Lisbon Half Marathon 2027: Course, SuperHalfs And Entry Guide

The Lisbon Half Marathon is one of Europe's most distinctive half marathons, combining a fast course with one of the most memorable starts in mass participation running. Thousands of runners begin their race on the huge 25 de Abril Bridge before heading alongside the River Tagus towards the finish in Belém.

Officially known as the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, the event is also part of the SuperHalfs series alongside Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. That has increased its international appeal considerably, but Lisbon's reputation as a major half marathon was established long before the SuperHalfs series arrived.

The race has also become synonymous with exceptionally fast running. Jacob Kiplimo returned to Lisbon in March 2026 and ran 57:20, breaking the men's half marathon world record by ten seconds. Whether you're chasing a personal best, collecting another SuperHalfs race or simply want to experience running across the 25 de Abril Bridge, Lisbon has plenty to offer.

Lisbon

Lisbon is Portugal's capital and one of Europe's most popular city destinations. The River Tagus plays a major role in the character of the city and also dominates the half marathon, with much of the race taking place close to its banks.

For runners, March makes Lisbon an appealing destination for an early season half marathon. The city also provides plenty to do around the event weekend, although the race itself doesn't attempt to provide a sightseeing tour of central Lisbon in the way some city races do.

Instead, the Lisbon Half Marathon has two outstanding landmarks at either end of the experience: the 25 de Abril Bridge at the start and the historic Belém area at the finish.

Lisbon Half Marathon History

The Lisbon Half Marathon was first held in 1991 and has developed into one of Portugal's biggest running events. Its association with fast running stretches back decades, although earlier versions of the course did not always meet the requirements for record purposes.

The race's modern reputation has been built on some exceptional elite performances. Zersenay Tadese ran a half marathon world record of 58:23 in Lisbon in 2010, while Jacob Kiplimo lowered the record to 57:31 here in 2021.

Kiplimo returned on 8 March 2026 and produced another extraordinary performance, winning in 57:20. That took ten seconds from Yomif Kejelcha's previous official world record of 57:30, set in Valencia in 2024. The event is organised by Maratona Clube de Portugal and is a World Athletics Label road race.

When Is The Lisbon Half Marathon 2027?

The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon 2027 takes place on Sunday 7 March. The March date makes it an attractive early season target, particularly for runners who want a competitive half marathon before moving into the spring marathon season.

How Many Runners Take Part?

Lisbon is a major mass participation event. SuperHalfs currently lists a race capacity of 21,000 for the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, while the wider weekend also includes the Vodafone 10K and attracts thousands more participants.

The size of the field creates plenty of atmosphere, particularly around the bridge start and finish, but runners should expect the opening stages to be busy. Getting into a sensible position before the race starts can make the first few kilometres easier.

Lisbon Half Marathon Expo

Race number collection takes place before race day at the event's Sport Expo. Runners should therefore allow enough time in their plans to collect their race pack rather than expecting to pick it up on the morning of the race.

The Expo is normally held over the three days immediately before the event and includes race pack collection alongside exhibitors and other event activity. Exact 2027 opening times, collection requirements and arrangements should be checked against the final participant information before travelling.

It is particularly important to have everything organised before race morning because of the unusual logistics involved in reaching the start on the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Read more about race expos here.

Lisbon Half Marathon Race Morning

The start is one of the features that makes Lisbon different from almost every other major half marathon. The mass participation field begins on the 25 de Abril Bridge, which crosses the River Tagus between Lisbon and Almada.

Runners cannot simply approach the bridge on foot from central Lisbon, so the official race morning transport arrangements need to be followed. Accommodation that appears geographically close to the bridge may therefore not provide the easiest journey to the start.

Check the final instructions from the organisers carefully and allow plenty of time. With thousands of runners travelling towards an unusual start area, arriving early is considerably better than discovering on race morning that the bridge isn't accessible from the direction expected.

Once runners reach the start, however, the setting is impressive. The enormous suspension bridge stretches across the Tagus with Lisbon visible beyond it, creating an atmosphere very different from a conventional city centre start.

Lisbon Half Marathon Course

The 21.1km Lisbon Half Marathon course is best known for its opening across the 25 de Abril Bridge. For many runners, those first kilometres will be the defining memory of the entire event.

The bridge is spectacular, but runners should pay attention to the road surface. Metal gridded sections around the centre of the roadway can be uncomfortable underfoot, so keeping towards the smoother sections where possible can make the opening part of the race more comfortable.

After leaving the bridge, the course reaches the northern side of the Tagus and settles into the flatter riverside section that makes up much of the race. The contrast is noticeable: the dramatic elevated start gives way to long stretches of relatively flat running beside the river.

The course heads west along the Tagus before turning back towards Belém. There are long, straight sections where runners can settle into a consistent rhythm, one of the reasons

Lisbon can be a good race for anyone targeting a quick time.

Those same stretches can become mentally demanding later in the race. Long out and back sections always seem considerably longer when fatigue starts to build, and Lisbon is no exception.

The final part of the course brings runners back towards the finish in Belém, one of Lisbon's most recognisable districts and home to some of the city's most important historic buildings.

The area around the Jerónimos Monastery provides an impressive backdrop as runners complete the race. After the long riverside sections, reaching Belém brings the crowds, finish infrastructure and atmosphere back into focus.

For runners completing Lisbon as part of their SuperHalfs journey, it also means another race can be added to their SuperPassport and another step taken towards the SuperMedal.

The finish area in Belém

Is The Lisbon Half Marathon Fast?

Lisbon has one of the strongest records of fast half marathon performances anywhere in the world. Jacob Kiplimo's 57:20 world record in 2026 is the most obvious evidence, following his previous Lisbon world record of 57:31 in 2021. Zersenay Tadese also set a world record here in 2010.

Elite world records don't automatically make a course perfect for every recreational runner, and the opening across the bridge needs to be taken into account. Once runners reach the riverside, however, the course provides long stretches of flat running where maintaining a consistent pace is relatively straightforward.

For anyone arriving in good shape and getting favourable weather conditions, Lisbon certainly has personal best potential.

Aid Stations

Runners should expect regular refreshment points around the course, with the organisers providing race support as participants make their way along the Tagus towards Belém.

The exact contents and locations of the 2027 aid stations should be checked when the final race information is released. As with any half marathon, runners who intend to use energy gels or other nutrition should practise their strategy during training rather than introducing something unfamiliar on race day.

What Is The Crowd Support Like?

Lisbon isn't a race where runners should expect dense crowds lining every kilometre. Some of the riverside sections are relatively open and the nature of the course means support can vary considerably.

The busiest areas provide plenty of atmosphere, particularly around the start and finish, and the sheer number of runners ensures there is rarely any sense of being alone on the course.

If continuous crowd support is one of the main things you look for in an event, there are other European half marathons that offer more. Lisbon's appeal lies more in the bridge, fast course, riverside setting and overall race experience.

Vodafone 10K

The event weekend also includes the Vodafone 10K, providing an option for runners who want to take part in the Lisbon weekend without tackling the half marathon distance.

The 10K contributes to the scale and atmosphere of the event and makes Lisbon a useful option for groups where not everyone wants to run a half marathon.

Anyone specifically collecting SuperHalfs races should remember that it is the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon that counts towards the series, not the 10K.

Lisbon And The SuperHalfs Series

Lisbon is one of the six races in the SuperHalfs series, joining Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. Runners create a free SuperPassport and complete all six half marathons to become a SuperRunner and receive the SuperMedal. The races can be completed in any order and there is no longer a time limit for completing the series.

When entering a SuperHalfs race, runners should include their SuperPassport number in their registration so the result can be added automatically after the event.

Lisbon is an excellent race with which to start or continue a SuperHalfs journey. The 25 de Abril Bridge gives it a feature completely different from the other races in the series, while its March date fits neatly at the beginning of the European running season.

Read more about the SuperHalfs here.

What Makes The Lisbon Half Marathon Special?

The 25 de Abril Bridge is the obvious answer. There are thousands of half marathons around the world, but very few allow ordinary runners to take over a huge suspension bridge normally dominated by road traffic.

The world record history gives Lisbon another point of distinction. The fact that Jacob Kiplimo has twice broken the half marathon world record here puts the event firmly on the international running map.

Add the riverside route, finish in Belém and membership of the SuperHalfs series and Lisbon offers considerably more than simply another fast European half marathon.

Can You Run The Lisbon Half Marathon For Charity?

Yes. There are official guaranteed charity entries available for the Lisbon Half Marathon through the SuperHalfs charity programme.

SuperHalfs works with international charity partners that have limited guaranteed places in its events. Individual charities set their own requirements, including their fundraising targets, so runners should check the conditions attached to a particular charity place before applying.

This is particularly useful if standard Lisbon entries have sold out because charity entry can provide another legitimate way of securing a place while raising money for a good cause.

There is also a SuperCharity Voucher for runners who want to complete the entire SuperHalfs series for charity. The current scheme requires a refundable deposit of £175 or €200 and a commitment to raise £1,950 or €2,245 across the six race series.

Runners who already have their own Lisbon place can still fundraise for charity without using one of the guaranteed charity entries.

How To Enter The Lisbon Half Marathon 2027

The entry process changed for 2027 with the introduction of a ballot for standard places.

The 2027 ballot opened on 23 April 2026 and closed on 19 May 2026. There was no charge to enter the ballot, with successful runners subsequently given the opportunity to complete their registration and pay for their place.

Group applications were also possible for up to three people, allowing runners who wanted to take part together to enter the ballot as a group.

With the main ballot now closed, anyone still looking for a 2027 place should check the official event website for the latest availability rather than assuming standard entries remain available.

SuperHalfs identifies three principal ways of entering its races: direct race registration or ballot, an official travel agency package, or charity entry. Both travel and charity options can potentially provide entry after ordinary places have sold out.

Our Verdict

The Lisbon Half Marathon deserves its place among Europe's leading half marathons. It doesn't provide the constant sightseeing of a race winding through the heart of a capital city, and some of the long riverside sections are less exciting than the spectacular opening might suggest.

But that opening matters. Running across the 25 de Abril Bridge with thousands of other runners is a genuinely memorable experience, and the finish in Belém provides another strong setting at the opposite end of the race.

The fast course, remarkable world record history and position within the SuperHalfs series add to the appeal. For runners chasing the six race SuperMedal it is an essential stop, but Lisbon is good enough to justify the trip even if SuperHalfs isn't part of the plan.

If you're looking for a major European half marathon in early spring, particularly one with genuine personal best potential and a start you are unlikely to experience anywhere else, the Lisbon Half Marathon is an excellent choice.

Race website

https://www.running-portugal.com/lisbon/lisbonhalf/en/home.html