027 date is still to come.

The day after, on 20 September 2026, the SG Weixdorf held Quer durch die Dresdner Heide (across the Dresdner Heide) for the 49th time. The start is at the Forstsportplatz Weixdorf in the north of the city, and you run on forest and gravel paths over 10, 5 or 2 km, plus 500 m for children. The field is capped at 300 places, and in 2026 it sold out (qdh-run.de). The club hasn't announced a 2027 date yet – if you want to take part, keep an eye on the club's website.

Nearby: IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig

There's no IRONMAN race in Dresden. The nearest is around 100 km as the crow flies to the northwest: the IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig on 8 August 2027. The swim is 1.9 km in the Cospudener See, followed by 90 km on the bike through the Leipziger Neuseenland and a half marathon through Leipzig with the finish at the Sportforum. For the premiere on 23 August 2026, according to tri-mag.de, around 2,500 athletes were registered. IRONMAN Germany has announced the second edition (ironman.com).

Planning tips for your running year

Registering early pays off. For the Oberelbe-Marathon in April 2027, 1,989 registrations were already in by 30 September 2026. Quer durch die Dresdner Heide is capped at 300 places and sold out in 2026. Registration for the Herbstwaldlauf has been open since 25 September 2026, and for the Nachtlauf it's already open for 2027.

Many events, few organizers. The Citylauf, the REWE Team Challenge, the Nachtlauf and the DresdenHALF are all organised by the same company, Laufszene Events GmbH. The DRESDEN-MARATHON and the relaunched DRESDEN-FRAUENLAUF are likewise run by one shared team.

The Stadtrangliste connects the club events. The Bühlauer Stundenlauf, the Hochlandlauf, the Herbstwaldlauf and the Nikolauslauf belong to the Stadtrangliste Dresden/Radebeul, and the Nikolauslauf is its finale. If you want to set goals across the whole year, you'll find a common thread there.

Three places shape Dresden's running year. The Heinz-Steyer-Stadion is start and finish of the DRESDEN-MARATHON and the REWE Team Challenge, and the finish of the Oberelbe-Marathon. The Elbe riverbank belongs to the Nachtlauf, the DresdenHALF and the Frauenlauf. And the Dresdner Heide is home to the club events, from the winter race series and the Herbstwaldlauf to Quer durch die Dresdner Heide.

Don't train alone

Dresden's year has two marathons that complement each other well: the Oberelbe-Marathon in April, which you train for over the winter, and the DRESDEN-MARATHON in October, whose long runs fall in the summer. In between come the Team Challenge in June and the DresdenHALF in September. Training is easier in a group, and at the start it's nicer when you know someone. You'll find the right group among the running groups and run clubs in Dresden.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the DRESDEN-MARATHON?
The next edition is on 25 October 2026, and the marathon weekend begins on 24 October. Start and finish are in the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, and alongside the marathon there's a relay, a half marathon, 10 and 5 km plus children's races. The organizer hasn't published the 2027 date yet (dresden-marathon.com).
When is the 2027 Oberelbe-Marathon?
On 25 April 2027, for the 28th time. The start is in Königstein in Saxon Switzerland, and the finish is in the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden. The half marathon, 10 and 5 km run on sections of the same course (baer-service.de).
When is the 2027 REWE Team Challenge Dresden?
On 22 June 2027. Teams from companies and organisations run 5 km with start and finish at the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion. In 2026, according to hdsports.org, around 20,000 participants took part (team-challenge-dresden.de).
Which half marathons are there in Dresden?
The DresdenHALF on 5 September 2027 through the city centre and along the Elbe riverbank (dresden-half.com), the half marathon at the Oberelbe-Marathon on 25 April 2027 (baer-service.de) and the half marathon at the DRESDEN-MARATHON, whose next edition is on 25 October 2026 (dresden-marathon.com).
When is the 2027 Dresdner Nachtlauf?
On 20 August 2027. You run at the blue hour on an illuminated course on the Elbe riverbank with a view of the Old Town skyline, over 11.5 or 6.2 km, plus children's courses. Registration is already open (dresdner-nachtlauf.de).
Which running events are still coming up in Dresden in 2026?
The DRESDEN-MARATHON on 25 October, the start of the Bühlauer Winterlaufserie on 7 November (vfl-dresden-buehlau.de), the Herbstwaldlauf in the Dresdner Heide on 8 November (herbstwaldlauf.com) and the Dresdner Nikolauslauf at the Sportpark Ostragehege on 6 December (post-sv-dresden.de).

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