San Silvestre Vallecana: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Madrid)

Ten kilometres to close the year

Madrid’s year ends on a running bib. The San Silvestre Vallecana takes over the city’s streets every December 31, and the 2026 edition is on December 31, 2026. Tens of thousands of amateur runners take part, along with an elite field, which makes it one of Spain’s best-known road races.

There are two parts to the day:

• The popular race (carrera popular): the mass run, set off in waves, with many runners in fancy dress.
• The international race: the elite men’s and women’s fields, run separately from the crowd.

The race dates back to 1964. The name comes from Vallecas, the working-class district where every edition finishes.

From the Castellana to Vallecas

It’s a point-to-point course through central Madrid. The start is near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Paseo de la Castellana. From there runners head south past Plaza de Colón and Cibeles, continue down Paseo del Prado to Atocha, and then turn east towards Vallecas.

The finish is at the Rayo Vallecano football ground, Estadio de Vallecas. The last stretch climbs Avenida de la Albufera, and that slow uphill is the part regular runners talk about most. The course is fast early on, so most runners hold something back for the end.

Metro stops at each end:

• Start: Santiago Bernabéu (Line 10)
• Finish: Portazgo (Line 1), beside the stadium
• Mid-route watching: Atocha (Line 1) or Banco de España (Line 2) for Cibeles

Entries, bibs and what spectators need

Running needs an official entry. The organiser publishes registration, wave allocations and bib collection details on the race’s official website. Entries are in high demand, and the website also posts the current entry price, so it isn’t repeated here.

Watching needs nothing. No ticket, no fee, and no fenced viewing zones you have to pay for. People usually stand along Paseo del Prado or on the Albufera climb, where the runners are moving slowly enough to pick out a friend’s costume.

On race day, the Metro is the usual way between start and finish. Roads along the course close to traffic, so taxis and buses get rerouted.

Running it the Madrid way

Costumes are part of the culture. Expect superheroes, people dressed as grapes (for the twelve that get eaten at midnight) and whole groups in matching outfits. Plenty of locals run it purely as a party and don’t care about their time.

How runners and spectators handle the day:

• Pacing: runners in faster waves keep to the left, and costume groups usually drift right.
• Cheering: shout “¡Vamos!” or “¡Ánimo!” at a runner, and add their name if it’s printed on the bib.
• Layers: late December in Madrid is cold and dry. Runners often wear an old top to the start and throw it off once they’re moving.
• After the finish: most people take Line 1 back to the centre. Then they eat, rest and head to Puerta del Sol for the midnight bells and the twelve grapes.

Families usually pick a spot on Paseo del Prado. It’s flat and wide, and the Prado Museum and Retiro Park are close by for the rest of the day. Near the finish, the bars of Vallecas fill with runners still wearing their medals.