Medio Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich (Valencia Half Marathon): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Valencia)

Valencia closes a good chunk of its historic center for one Sunday in October for this half marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label race that draws elite pacers and record chasers because the course is flat, fast and famously PR-friendly. The 35th edition was set for October 25, 2026, with roughly 25,000 registered runners.

A field that size usually means closed roads, packed metro cars heading toward the start, and a finish-line atmosphere that spills into the surrounding streets for hours afterward.

What makes this course different

This isn’t a scenic-but-slow route through hills. The Valencia half marathon has built its reputation on flat asphalt, minimal turns and cool autumn air, the exact conditions distance runners chase for a personal best.

Elite fields regularly use it as a proving ground for sub-59 and sub-66 minute times. The course is laid out for speed, not sightseeing detours.

Where the action happens

The race threads through central Valencia, with the Turia riverbed gardens (the old riverbed turned into a sunken park) serving as a key artery for both the route and overflow crowds.

Start and finish zones sit close to the historic center, so spectators near landmarks like the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències or the Plaza del Ayuntamiento can catch the race at more than one point by moving quickly between viewing spots.

• Historic center: dense crowds, best for atmosphere
• Turia gardens: easier movement, good for photos
• Finish area: busiest in the hour after the elite runners come through

Getting tickets and race entry

Entry worked like most major-label marathons: runners registered in advance through the official event site, with a field capped around 25,000. Given the Gold Label status and the course’s reputation among serious runners, spots in recent editions have filled well before race day.

Registration windows, pricing tiers and any qualifying-time categories were managed through the official site and can shift between editions. Bib pickup and the expo typically happen in the days leading up to the race.

Getting there and finding a base

Valencia’s compact center means most visitors don’t need a car for race weekend. The airport connects to the center by metro, and the Estación del Norte train station is within walking distance of the old town.

Hotels near the Turia gardens or the historic center are within walking distance of the start, which avoids race-day transit changes. Ruzafa and El Carmen sit close to both the route and the post-race food scene.

Watching like someone who’s done this before

Spectating a 25,000-runner race takes some strategy to see a runner more than once. The Turia riverbed lets people cut across on foot faster than the crowds lining the main avenues, so it’s the better bet for repeat viewings.

Experienced spectators carry a printed or photographed copy of the runner’s bib number and estimated pace, since phone signal gets patchy in the densest crowd zones near the finish. Cafes near the finish line fill up fast after 10am, and tables go to those who sit down early.

Locals treat race morning as a reason to be out early whether or not they’re running: bakeries near the route often open earlier than usual, and it’s common to see entire families camped at the same corner every year. Road closures on race morning can complicate getting between a hotel and a viewing spot on foot.