Running Events in Hamburg 2027: From the Haspa Marathon to the Alsterlauf

Osterlauf and Haspa Marathon in spring, a night run around the Alster and IRONMAN in June, Alsterlauf and Laufcup in September: all the key running events in Hamburg for 2027 – plus what's still coming before New Year's Eve 2026.

Chris Mühlnickel · 29 September 2026 · 11 min read

Running Events in Hamburg 2027: From the Haspa Marathon to the Alsterlauf

In Hamburg, the running year revolves around water. The Außenalster lake is the city's home loop and the stage for the Alsterlauf, the Women's Run, a night run and the IRONMAN. Along the Elbe and in the port, the courses cross the Köhlbrand Bridge and run through the HafenCity and Blankenese. Then there's the Stadtpark, home to the Osterlauf (Easter run), a team relay and a triathlon. And once a year the whole city belongs to the Haspa Marathon, Germany's biggest spring marathon.

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 29 September 2026.

Which event suits you?

Your goal Events that fit
Your first race bib Women's Run, 5 km at the Osterlauf, St. Pauli X-Mass Run, Christmas Run To Tree
Your first half marathon Half marathon at the Haspa Marathon, hella hamburg halbmarathon, PSD Bank Halbmarathon, Wilhelmsburger Insellauf, Süderelbe Halbmarathon, Bramfelder Halbmarathon
Your marathon Haspa Marathon Hamburg
A new personal best 10K Hamburg, R5K at the Alsterlauf, PSD Bank Halbmarathon, Süderelbe Halbmarathon
Running in the evening SportScheck RUN
With colleagues HafenCity Run, B2Run, RUN5 Teamstaffel
For a good cause Lauf gegen Rechts, HafenCity Run, St. Pauli X-Mass Run
Something completely different Köhlbrandbrückenlauf, Christmas Run To Tree, "Bergziege" at the Heldenlauf, Muddy Angel Run
Triathlon IRONMAN Hamburg, World Triathlon Open Races, Elbe-Triathlon, Stadtparktriathlon

Still in 2026: autumn in Hamburg

Hamburg's autumn is unusually packed this year, because one of the country's biggest half marathons was moved from June to October.

It kicks off on 3 October with the Köhlbrandbrückenlauf – a run across the Köhlbrand Bridge. The 12.3 km lead over the cable-stayed bridge in the port that otherwise belongs to cars alone. Start and finish are on the terminal grounds at the Windhukkai, with three start times at 9 am, 12 noon and 3 pm. The 2026 edition is sold out, and a bib exchange is open (koehlbrandbrueckenlauf.de).

The hella hamburg halbmarathon was actually meant to take place on 28 June, but was moved to 25 October 2026 because of a heat warning. The 21.1 km point-to-point course starts on the Reeperbahn and ends on the Karolinenstraße at the exhibition grounds. The organizer calls it Germany's second-largest half marathon; 14,512 people crossed the finish line in 2025. With the new date, registration has been reopened (hamburg-halbmarathon.de).

The half marathons on the edge of the city are smaller. The Süderelbe Halbmarathon celebrates its 50th edition on 8 November 2026: from the CU Arena at Neugraben S-Bahn station, the almost flat road course runs via Francop through the Altes Land to the turning point in Neuenfelde and back. The start is at 10 am, and there are also 10 and 5 km, walking and a children's race; until 1 October the half marathon costs €20 (hntonline.de). The Bramfelder Halbmarathon, with 21.1, 10 and 5 km, was fully booked with 1,000 entries on 12 October 2025. We couldn't find a 2026 date on the website (bramfelder-halbmarathon.de).

In December things get festive. At the Christmas Run To Tree on 29 November 2026, you run 6 or 12 km through the Forst Klövensteen forest in Rissen and can buy your Christmas tree along the way (christmasrun.de). The St. Pauli X-Mass Run takes you 5 km in costume around the Heiligengeistfeld and through Planten un Blomen park, finishing in the Millerntor-Stadion. In 2025 it was sold out on 7 December with 4,900 entries in seven start waves, and €5 per entry went to Hamburg charity projects. The 2026 date depends on the football fixture list and is still to come (stpauli-x-mass-run.de).

To close the year, the Silvesterlauf "Rund um die Teichwiesen" (New Year's Eve run around the Teichwiesen) starts in Volksdorf, traditionally on 31 December at 12 noon: one to four laps of 2.6 km, with everyone starting together. The 40th edition in 2025 set a record with 1,913 participants; the 2026 race details haven't been published yet (walddoerfer-sv.de).

Spring: from Easter to the marathon

Hamburg's spring builds towards the last Sunday in April. Before that, there are two traditional events to test your form.

On Easter Monday the Stadtpark belongs to HSV's Hamburger Osterlauf (Easter run). Start and finish are at the Jahnkampfbahn stadium, and you can choose between 5 and 10 km, plus children's races from 400 to 1,600 m. The 8th edition on 6 April 2026 set a record with 1,810 entries; the 9th has been announced for 2027, but there's no date yet (leichtathletik.hsv.de).

On the Elbe island comes the Int. Wilhelmsburger Insellauf (island run), a community race with a half marathon, 10 and 5 km from the Elbinselschule school. For the 45th edition on 12 April 2026 there were almost 5,000 entries, around 1,900 of them in the half marathon; the 2027 date hasn't been published yet (wilhelmsburger-insellauf.de). In 2026 it was two weeks before the marathon, just right for a last long test. It's equally suitable for a first half marathon without the big crowds.

Then comes the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 25 April 2027, for the 41st time. The start is on the Karolinenstraße at the exhibition centre, and according to the organizer the 42.195 km lead along the port, the Elbe and the Alster through the city's neighbourhoods. There's also a half marathon, a relay over four legs and a handbike and wheelchair category. For the 40th edition in 2026, 46,000 people entered across all races, around 20,000 of them in the marathon (haspa-marathon-hamburg.de). According to the organizer, the 2027 half marathon and relay are already sold out, and the marathon almost (as of late September 2026). You'll find everything about the course and how the day works in our Hamburg Marathon article.

Summer: Alster, night run and 10K

In summer the Außenalster takes centre stage; one lap of the lake measures around 7.5 km.

The REWE Women's Run Hamburg on 13 June 2027 is a women's race over 5 or 10 km, starting and finishing on the Ballindamm, along the Binnenalster and Außenalster; for girls there's a 1 km Girl's Run. According to a running portal, 2,390 women crossed the finish line in 2026, and registration for 2027 is open (womensrun-hamburg.de).

Five days later it gets late: at the SportScheck RUN Hamburg on 18 June 2027, you run one lap around the Außenalster (7.5 km) or two (15 km). Start and finish are at the Alsterwiesen meadows on the Milchstraße; the 15 km start from 8 pm, the 7.5 km from 10 pm, plus children's and toddlers' races (sportscheck.com).

If you want to run for a time, the 10K Hamburg is the right choice, a series of three 10 km races on closed out-and-back courses: in 2027 on 30 May on the Elbe, on 20 June in the Volkspark and on 22 August in Rotherbaum. Each race has only 650 places, and all three were sold out in 2026 (hamburg-10k.de).

Late summer: Elbhang, Alster and Laufcup

At the end of August the second peak season begins: within four weeks come an event on the Elbhang (the Elbe's steep bank), three Laufcup races and a certified half marathon.

It opens with the Blankeneser Heldenlauf (heroes' run) on 29 August 2027. It leads through Blankenese and along the Elbe, with courses from 6.5 and 11 km up to the half marathon in two variants, "Sutsche" and "Derbe". If the name doesn't put you off, pick the "Bergziege" (mountain goat) over 6.8 km. According to the organizer, more than 56,000 people have taken part since 2003 (heldenlauf.de).

A week later, on 5 September 2027, the CURREX Alsterlauf starts for the 38th time on the Ballindamm: 10 km as a loop around the Außenalster at 9 am, plus 5 km, the R5K for everyone under 22 minutes for 5 km and a schools' race. 4,259 people crossed the finish line in 2026; the 10 km cost €27 to €42 depending on when you register (alsterlauf-hamburg.de). The Alsterlauf opens the Hamburger Laufcup (Hamburg running cup), which on 12 September 2027 includes the Int. Airport Race: 10 miles around the airport from the Borsteler Chaussee, plus 5 km and children's races; 2,588 people crossed the finish line in 2026 (airportrace.de). The third cup race, on 26 September 2027, is a half marathon through the Alstertal valley; if you run all three, you can register for the package for €65 to €75 (alsterlauf-hamburg.de).

In between, on 19 September 2027, comes the PSD Bank Halbmarathon Hamburg, a certified loop course through the Wandsbek district out to Berne and back via Rahlstedt and Tonndorf. Start and finish are on the Wandsbeker Marktstraße, and 2,760 people crossed the finish line in 2026 (halb-marathon.hamburg). With the Hamburg championships on the programme, it's one for everyone who's running for a specific time.

Things are completely different on 11 September 2027 at the Horner Rennbahn racecourse: at the Muddy Angel Run, women run around 5 km through mud obstacles (muddyangelrun.com).

With your team: corporate runs and relays

Hamburg has three big corporate events, and each one works differently.

The biggest is the HafenCity Run, a charity corporate run over 4.4 km through the HafenCity since 2002. On 30 May 2026, almost 20,000 people ran in 561 teams, and around €120,000 went to "Hamburger Abendblatt hilft". The 2027 date hasn't been published yet (hafencityrun.de).

B2Run Hamburg covers around 5.6 km through the Altonaer Volkspark, finishing in the Volksparkstadion. On 25 August 2026 around 9,700 people from 544 companies took part, more than ever before; the 2027 date is still to come (b2run.de).

If you'd rather compete as a small team, the RUN5 Teamstaffel (team relay), formerly the MOPO Team-Staffellauf, is right for you: five people each run around 5 km through the Stadtpark, one after the other. On 19 and 20 August 2026, 10,000 people took part in 2,000 teams, and the 2027 date is set to follow soon (run5.de).

For a good cause

At the Lauf gegen Rechts (run against the far right) organized by FC St. Pauli's marathon department, you run once around the Außenalster, 7.4 km without timing, starting at the Alsterwiese Schwanenwik. In 2026 it took place on 31 May in its 15th edition; you can also take part remotely, and there were more than 5,000 registrations in 2025. Donations go to the Hamburger Bündnis gegen Rechts (Hamburg alliance against the far right) and anti-racist groups; the 2027 date is still open (fcstpauli-marathon.de). The HafenCity Run and the St. Pauli X-Mass Run also raise money for Hamburg charity projects with every entry.

Triathlon: IRONMAN Hamburg and more

Hardly any city brings triathlon so far into its centre: the swim is in the Alster, and the finish is on the Rathausmarkt.

That's especially true of the IRONMAN Hamburg on 6 June 2027. The long distance starts with a 3.8 km swim from the Jungfernstieg through the Alster, followed by 180 km on the bike via the Landungsbrücken, the Speicherstadt and the Vier- und Marschlande, and a marathon of four laps along the Alster. In 2026 the race was the IRONMAN European Championship for professional women, plus almost 3,000 age-group athletes. Regular registration for 2027 is sold out (ironman.com).

If you want to start shorter, the SUZUKI World Triathlon Hamburg gives you the choice between the Olympic and sprint distance, individually or as a relay, on the same stage between the Binnenalster and the Rathausmarkt. In 2027 the Open Races are, as an exception, in September, on 11 and 12 September as part of the World Triathlon Championship Finals; registration is open (hamburgtriathlon.com).

There are also two club triathlons. The Elbe-Triathlon in Allermöhe offers sprint and Olympic distances as well as a team relay, and was sold out on 30 August 2026 with around 1,900 places (elbetriathlon.de). FC St. Pauli's Stadtparktriathlon took place for the 25th time on 13 September 2026, with a community triathlon over 500 m, 20 km and 5 km (stadtparktriathlon.de). For both, the 2027 date is still to come.

Planning tips for your running year

Registering early pays off. At the 2027 Haspa Marathon, the half marathon and relay are sold out seven months before the start, and at the IRONMAN the regular registration is too. The Köhlbrandbrückenlauf, 10K Hamburg and Elbe-Triathlon were also fully booked in 2026, as were the Bramfelder Halbmarathon and the X-Mass Run in 2025.

What it costs. The Süderelbe Halbmarathon costs €20 if you register early, and the 10 km at the Alsterlauf cost €27 to €42 depending on timing. If you run the whole Laufcup, you pay €65 to €75 for three races.

Three places shape Hamburg's running year. The Außenalster with the Ballindamm is the stage for the Alsterlauf, the Women's Run, the SportScheck RUN, the Lauf gegen Rechts, the IRONMAN and World Triathlon. The Elbe and the port stand for the Köhlbrandbrückenlauf, the HafenCity Run, the Heldenlauf and the Insellauf. And the Stadtpark hosts the Osterlauf, the RUN5 Teamstaffel and the Stadtparktriathlon.

Don't train alone

Hamburg's year has two highlights: for the marathon in April you train through the winter, for the Laufcup in September through the summer. It's easier in a group, and on race day it's nicer when you know someone at the start. Hamburg has plenty of running groups (Lauftreffs) and run clubs that train together around the Alster, along the Elbe or in the Stadtpark. You'll find the right group near you among the running groups and run clubs in Hamburg.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Hamburg Marathon?
The Haspa Marathon Hamburg takes place for the 41st time on Sunday, 25 April 2027, starting on the Karolinenstraße at the exhibition centre. According to the organizer, the half marathon and relay are already sold out, and the marathon almost (as of late September 2026, haspa-marathon-hamburg.de).
Which half marathons are there in Hamburg?
The half marathon at the Haspa Marathon in April, the Wilhelmsburger Insellauf in spring, the hella hamburg halbmarathon (on 25 October in 2026), the Blankeneser Heldenlauf in August, the PSD Bank Halbmarathon in Wandsbek in September and, in autumn, the Bramfelder and the Süderelbe Halbmarathon.
When is the 2026 hella hamburg halbmarathon?
On Sunday, 25 October 2026. It was originally planned for 28 June, but the race was postponed because of a heat warning. The course runs from the Reeperbahn to the Karolinenstraße at the exhibition grounds, and registration has been reopened (hamburg-halbmarathon.de).
When is the 2027 IRONMAN Hamburg?
On 6 June 2027. The long distance covers a 3.8 km swim in the Alster, 180 km on the bike and a 42.2 km run, finishing on the Rathausmarkt. Regular registration is sold out (ironman.com).
What is the biggest corporate run in Hamburg?
The HafenCity Run: on 30 May 2026, almost 20,000 people in 561 teams ran 4.4 km through the HafenCity. There's also B2Run in the Volkspark (around 9,700 participants in 2026) and the RUN5 Teamstaffel in the Stadtpark (10,000 people in 2,000 teams in 2026).
Which running events are there in Hamburg on New Year's Eve?
The Silvesterlauf "Rund um die Teichwiesen" (New Year's Eve run around the Teichwiesen) in Volksdorf, traditionally on 31 December at 12 noon, with one to four laps of 2.6 km.

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