Running Events in Mainz 2027: Gutenberg Halbmarathon, Drei-Brücken-Lauf and Firmenlauf

The Polderlauf on the Rhine in April, the Gutenberg Halbmarathon at the Schloss in May, the Drei-Brücken-Lauf on Midsummer Night in June, the Firmenlauf and the Towerrun in September: all the key running events in Mainz for 2027 – plus what's still coming before New Year's Eve 2026.

Chris Mühlnickel · 30 September 2026 · 6 min read

Running Events in Mainz 2027: Gutenberg Halbmarathon, Drei-Brücken-Lauf and Firmenlauf

In Mainz, people run along the Rhine and across it. The Drei-Brücken-Lauf (three bridges run) crosses three Rhine bridges on Midsummer Night, and in the south of Mainz the Polderlauf leads through the Laubenheim riverbank and polder area. In December things turn wooded: the Nikolauslauf starts in the Lennebergwald near Gonsenheim. Then there's the city centre, where the Gutenberg Halbmarathon (half marathon) starts at the Kurfürstliches Schloss (Electoral Palace) and thousands of company teams run through the streets in September.

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 Polderlauf, 5 km at the Freundschaftslauf, GeMAINZamkeit Spendenlauf
Your first half marathon Gutenberg Halbmarathon
10 km 10 km at the Gutenberg Halbmarathon, Polderlauf, Freundschaftslauf
In the woods and off-road ALV Nikolauslauf, Mainzer Polderlauf
A Mainz classic Drei-Brücken-Lauf
With colleagues Firmenlauf Mainz
For a good cause GeMAINZamkeit Spendenlauf, Freundschaftslauf, ALV Nikolauslauf
Something completely different Towerrun Mainz
Triathlon IRONMAN Frankfurt

Still in 2026: Nikolauslauf in the Lennebergwald

Mainz's autumn running season with the Firmenlauf and the Towerrun is over for 2026 (more on that below), but one event is still to come. On 5 December 2026 the ALV Mainz invites runners to the ALV Nikolauslauf (St Nicholas run) in the Lennebergwald, starting in Mainz-Gonsenheim. You can choose between 12 km and 6 km through the forest, plus a 3 km kids' run. The proceeds go to a non-profit organization. Registration is via runtix, and according to the club the places are regularly taken – if you want to run, you'd better register soon (alvmainz.de).

Spring: Polderlauf in Laubenheim

In spring, the action moves to the south of Mainz. The Mainzer Polderlauf of the TV Laubenheim leads through the riverbank and polder area of Mainz-Laubenheim. There are 15, 10 and 5 km, plus 7.5 km of walking and Nordic walking as well as races for the little ones. The organizer speaks of more than 500 running enthusiasts. In 2026 the Polderlauf took place for the 16th time on 11 April; the 2027 date is still open (tv-laubenheim.de).

May: Gutenberg Halbmarathon at the Schloss

The biggest field of Mainz's running year starts in May at the Kurfürstliches Schloss. The Gutenberg Halbmarathon Mainz is the successor to the Gutenberg-Marathon, which had been held since 2000. Since 2024 there's no longer a marathon distance: the races are 21.1 km and 10 km, plus a school relay in Ekiden format and a race for the little ones. The course is flat and leads through the old town and the city's districts.

On 10 May 2026, according to the organizer's press release, 17,500 people took part across all competitions, 12,500 of them in the half marathon and 2,000 over 10 km. The half marathon was sold out for weeks. The next date is 2 May 2027 (halbmarathon-mainz.de).

June: three bridges and two charity runs

June is the busiest month in Mainz, with running on three weekends – once against the clock, twice mainly for others.

It kicks off with the LaufLeben Running Crew and its Freundschaftslauf (friendship run) at the district sports ground in Mainz-Drais. The 10 and 5 km courses follow gently rolling field and farm tracks, plus there's an 800 m kids' run and a team ranking. The proceeds go to the Kinder Palliative Care Team Mainz. In 2026 the run took place for the fourth time on 7 June; the 2027 date is still open (lauflebenrunningcrew.de).

Two weeks later comes the city's classic. The Mainzer Drei-Brücken-Lauf takes place on Midsummer Night and covers 8.1 km across three Rhine bridges, briefly also on the Wiesbaden side of the Rhine. Start and finish are at the Rheingoldhalle. The 34th edition on 21 June 2026 recorded 660 finishers in the results list (my.raceresult.com). The city hasn't published a date for 2027 yet (mainz.de).

The GeMAINZamkeit Spendenlauf (charity run) at the MEWA Arena in Mainz-Bretzenheim has no timing. On a 5 km loop, everyone runs as many laps as they like between 10:11 and 18:11. At the first edition on 10 August 2025 more than 350 people took part and raised €7,077 for the Kinderkrebshilfe Mainz (children's cancer aid) (byc-news.de). The second edition took place on 28 June 2026, with the donations going to the Mainz hospice. A date for 2027 is still open; the volunteer organizing team posts updates on Instagram.

September: Firmenlauf and Towerrun

September brings two events that could hardly be more different.

At the Firmenlauf Mainz (corporate run), company teams run 5 km through the city centre after work, starting on the Große Bleiche at the Ernst-Ludwig-Platz in four start waves. If you don't want to run, you can walk, and virtual participation via the app is also possible. According to the organizer, more than 12,280 people from 692 companies took part in the 13th edition on 3 September 2026, a new participant record. The organizer hasn't published the 2027 date yet (firmenlauf-mainz.de).

Ten days later, the Towerrun Mainz went upwards: 407 steps over 23 floors in the Bonifazius-Türme (Bonifazius towers) at the main station. You run alone or in teams of two, and if you like, even in firefighter protective gear. The Freiwillige Feuerwehr Mainz-Stadt (volunteer fire brigade) also hosts a fire brigade festival. In 2026 the Towerrun took place on 13 September; the 2027 date is still open (ff-mainz-stadt.de).

Nearby: IRONMAN Frankfurt

There's no long-distance triathlon in Mainz. The nearest one is about 40 km away: the Mainova IRONMAN Frankfurt, which is also the European Championship, on 27 June 2027. The swim is 3.8 km in the Langener Waldsee, followed by 180 km on the bike and a 42.2 km marathon, with the finish on Frankfurt's Römerberg. Registration for 2027 is sold out (ironman.com).

Planning tips for your running year

Don't wait too long for the half marathon. In 2026 the Gutenberg Halbmarathon was sold out for weeks (halbmarathon-mainz.de). At the Nikolauslauf, too, the places are regularly taken according to the club.

Many 2027 dates are still open. So far only the Gutenberg Halbmarathon on 2 May 2027 and the IRONMAN Frankfurt on 27 June 2027 are confirmed. For the Polderlauf, Freundschaftslauf, Drei-Brücken-Lauf, Spendenlauf, Firmenlauf and Towerrun, it's worth checking the organizers' websites once the new dates are published.

Three areas shape Mainz's running year. The Drei-Brücken-Lauf and the Polderlauf run along the Rhine. The city centre with the Kurfürstliches Schloss and the Große Bleiche belongs to the Gutenberg Halbmarathon and the Firmenlauf, while the Towerrun climbs high at the main station. And out in the districts lie the Lennebergwald, Drais and the MEWA Arena with the Nikolauslauf, the Freundschaftslauf and the Spendenlauf.

Don't train alone

Mainz's year has one big goal: the Gutenberg Halbmarathon in early May, which you train for over the winter. The long runs are 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 Mainz.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Gutenberg Halbmarathon Mainz?
On 2 May 2027, starting at the Kurfürstliches Schloss. The distances are 21.1 km and 10 km, plus a school relay and a race for the little ones (halbmarathon-mainz.de).
Does the Gutenberg-Marathon Mainz still exist?
No. The Gutenberg-Marathon had been held since 2000; since 2024 it has taken place as the Gutenberg Halbmarathon over 21.1 and 10 km, without a marathon distance (halbmarathon-mainz.de).
How many people take part in the Gutenberg Halbmarathon?
In 2026, according to the organizer's press release, 17,500 took part across all competitions, 12,500 of them in the half marathon and 2,000 over 10 km. The half marathon was sold out for weeks (halbmarathon-mainz.de).
When is the 2027 Drei-Brücken-Lauf Mainz?
The 2027 date is still open. In 2026 the 34th edition took place on 21 June, over 8.1 km and three Rhine bridges, with start and finish at the Rheingoldhalle (mainz.de).
When is the 2027 Firmenlauf Mainz?
The organizer hasn't published the 2027 date yet. According to the organizer, the 13th edition on 3 September 2026 had more than 12,280 participants from 692 companies (firmenlauf-mainz.de).
Which running events are still on in Mainz in 2026?
The ALV Nikolauslauf on 5 December 2026 in the Lennebergwald near Gonsenheim, over 12 km, 6 km and 3 km for kids. According to the club, the places are regularly taken (alvmainz.de).

Running events in other cities