The organisers of the Dublin City Half Marathon have confirmed that the event will return on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, building on the highly successful inaugural edition and signalling the race’s emergence as a major fixture in Ireland’s mass-participation and events calendar.

As part of its evolution, the 2026 race will move to a ballot-based entry system, replacing the first-come, first-served approach used in its debut year.

The change follows runner feedback and reflects the growing demand for places, with organisers aiming to create a fairer and more inclusive entry process that gives all prospective participants an equal opportunity to take part.

The race date has also shifted from March to the May Bank Holiday weekend, a decision designed to better align the event with runner preparation cycles while also reducing pressure on city infrastructure and services.

The new date is expected to enhance the overall experience for participants, spectators and the wider city, while offering greater potential for tourism and extended stays in Dublin.

The general ballot will open at 7 am on Friday, January 16th, and close at midnight on Thursday, January 22nd, with applications processed via Eventmaster.

Entrants will be notified of their ballot outcome by email in stages between Wednesday, January 28th and Thursday, January 29th. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified first, followed by successful runners, and the whole process will take up to two days.

Race capacity for 2026 has been set at 12,500 participants, a figure agreed with statutory agencies to ensure safety standards are maintained and that the quality of the race experience remains high.

Of these, 11,200 places will be allocated through the public ballot. The remaining entries will be distributed across charity partners, elite athletes, international sports tour operators and a repeat of the excellent community participation programmes implemented last year by Dublin City Council and the Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership, underlining the event’s growing social and economic footprint.

A €4 ballot entry fee will apply to all applicants, and unsuccessful entrants will receive a full refund. Successful runners will pay a total entry fee of €75, with the ballot fee deducted, leaving a balance of €71 to confirm their place. The entry fee includes an official event t-shirt, finisher medal and postal delivery of race bibs, and reflects the significant logistical, operational and administrative costs associated with delivering a major city-centre road race.

The scale and complexity of the event is comparable to the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, particularly in terms of route management, traffic planning and participant services.

With demand expected to exceed available places, additional opportunities to participate will be offered through an official transfer window from April 2nd to April 8th, as well as through charity entry options, allowing runners to support good causes while securing a place on the start line.

As it enters its second year, the Dublin City Half Marathon is rapidly establishing itself as a flagship urban participation event, combining sport, community engagement, tourism and commercial opportunity—an asset of increasing value within Ireland’s sporting and major events landscape.

 

Sport for Business Perspective

The introduction of a ballot marks an important milestone. It positions the Dublin City Half Marathon alongside other established international road races that use demand-management systems to balance popularity with participant experience, safety and operational delivery. The move also reflects the increasing professionalism required to stage large-scale endurance events in urban environments.

 

Image Credit: Augusta National

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