Photo: © Göteborgsvarvet▶Göteborgsvarvet
Göteborg, Sweden1st edition · since 1980Choose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Göteborgsvarvet 2027 takes place on 22 May 2027 in Göteborg, Sweden. Distances: 21.098 km, 4.2 km. Start at 13:00 from Margretebergsgatan, vicino a Slottsskogsvallen.
- Date
- Saturday, 22 May 2027
- Location
- Göteborg, Sweden
- Start
- Margretebergsgatan, vicino a Slottsskogsvallen
- Finish
- Slottsskogsvallen
- Distances
- Half marathon · 21.098 km · Competitive
- Cityvarvet · 4.2 km · Competitive
- Start times
- 13:00
- Entry fees
- SEK 399
- Registration
- Sold out
- Organiser
- Göteborgs Friidrottsförbund
- Official website
- goteborgsvarvet.se ↗
- Edition
- 1st edition · since 1980
Last updated: 19 October 2026
The race
Göteborgsvarvet is the world's largest half marathon: 55,000 runners signed up in 2026, and the streets of Göteborg host more than 200,000 spectators and 50 music stations. The first edition, in 1980, started at Heden with about 1,800 runners in the sunshine; since 1982 the start has been on Margretebergsgatan and the finish in the historic Slottsskogsvallen stadium.
The 2027 edition takes place on Saturday 22 May: the elite start at 13:00 and waves continue into the afternoon, allocated by a seeding system based on pace. The course runs from Slottsskogen, the city's great park, to Majorna, over the Älvsborgsbron bridge to the island of Hisingen, along the quays of Eriksberg and Lindholmen, then over the new Hisingsbron bridge, through the centre along the Avenyn boulevard and through Vasastaden and Linné to the finish.
2027 entries sold out within days, with a record 48% women; the official waiting list remains. The event is organised by the Göteborg Athletic Association with around 3,000 volunteers, and the surplus goes to local sports clubs. The same week also features Cityvarvet (4.2 km, on the same Saturday), Stafettvarvet, Specialvarvet and children's races.
Videos
The start is on Margretebergsgatan, in the Göteborgsvarvet Arena that also hosts the Expo and the finish. Before km 1 runners enter Slottsskogen, the city's great park, with the tough Säldammsbacken climb; then comes Majorna, with traditional houses and music, the first aid station and the 5 km split. The course climbs onto the Älvsborgsbron bridge, about a quarter of the way in, and crosses to the island of Hisingen: Färjenäsparken and Eriksberg along the river, the 10 km mark, then flat Lindholmen along the waterfront beside Karlatornet, Sweden's tallest building.
At 12.7 km runners reach Frihamnen and take on the second bridge, Hisingsbron, back to the centre; after the Poseidon statue at Götaplatsen and the Avenyn boulevard about 4 km remain, through Vasastaden and Linné. The finish is inside Slottsskogsvallen stadium, with a medal, a banana and the Runners Zone. Along the course there are 50 music stations, 10 cooling showers and medical posts at every aid station. Cut-offs: 16:52 at 5 km, 17:45 at 12 km, 18:10 at 15 km, 18:28 at 17 km and 19:15 at the finish.
Entry fees
What's included
- Finisher medal
- Aid stations
- Ristoro finale
- Bag drop
- Showers
- Medical assistance
- Cronometraggio
- Navetta ritirati
Rules and requirements
Göteborgsvarvet is organised by the Göteborg Athletic Association and run under Swedish Athletics Federation rules, on an officially measured course, with two competition classes (women and men). The website does not ask for a medical certificate or licence. 2027 entries are sold out: you can join the official waiting list for free and, when a registered runner sells their bib, you receive an email offer to accept within 3 days at the current price.
Runners who can no longer take part sell their bib from their dashboard and get 90% of the fee back (10% admin fee), while add-ons are non-refundable; there is no other way to transfer an entry. Starts run from 13:00 to 16:15 in seeded waves: the maximum time depends on your wave (the last wave needs about 7:30 min/km), and runners must pass the cut-offs of 16:52 at 5 km, 17:45 at 12 km, 18:10 at 15 km, 18:28 at 17 km and 19:15 at the finish; those outside the limits leave the course and are taken back to the finish.
Bibs are collected at the Göteborgsvarvet Expo with your entry confirmation, ideally on Thursday or Friday. A personalised medal tag and a certificate are extras available until 31 May 2027.
