San Silvestre Vallecana

San Silvestre Vallecana is Madrid's New Year's Eve road race, run every December 31st since 1964 and now one of the most-watched 10Ks in the world. The event pairs a World Athletics Label international elite race with a massive popular race open to up to 42,000 runners, many of them in costume as the city counts down to midnight. Course records on this route stand at 26:32 for men (Berihu Aregawi, 2024) and 29:54 for women (Brigid Kosgei, 2018). Every wave starts on Concha Espina, next to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, then heads south through Serrano, the Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, and the Paseo del Prado before splitting near Vallecas: the popular race finishes at Candilejas, while the invitation-only international race (limited to 2,000 runners who have broken 39 minutes for men or 45 minutes for women) continues inside the Estadio de Vallecas. Wheelchair and handbike athletes start first at 16:50, the popular waves go off from 17:00, and the elite field starts at 19:55. Entry to the popular race is open to anyone 16 or older as of race day, and participants under 18 need a signed guardian authorization to collect their bib; younger children can instead run the separate San Silvestre Vallecana Mini on December 23. Title sponsor Nationale-Nederlanden has backed the race since 2016. Registration opens each June and runs through December 23 or until all 42,000 bibs sell out, with prices rising in tiers from €27 to €29 and finally €31, plus a €0.80 management fee; a home-delivery pack option and virtual participation are also offered. Metro lines 9 and 10 serve the start near Concha Espina, and line 1 from Portazgo serves the Vallecas finish. Expect a cold, festive evening and some of the loudest crowds in Spanish running.