EDP Lisbon Half Marathon 2027

Securing a bib for the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon isn't as simple as filling out a form: it's one of the most coveted half marathons in the world, and entry is granted through a ballot (lottery) system, a reflection of its huge international demand. Considered one of the fastest half marathons on the planet, it's part of the exclusive SuperHalfs series — alongside Cardiff, Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague, and Valencia — and holds the World Athletics Elite Label. Born in 1991, the 2027 edition will be its 36th, taking place on Sunday, March 7th, at 9:30 am, with a field of 20,000 runners. Together with the Vodafone 10K, which shares the day and much of the course, it brings together more than 27,000 people, making this weekend the largest running event in all of Portugal.The course has a structure that's genuinely unique on the European running scene: elite and high-performance athletes — those with times recognized by the organization — start from Cruz Quebrada, while the rest of the field begins right on the deck of the 25 de Abril Bridge, on the Almada side, next to Gate No. 1. Without exaggeration, it's one of the most spectacular starts on the European calendar: thousands of runners lined up on a suspension bridge normally reserved for traffic, with the Tagus below and the Cristo Rei statue watching from the opposite bank. Both groups merge around km 7, and the route continues along the riverbank, almost entirely flat and ideal for chasing personal records, before entering Lisbon and finishing at Praça do Império, directly in front of the Centro Cultural de Belém, steps from the imposing Jerónimos Monastery.Those who secure a spot through the ballot must collect their bib at the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa on March 4th, 5th, and 6th, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm — no bibs are issued on race day. The participation kit includes a technical t-shirt in 5 sizes, a bib with electronic timing chip, and an individual gear bag; notably, there's no gear-check service for this race. Access to the start line is only possible via Fertagus train to Pragal station — there's no alternative from either bank — and spectators aren't allowed on the bridge, which makes the start an exclusive, almost otherworldly experience for those running it.The race features aid stations every 5 km (water, sports drinks, and fruit), pacers for several target paces (sub 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, and 5:30 min/km), "My Laps" timing with Pro-Chip technology for elite athletes, and awards cash prizes in the Elite, General, and Veteran categories, with bonus payouts for times under 1:03:30 in the men's category or 1:11:30 in the women's. For any distance runner, finishing beneath the Centro Cultural de Belém, with the Tagus flowing into the Atlantic as a backdrop, after crossing one of Europe's most iconic bridges on foot, is one of those race-day experiences that stays with you forever.