Valencia Marathon 2026

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the Cabanyal neighbourhood, the historic centre and a crowd that cheers every kilometre make the Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich one of the fastest and most popular marathons in the world. The forty-sixth edition takes place on Sunday 2026-12-06, and if you are looking for Valencia Marathon 2026 bibs, here you will find everything you need to know: date, course, waves, how the bib system works, how the official transfer and name change work, and every alternative for getting a place. Alternatives for getting a Valencia Marathon bib. The Valencia Marathon 2026 is sold out, but there are still ways to run it. Official transfer: you can find a runner who cannot take part and complete the official transfer or name change through the Área Runner on the organisers' platform until 2026-11-06. On Bibready you can meet bib owners who cannot run and are willing to transfer their bib to you through that official name change, safely and with a valid registration in your name. Waiting list: runners who were not selected in the ballot joined the official waiting list, which covers cancellations and withdrawals at a price of 200 €; on Bibready you can also activate a bib alert to be notified as soon as a runner publishes a Valencia Marathon bib. Official tour operators: they hold bibs in travel packages that can still be purchased while availability lasts. When is the Valencia Marathon 2026 and what are the start times. The race is held on Sunday 2026-12-06, with the first wave at 08:15 from the Plaça de la Marató, next to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, and the finish on the famous blue footbridge over the water of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Starts are staggered in nine waves according to the expected time chosen at registration: under 2:50:00 at 08:15; 2:50:00 to 2:59:59 at 08:25; 3:00:00 to 3:11:59 at 08:35; 3:12:00 to 3:19:59 at 08:45; 3:20:00 to 3:31:59 at 08:55; 3:32:00 to 3:42:59 at 09:05; 3:43:00 to 3:55:59 at 09:15; 3:56:00 to 4:09:59 at 09:25; and 4:10:00 and over at 09:35. Runners aiming for under 3:32:00 must prove a qualifying time from the last three years, and the wave is printed on the bib. The official time limit is 5 hours 30 minutes from crossing the start line, and the race closes at 15:15. Valencia Marathon 2026 course and elevation. The Valencia Marathon 2026 course is a 42.195 km urban route on asphalt, homologated by AIMS and the RFEA and holder of the World Athletics Platinum Label, the highest distinction for road races. From the Plaça de la Marató, the route runs through the seaside Cabanyal neighbourhood and into the historic centre of Valencia before returning to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias for one of the most spectacular finishes in the world. The elevation is practically flat, with wide avenues, few turns and mild December temperatures, which makes Valencia one of the best places in the world to run a personal best: every year thousands of runners improve their marathon times here, and the course has produced some of the fastest times in history, including a men's course record of 2:01:48. Will there be a world record in Valencia in 2026? With the second-fastest man and the second-fastest woman in history on the start line, Valencia dreams of a historic edition in 2026. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, with a best of 1:59:41 set on his debut in London, and Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay, with 2:10:52, lead an elite field in which the organisers expect to chase historic marks. The defending champions will also be there: Kenya's John Korir, winner in 2025 in 2:02:24, and Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei, winner in 2025 in 2:14:00, both looking to retain their titles and improve the times they set in Valencia. They are joined by Alexander Mutiso, Dawit Wolde, Nibret Melak, Awet Kibrab and Leul Gebreselassie, winner in Valencia in 2018, and on the women's side by Emily Sisson, Lilian Kasait, Aberu Ayana, Alisa Vainio, Ejgayehu Taye and Winnie Jepkosgei, making their marathon debut. How the bib system works. Since the 2026 edition, Valencia Marathon bibs are allocated by ballot because of the huge demand. Runners from the previous edition had priority access, the ballot registration ran in December and was free, with a temporary 5 € card hold, the draw took place on 2026-01-12 before a notary, results were sent on 2026-01-13, and winners had until 2026-01-26 to complete their registration. Unclaimed bibs went to the official waiting list, which is now closed to new entries. The race has a limit of 36,000 bibs for the public, with subelite bibs reserved for runners with qualifying times. Valencia Marathon 2026 price. The Valencia Marathon 2026 price is 80 € for bibs 1 to 10,000 and 180 € for bibs 10,001 to 36,000 and ballot entries, and 200 € on the waiting list, plus a 5 € day licence for runners without a federation licence. The only official seller is the organisers' ticketing platform. Official transfer and name change. If you have a bib and cannot run, or if you want to buy a second-hand Valencia Marathon bib, the only legal way is the official transfer or name change in the Área Runner, available until 2026-11-06. The new runner registers and pays the price of the tier in force directly on the official platform, and the original holder receives a refund within 30 days minus a 5 € management fee. Bibs obtained in the ballot and transferred from 2026-02-01 go to the next person on the official waiting list, so their holder cannot choose the recipient; bibs from priority access can be transferred to a specific person through the name change. On Bibready, runners who cannot take part publish their bib and agree the official transfer with the new runner, so the registration ends up in the name of the person who runs. Unauthorised transfers can lead to disqualification and a ban of up to four years, so never run with someone else's bib. Runners who withdraw due to a certified injury receive 75% of the fee until 2026-09-06 and 50% until 2026-11-06, and the optional refund service allows an 80% refund for any reason until 2026-11-29. Bib collection. Bibs and the runner's bag are collected at the Expo 42K at Feria Valencia, Avenida de les Fires, on Thursday 2026-12-03 from 17:00 to 21:00, Friday 2026-12-04 from 09:00 to 21:00 and Saturday 2026-12-05 from 09:00 to 19:00. There is no collection on race day; a third party can be authorised through the Área Runner from 2026-11-07. Services. There are aid stations with water and Aquarius at around km 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 32, 35, 37.5 and 40, three Enervit Red Points with energy gels with and without caffeine, liquid and solid refreshments at the finish, medical services along the course, a medal for every finisher within the time limit and live tracking in the free official app. Frequently asked questions. When are bibs released for the Valencia Marathon? For the 2026 edition, priority access and the ballot took place in December, with the draw on 2026-01-12; for the next edition, the process usually starts in December, right after the race. How many bibs are there for the Valencia Marathon 2026? 36,000 bibs for the public. How can I get a bib for the Valencia Marathon? Through priority access, the ballot, the official waiting list, official tour operators or an official transfer or name change with a runner who cannot take part, whom you can meet on Bibready. How much does a Valencia Marathon bib cost in 2026? Between 80 € and 200 € depending on the tier, plus a 5 € day licence for runners without a federation licence. Can I change the name on my Valencia Marathon bib? Yes, through the official name change in the Área Runner until 2026-11-06, with a 5 € management fee.