The Valencia Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday 6 December 2026. The first start is at 8:15 am, the kilometre 25 cut-off closes at 12:57 pm and the finish must be reached by 3:15 pm at the latest. Direct registration is closed: only the waiting list remains.
Checked on against the official sources cited (2026 race regulations and the Valencia Ciudad del Running registration page).
The Valencia Marathon draws tens of thousands of runners every year to a flat course at sea level. For the 2026 edition, 36,000 race places were offered and the race is now full. This guide is therefore for two groups: the runner still looking for a way in, and the spectator or companion who wants to experience Sunday in Valencia.
The start times and rules come from the official 2026 race regulations and the organiser’s registration page, checked on 11 October 2026. When a detail has not been published, we say so and give the 2025 reference.
1. Start times on Sunday 6 December 2026
The regulations set a first start at 8:15 am, a last wave at 9:35 am (nine waves in total), a time limit of 5 hours 30 minutes and a finish no later than 3:15 pm. A runner in the last wave who takes the full 5 hours 30 minutes crosses the line at around 3:05 pm, so leave yourself a margin.
| Milestone | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First start (wave 1) | 8:15 am | Plaça de la Marató |
| Last wave start (wave 9) | 9:35 am | Nine waves in total |
| Kilometre 25 cut-off | 12:57 pm | Official time |
| Time limit | 5 h 30 min | Maximum race time |
| Finish no later than | 3:15 pm | Official closing time |
Source: official 2026 race regulations from Valencia Ciudad del Running, checked on 11 October 2026.
2. Spectators: where to see the race
The course from the roadside
Spectators can watch the race at several points without transport, as long as they don’t mind walking. The landmarks below come from the 2025 course, as described by the Marathon Handbook guide (2025) and the Blog Maldito guide published in December 2025. They need to be reconfirmed on the 2026 course.
Landmarks on the 2025 course
- Start and finish at the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the liveliest spot.
- Kilometre 3: the harbour, first pass.
- Kilometres 8 and 16: Blasco Ibáñez boulevard, with repeat passes.
- Kilometre 13: the Viveros gardens, where you can sit down.
- Kilometre 15: the area around the Mestalla stadium, with plenty of room for photos.
- Kilometres 24, 29 and 40: the Turia riverbed (Alameda), a long stretch with views over the park.
To follow a runner during the race, the organiser offers an official tracking app. Its name and its 2026 procedure have not been verified: check the race website before race day. In our research, it isn’t always reliable for intermediate times.
To explore the city on 6 December 2026 rather than follow the race, a guided bike tour has slots at 9:45 am and 2:30 pm, according to our check on 11 October 2026. This tour is not linked to the marathon. The check covers the time slots, not traffic on the day: the streets are closed from 7 am, according to the 2025 plan. Ask the operator for the meeting point before you book.
3. Runners: registration is closed and there is a waiting list
The race is full and direct registration is closed. The 2026 cycle ran from December 2025 to January 2026, with a loyalty window for former runners, followed by a public draw.
| Stage | Dates | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalty window, former runners | 11 to 15 December 2025 | About 15,245 entries, according to the press |
| Public draw open | 16 to 26 December 2025 | About 57,572 entries, according to the press |
| Notarised draw | 12 January 2026 | Results by email from 13 January |
| Confirmation for drawn runners | 13 to 26 January 2026 | After this deadline, the bib goes back into circulation |
| Bib transfers | From 1 February 2026 | Through the official platform |
Source: 2026 registration page of Valencia Ciudad del Running, checked on 11 October 2026. Entry numbers come from the specialist press.
The bib price
The 2026 bib price is not shown on the official pages checked on 11 October 2026. Third-party sites quote very different amounts, often for a package that includes the licence. Don’t go by any figure found elsewhere: the reference price is the official platform’s, to check at the moment you decide.
Waiting list and resellers
There is a waiting list. Bib transfers go through the official platform from 1 February 2026. A bib bought from a reseller exposes you to a bib that hasn’t been transferred to your name, which won’t let you start, or even to a scam.
The 2027 calendar is not yet published. The 2026 cycle ran from December to January: watch the official registration page for the dates of the next edition.
4. Collecting your bib
Bibs are collected at the Feria Valencia, Avenida de les Fires s/n, 46035 Valencia, in the Expo 42K area. Collection is in person, with photo ID required, and there is no collection on race day itself.
Dates for the 2026 collection do not appear on the official page checked on 11 October 2026. A third-party guide (Correr Juntos, updated 30 September 2026) gives 3 December from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, 4 December from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and 5 December from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. The organiser has not confirmed this window: treat it as indicative and check the official website before planning your trip.
5. Distances, formats and the half marathon
The marathon is 42.195 km and starts from the Plaça de la Marató, next to the City of Arts and Sciences. The half marathon and the 10 km are separate races, with their own dates and entries.
The half marathon is announced for Sunday 25 October 2026 (press and the VisitValencia agenda, seen in search results on 11 October 2026). One isolated source gives 26 October. We don’t settle between the two: the date must be confirmed on the organiser’s official calendar before any travel.
| Format | Distance | Date 2026 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 42.195 km | Sunday 6 December | Full, waiting list open |
| Half marathon | 21.097 km | Sunday 25 October (press) | Date to be confirmed on the official website |
| 10 km | 10 km | Another date in the year | Separate race, separate entries |
Source: 2026 official regulations for the marathon; VisitValencia agenda and specialist press for the half marathon, seen on 11 October 2026 in search results (the half marathon pages were not opened).
6. Course, aid stations and finish
A flat course, finishing on the water
The start is on the Plaça de la Marató. The official presentation describes a flat course at sea level. According to the Marathon Handbook guide (2025 edition), the route heads east towards the coast, loops through the university and northern districts, enters the historic centre, then comes back to the City of Arts and Sciences.
Aid stations
- Kilometres 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30.
- Kilometres 32, 35, 37.5 and 40, towards the end of the race.
The kilometre 25 cut-off is at 12:57 pm. Working back from the 8:15 am and 9:35 am starts, these markers leave 4 hours 42 minutes to the first wave and 3 hours 22 minutes to the last to cover 25 km: just over 11 minutes per kilometre in the first case, around 8 minutes in the second. On the 2025 course, the press reports a slight climb between kilometres 31 and 34, then a gentle descent to kilometre 38.
7. Getting around on race day
Sunday 2026 timetables had not been published at the time of checking. The table separates the 2026 references quoted by VisitValencia from the 2025 references, whose validity still needs confirming.
| Option | Area served | Information status |
|---|---|---|
| Metro, line L10 | City of Arts and Sciences | Cited by VisitValencia (2026) |
| Buses 6, 16, 26, 28, 94, 95 and C2 | Lines cited for the event area | Cited by VisitValencia (2026) |
| Metro, lines L3 and L5 | Alameda, access to the start | 2025 guide (Marathon Handbook) |
| Free metro with a bib | Metro network | 2025 only, to be confirmed for 2026 |
| Sunday timetables | Whole network | Not published at the time of checking |
Source: VisitValencia, event agenda and Marathon Handbook, 2025 guide, checked on 11 October 2026.
Coming from the UK, the most direct option is a non-stop flight from London, which takes roughly 2 hours 20 to 35 minutes according to our searches. Airlines and 2026 timetables have not been checked. If you are already in Spain, the AVE high-speed train from Madrid takes about 1 hour 40 minutes and arrives at Estació del Nord, according to Correr Juntos. These durations are not dated to race day.
Valencia airport is about 8 km from the centre. From the airport, the L3 or L5 metro reaches Alameda in around twenty minutes, and bus 150 runs directly to the centre in about 40 to 45 minutes, according to our research. Taxis and private hire cars are the least reliable option on race day: a taxi protest against private hire cars was announced in Valencia in May 2026, according to El Debate, and the usual taxi ranks may be closed. Drop the driver outside the closed perimeter, then walk.
8. Street closures
The reference plan is the 2025 one, published by Valencia City Council on 3 December 2025. The 2026 plan had not been published at the time of checking.
- Friday at 10:00 pm: selective closures, around the Montolivet bridge.
- Saturday at 10:00 pm: general closures.
- Sunday at 7:00 am: total closure of the course roads, until 10:00 pm.
The 2025 set-up used 1,707 barriers. For 2026, check the city council website as soon as the plan is published.
Source: Ayuntamiento de València, 2025 traffic plan, checked on 11 October 2026.
9. Where to stay
The organiser works with welcometovalencia.com, an accommodation programme run with the travel agency Viajes Transvia. It offers a late check-out until 4:00 pm on race day, breakfast from 6:00 am (the 2025 press gives 5:30 am), and a refund if you cancel because of an injury.
The lesser-known point concerns hotels further away: those more than 2 km from the start offer a free transfer to the start, for runners and their companions. The return trip is not specified in the information we checked, so ask before you book.
In 2025, the programme included 80 establishments and 3,100 rooms, according to Valencianews. VisitValencia reports an occupancy rate above 90% over race weekend: book early.
A Generalitat decree (100/2025, flagged by our search but not verified in the DOGV) would make Tuesday 8 December 2026 a public holiday in the Valencian Community. Check it in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV) before fixing the length of your stay.
10. Weather and what to wear
In early December, Valencia averages 12 to 17 °C during the day, according to the Marathon Handbook guide (2025 edition). AEMET 1981-2010 normals for the airport give an average of 11.2 °C for December. Mornings stay cool: pack a warm layer for the wait at the start, and something light if the afternoon warms up. A British running club describes a 2025 race at about 24 °C around the middle of the course: that is one person’s observation, which doesn’t replace a forecast. No forecast for 6 December 2026 was checked.
11. Budget: the costs to plan for
We don’t publish a total, as there is no official bib price. The items below will help you work out your stay at current prices.
- Bib: price not published on the official pages checked on 11 October 2026.
- Accommodation: high demand over race weekend, with occupancy reported above 90%.
- Flight or train: compare at the time of booking. Reference points from our research, with no prices checked: a direct flight from London of about 2 hours 20 to 35 minutes, and the AVE from Madrid of about 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Local transport: fares to check on the operators’ websites. The free metro with a bib is only confirmed for 2025; it still needs confirming for 2026.
- Activity: the guided bike tour was listed at €32 per adult, based on two adults, for 6 December 2026, checked on 11 October 2026.
12. 2026 elite field and 2025 winners
The 2026 elite field was announced on 2 July 2026, with Yomif Kejelcha and Tesfay at the top of the list, according to the AIMS and the official website. The full list is due to be published in October 2026.
For 2025, the sports press (ESPN Run, article of 7 December 2025) lists John Korir in the men’s race, in 2:02:24, and Joyciline Jepkosgei in the women’s race, in 2:14:00. The race holds the World Athletics Platinum label.
13. Which visitor are you?
Families
The course is flat and the centre is easy to walk. Set a precise meeting point that is easy to find on the map. The Turia, a former riverbed now a long park, is crossed by the course: the 2025 markers at kilometres 24, 29 and 40 are there.
Couples
Staying near the City of Arts and Sciences cuts down the walk after the finish. To extend your stay, Pixidia features a private paella class in Valencia.
First visit and companions
For a short tourist stay, British passport holders generally don’t need a visa for the Schengen area. Since the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) came into operation, your fingerprints and photo are recorded at the border on your first entry. According to our research, full operation started on 10 April 2026, to be confirmed on the official sites. The ETIAS travel authorisation has no firm date. Check the conditions on GOV.UK and on the official EU website before you travel. A companion should locate the meeting points before the race and allow time to find the runner on the footbridge.
Reduced mobility
The Marathon Handbook guide (2025 edition) gives a separate start at 8:35 am for wheelchair athletes and visually impaired runners. This still needs confirming for 2026 with the organiser.
What other guides don’t tell you
Several practical points are missing from the guides we checked, or are wrong in them. Here are six facts verified on official pages or identified sources.
- The first start is at 8:15 am. Some guides give 8:30 am: that is an error, as the regulations set 8:15 am for the first wave and 9:35 am for the last. Official 2026 regulations (checked 11 October 2026).
- The kilometre 25 cut-off closes at 12:57 pm. This time is missing from many guides. Official 2026 regulations (checked 11 October 2026).
- No bib collection on Sunday, and photo ID is required. Guides give collection days without mentioning these two rules. Official 2026 regulations (checked 11 October 2026).
- A free transfer for hotels more than 2 km from the start. This service, open to companions, is missing from the guides we checked. Organiser’s « organise your trip » page (checked 11 October 2026).
- Registration is closed, with bib transfers possible from 1 February 2026. Transfers go through the official platform, which is the reference. 2026 registration page (checked 11 October 2026).
- The 2025 traffic plan, day by day. Selective closures on Friday at 10:00 pm, general closures on Saturday at 10:00 pm, total closure on Sunday at 7:00 am, with 1,707 barriers. Ayuntamiento de València (checked 11 October 2026).
Practical information for your stay
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Prices depend on trip length and profile, shown on the partner siteFrequently asked questions
Can you still sign up for the 2026 Valencia Marathon?
No, not through direct registration. The public draw closed after the January 2026 phase: notarised draw on 12 January, confirmations from 13 to 26 January. A waiting list exists, and bib transfers have been possible since 1 February 2026 through the official platform. The organiser’s 2026 registration page has the details.
What time does the Valencia Marathon 2026 start?
The first start is at 8:15 am, and the ninth and last wave leaves at 9:35 am, according to the official 2026 regulations. Some guides give 8:30 am, which is an error. The time limit is 5 hours 30 minutes from your wave start, and the finish must be reached by 3:15 pm at the latest.
Where and when do I collect my bib?
Bibs are collected at the Feria Valencia, Avenida de les Fires s/n, 46035 Valencia, on presentation of photo ID. There is no collection on race day. The 2026 dates are not on the official page checked on 11 October 2026; a third-party guide gives 3, 4 and 5 December, with no confirmation from the organiser. Check the race website before you travel.
How much does a bib cost?
The 2026 bib price is not shown on the official pages checked on 11 October 2026. Third-party sites quote very different amounts, sometimes for a package that includes the licence. The reference price is that of the official registration platform. Avoid resellers: a bib that has not been transferred properly won’t let you run.
Is there a half marathon and a 10 km the same weekend?
No, the half marathon is not held on the same weekend as the marathon. It is announced (press) for Sunday 25 October 2026, six weeks before the marathon; the date still needs confirming on the official calendar, and one isolated source gives 26 October. The 10 km is a separate race, on another date, with its own entries.
Where can you watch the runners without running?
The most cited spots are the start and finish at the City of Arts and Sciences, the harbour at kilometre 3, the Viveros gardens at kilometre 13, the area around the Mestalla stadium at kilometre 15, Blasco Ibáñez boulevard at kilometres 8 and 16, and the Turia riverbed at kilometres 24, 29 and 40. These landmarks date from the 2025 course and need reconfirming.
How do you get to the City of Arts and Sciences on race day?
Metro line L10 serves the City of Arts and Sciences, and several bus lines are cited by VisitValencia for 2026. Sunday timetables have not been published. Taxis and private hire cars are restricted by the closures: drop the driver outside the closed perimeter and walk the last stretch.
Sources
- Official 2026 regulations: start times, cut-offs, aid stations, bib collection.
- 2026 registration page: registration timeline, transfers.
- Organising your trip: accommodation programme and transfer.
- VisitValencia, event agenda: date, status, transport lines.
- Marathon Handbook, 2025 guide: course landmarks, weather, transport.
- Ayuntamiento de València, 2025 traffic plan.
- 2026 elite field and AIMS.
- ESPN Run, 2025 results: winners’ times (article of 7 December 2025).
- Blog Maldito, spectator guide (December 2025): course viewpoints, tracking app.
Sources checked on 11 October 2026. Start times and rules are based on official pages; third-party guides and the press are cited for context.
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