Haspa Marathon Hamburg
The Lowdown
The Haspa Marathon Hamburg, first held in 1986 and now one of Germany’s premier spring marathons, combines a long-running tradition with modern race organization backed by title sponsor Hamburger Sparkasse. Over its history the race has drawn elite international fields and tens of thousands of mass participants, becoming a marquee event in Hamburg’s sporting calendar. The marathon is known for its efficient logistics, lively spectator support, and a festival atmosphere that spills into the city’s streets each April. The course is predominantly flat and fast, taking runners past many of Hamburg’s iconic sights: the inner and outer Alster lakes, the historic Speicherstadt and HafenCity, the energetic St. Pauli and Reeperbahn districts, the Landungsbrücken and Elbe riverfront, and views of St. Michaelis Church. Wide streets, long straight sections and well-placed aid stations make it a popular choice for personal bests and qualifiers. The event is AIMS-certified, serves as a Boston Marathon qualifying course, and has held World Athletics label status in recent years, ensuring accurate measurement and high organizational standards. Race day delivers a vibrant, city-wide atmosphere with enthusiastic local support, music stages, and neighborhood fan zones that create a strong sense of momentum from start to finish. Whether you’re chasing an elite time, aiming to qualify for Boston, or soaking up Hamburg’s maritime charm, the Haspa Marathon offers a scenic, fast, and welcoming marathon experience.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Large field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Starting Wednesday: Registration for the 40th Haspa Marathon with updated start times and routes
Apr 30, 2025Organisers opened registration on 30 April 2025 for the 40th edition (26 April 2026) and announced changes: marathon start moved to 08:30 with two separate starting areas (Karolinenstraße and Bei den Kirchhöfen), the half marathon shifted to an afternoon slot with a new Alsterglacis start, and official time limits were published.
The Haspa Marathon Hamburg 2026 is officially sold out!
Sep 26, 2025The event organisers confirmed in September 2025 that all disciplines for the 40th Haspa Marathon Hamburg are fully booked, with up to 34,000 runners (20,000 marathon, 8,000 half marathon, 1,500 relay teams) scheduled for 26 April 2026.
This race qualifies for the Boston Marathon
Race Weekend
Other distances available
Notable Landmarks
St. Pauli / Reeperbahn
The race begins in the St. Pauli district, passing the famous Reeperbahn entertainment street
Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli Piers)
Runners pass the historic harbor piers with views over the Port of Hamburg
Elbphilharmonie
The course runs along the Elbe river with views of the striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall in HafenCity
St. Michael's Church (Michel)
Runners pass Hamburg's iconic baroque church, visible from several points along the route
Planten un Blomen
The route goes by this large central park known for its botanical gardens and water features
Binnenalster / Jungfernstieg
The race passes around the Binnenalster lake and Hamburg's elegant Jungfernstieg promenade
Hamburg City Hall (Rathaus)
The marathon finishes near Rathausmarkt in front of the historic City Hall
Hamburg, Germany
DE
Based on nearby accommodations
- Minimum age 18 on race day (2026-04-19) to enter the marathon
- Valid online registration and payment required before the stated registration deadline
- Race bib is non-transferable; participants must present valid photo ID at bib collection
- Participants must be medically fit to run; a doctor’s clearance is recommended for those with pre-existing conditions
- Official race time limit of 6 hours; participants not able to maintain required pace may be removed from course
- Follow instructions of race officials and marshals and comply with race and local traffic regulations
- Anti-doping rules apply; participants must comply with any testing and regulations
- Wheelchair and handbike athletes must register in the appropriate category and meet event-specific technical requirements
- Photo ID (passport or national ID)
- Proof of Age (passport, national ID or birth certificate)
- Confirmation of Registration (registration confirmation email or printed ticket)
- Online Registration
- Charity Entry
- Tour Operator
- Elite Invitation
- Club Entry
Cancellation & Refunds
Policy details
Entries are non-refundable
Bib transfers to another person allowed until 30 days before the race for an administration fee
Deferral to the following year permitted until 30 days before the race with a 50% fee
Event cancellation by organizers: full refund or guaranteed transfer to the next edition
The Haspa Marathon Hamburg is a World Athletics Gold Label road race and is renowned as one of Germany’s fastest, predominantly flat courses favorable for personal bests.
The course runs through iconic Hamburg areas along the Elbe and finishes in the city center near Rathausmarkt, offering scenic river views and historic landmarks.
All finishers receive a custom finisher medal and technical shirt, and there is a generous post-race area with food, recovery zones and a beer garden for participants and spectators.
Race weekend includes a large runners' expo at the Messe, an official pasta party on Saturday, and a kids' run to involve families and youth athletes.
Public transport is strongly recommended for arrival and departure, aid stations supplying water and isotonic drink appear approximately every 3–5 km, and pacers are available for common target times to help pace runners to fast finishes.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.