See the courses for the WRRC Copenhagen 26

When the world elite arrives in Copenhagen to compete for gold in the half marathon, 5km and one mile distances, up to 65,000 runners will follow in their footsteps on flat, fast and festive courses that showcase the very best of what Copenhagen has to offer.

And the organisers are pulling out all the stops to create an extraordinary running festival, bringing together up to 65,000 runners and accompanying spectators.

“The 2026 World Championships will bring the best runners on the planet to Copenhagen, and we are excited to give both Copenhageners and visitors an unforgettable weekend. They will experience world-class road running and a grand running celebration in Runners Area, where everyone is welcome,” says Dorte Vibjerg, CEO of Sparta Athletics & Running.

An international running celebration awaits
For the half marathon, up to 35,000 runners will join the absolute world elite for a thrilling run past many of Copenhagen’s most iconic and beloved locations.

“When 35,000 runners take off for the Half Marathon World Championships, it won’t just be an incredible thrill for each individual runner and the thousands of spectators along the course – it will be an exceptional international running celebration of historic proportions.”

The half marathon course is the same as that of the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2024 and 2025, and for good reason:

“We are actually proud to announce this course as the official World Championships course. Participant feedback has shown that runners love this course, which passes by many of our capital’s most iconic landmarks. Quite simply, we believe there is no better setup than this, with start and finish areas and the Runners Area in Fælledparken providing the optimal experience,” says Dorte Vibjerg.

See more about the half marathon and find the course here:

Half Marathon

A lottery for the first time in Denmark
Although lotteries are common for major international races in cities like London and Berlin, this is the first time a race in Denmark will be sold via a lottery. The reason, according to Sparta’s CEO, is high demand:

“When the sale for Copenhagen Half Marathon 2025 opened, the demand was overwhelming, systems struggled to keep up, and all entries sold out in just 2.5 hours leaving many still waiting in line. That process was frustrating for both us and the runners, so we now introduce the lottery system. It ensures everyone a fair and equal chance, and interested runners have plenty of time to sign up whenever it suits them. The chances are the same no matter when you sign up within the lottery period, from 6-20 March,” says Dorte Vibjerg.

All information about the World Championships lottery is available here: 

See FAQ

Epic 5km and one mile courses
While the half marathon takes place on Sunday 20 September, the 5km and one mile World Championships will be held the day before, on Saturday 19 September. 

Fælledparken will once again be the hub of an exciting festival atmosphere for both runners and spectators, whether they are competing or cheering on the ultra-fast World Championships distances.

On the one mile course, runners will be propelled down Østerbrogade, pass a high-energy power zone at Trianglen, and race toward the finish line past Parken Stadium.

See more about the one mile and find the course here:

One mile

The 5km runners will experience a similar adrenaline rush, combined with a scenic course past the historic Nyboder district. Along the way, they may even glimpse the next world champion as the elite front-runners pass on the dual-direction stretch along the lakes.

“Saturday will be just as fantastic as it is festive. The 5km course offers an incredibly fast and epic running experience through some of the best parts of Copenhagen, while the one mile course with its iconic V-shape will invite runners down a packed Østerbrogade and up the thrilling final stretch to the finish line,” concludes Dorte Vibjerg.

See more about the 5km and find the course here:

5 km

The World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 is hosted for World Athletics by the Danish Athletics Federation and Sparta Athletics & Running, in collaboration with the City of Copenhagen, Sport Event Denmark, and Wonderful Copenhagen.

Facts About the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26

• The World Championships take place on 19-20 September 2026, in the streets of Copenhagen.

• World champions will be crowned in three distances: half marathon, 5km and one mile (1,609km).

• The world elite will compete – and all distances are also open to the public.

• The 5km and one mile World Championships will take place on Saturday 19 September 2026.

• The half marathon World Championships will take place on Sunday 20 September 2026.

• The half marathon entries will be available through lottery from 6-20 March 2025.

• Sale for the 5km and one mile will open 23 April 2025.

• Capacity: 10,000 runners for the one mile, 20,000 for the 5km, and 35,000 for the half marathon.

• Follow the WRRC Copenhagen 26 on Facebook and Instagram @wrrccopenhagen26

• The World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 is hosted for World Athletics by the Danish Athletics Federation and Sparta Athletics & Running, in collaboration with the City of Copenhagen, Sport Event Denmark, and Wonderful Copenhagen.