Registration re-opens for postponed hella hamburg half marathon

Following the heat-related postponement of the event to October 25, 2026, all registered participants were granted the right to withdraw. The resulting freed-up starting places – a four-figure number – are now available again.

The participation limit remains unchanged at 24,000 runners. This means the event could be significantly larger this year than ever before: The previous registration record was set in 2025 with 18,000 participants.

For everyone who has retained their starting rights or is registering now, a special new feature awaits on October 25, 2026: The hella hamburg half marathon will boast what is likely the most attractive finish area in its history. The finish line is moving from the previous B area on St. Petersburger Straße (intersection of Jungiusstraße/Bei den Kirchhöfen) to the A area of ​​the Hamburg Messe exhibition center. The finish line will now be located at the exhibition grounds – directly at the foot of the Heinrich Hertz Tower.

Apart from the new, approximately 550-meter-long final stretch, participants can look forward to the tried-and-tested course of exactly 21.0975 kilometers. Along the route, around 50 points of interest and 40 event points will once again provide entertainment, atmosphere, and additional motivation. Naturally, the course has been officially measured according to the standards of World Athletics and is therefore eligible for inclusion in official rankings.

The start times will also be adjusted to the new date. Since it can get quite chilly in the mornings at the end of October, all races will start an hour later than originally planned. The starting gun will fire on the Reeperbahn at 9:30 a.m. The new date also offers another advantage: the clocks will be turned back to winter time the night before the half marathon. This not only gives participants an extra hour of sleep, but could also boost the atmosphere along the course. Even late risers will have a good chance of being at the roadside in time to cheer on the runners.

“We are delighted to be able to turn this necessary postponement into an opportunity and deliver a running party of unprecedented scale on Hamburg’s streets on October 25th. The enthusiasm for running has been palpable along the entire route in previous years. With even more participants, we expect an even larger crowd and a truly special atmosphere in the city,” says Steven Richter, Managing Director of the organizer, BMS Die Laufgesellschaft.

The newly available starting places can now be booked at www.hamburg-halbmarathon.de.