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

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

That number alone tells you what the day feels like: 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. If you’re running rather than watching, expect a course 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 enough to the historic center that spectators can post up near landmarks like the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències or the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and catch the race at more than one point if they move 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 works like most major-label marathons: runners register 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.

Confirm timing and tickets on the official site, since registration windows, pricing tiers, and any qualifying-time categories are managed there and can shift between editions. The same site is the accurate source for bib pickup logistics and expo dates, which 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 puts you within walking distance of the old town.

Book accommodation near the Turia gardens or the historic center if you want to walk to the start rather than deal with race-day transit changes. Hotels near Ruzafa or El Carmen put you 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 if you want to see your runner more than once. The Turia riverbed lets you cut across on foot faster than the crowds lining the main avenues, so it’s the better bet for repeat viewings.

Bring a printed or photographed copy of the runner’s bib number and estimated pace; phone signal gets patchy in the densest crowd zones near the finish. Cafes near the finish line fill up fast after 10am, so grab a table early if you want to watch from a seat rather than standing in the crush.

Locals treat race morning as a reason to be out early regardless of whether 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. Confirm exact road closures on the official site or city announcements beforehand, since blocked streets can complicate getting between hotel and viewing spot on foot.