Right, if Berlin has been sitting in the back of your mind as one of those “I’ll get round to it” races, this is your nudge. The ballot for the 2027 Berlin Half Marathon is now open, set to take take place on Sunday, April 4th, 2027. Like a few of the big ones these days, you’re not just signing up. You’re putting your name in a hat and hoping the running gods are in good form.
The registration window runs from Saturday April 2nd to Thursday May 28th 2026, so you’ve a bit of time, but don’t leave it until the last minute and then act shocked when you forget.
So How Does This Actually Work?
It’s a straight ballot. You register through your account, stick in your payment details, and then… you wait. That’s it. No frantic refresh at 9:59am trying to beat 40,000 other people to a button.
Important bit though. You are not charged upfront. They only take the money if you actually get in. Entry fee is €89, which in fairness, for Berlin, is decent enough.
You’ll get an email confirmation after registering, but don’t panic if it takes a while. That’s just a “we got your details” message, not the golden ticket just yet.
The Draw Day Craic
The results will come out on Tuesday, June 16th. That’s the big one. You’ll either be buzzing or pretending you didn’t care anyway.
If you get in, the payment gets taken that same day through their provider, and it can take up to a week to show depending on your bank. If something goes wrong, you can sort it in your account without losing your spot.
Fancy Going As A Group?
You can enter as a team of 2 or 3, which is actually a nice touch. One person sets it up, gets a code, sends it on, and the others join using that.
Key point here. If your team gets picked, everyone gets in. No one left behind. But if one of you pulls out later, tough luck, there’s no replacing them.
Also worth knowing. There’s no team result. You’re still running your own race. This isn’t a relay or anything like that.
Some Of The Fine Print
You need to be born in 2011 or earlier to take part.
Walkers are allowed, but you’ve got to finish inside 3 hours 15 minutes. Go over that and you’re either on the pavement or getting a lift in what they politely call the broom bus.
Nordic walking is a no go, so leave the poles at home.
And one more thing. Your entry is completely personal. You can’t transfer it, sell it, or pass it on if you change your mind.
Is It Actually Worth Entering?
Look, it’s Berlin. Flat, fast, and one of those races people talk about for years after. If you get in, you’ll be glad you bothered. If you don’t, you’ll be annoyed you didn’t at least try.
So get your name in, forget about it for a few weeks, and then prepare for that email in June like it’s exam results all over again.
