Photo: © Valio Helsinki City Run / Suomen UrheiluliittoValio Helsinki City Run
Helsinki, Finland47th edition · since 1981Choose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Valio Helsinki City Run 2027 takes place on 7 May 2027 – 8 May 2027 in Helsinki, Finland. Distances: 63.293 km, 42.195 km, 21.098 km, 5 km. Start at 09:30 from Mäntymäentie, accanto alla statua di Paavo Nurmi.
- Date
- Friday, 7 May 2027 – Saturday, 8 May 2027
- Location
- Helsinki, Finland
- Start
- Mäntymäentie, accanto alla statua di Paavo Nurmi
- Finish
- Stadio olimpico di Helsinki
- Distances
- Helsinki City Double · 63.293 km · Competitive
- Marathon · 42.195 km · Competitive
- Staffetta maratona · 42.195 km · Competitive
- Half marathon · 21.098 km · Competitive
- Saucony Helsinki City 5 · Competitive
- Saucony Helsinki City 5 Walk · Non-competitive
- Start times
- Helsinki City Double 09:30 · Maratona 09:30 · Staffetta maratona 09:30 · Mezza maratona 14:20 · Saucony Helsinki City 5 20:00 · Saucony Helsinki City 5 Walk 20:10
- Entry fees
- Helsinki City Double €96 · Marathon €75 · Staffetta maratona €179 · Half marathon €59 · Saucony Helsinki City 5 €38 · Saucony Helsinki City 5 Walk €26
- Registration
- Registration open · Register now ↗
- Official website
- helsinkicityrun.fi ↗
- Edition
- 47th edition · since 1981
- Series
- Boston qualifier · World Marathon Majors qualifier
Last updated: 19 October 2026
The race
The Valio Helsinki City Run is Finland's largest running event: 24,000 runners from 110 nations fill the streets of Helsinki and the Olympic Stadium. The 2027 edition takes place on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May and is organised by the Finnish Athletics Federation, which directs the profits to children and athletes in Finnish athletics.
At its heart is the Saucony Helsinki City Marathon, first held in 1981: it is Finland's oldest and most international marathon and in 2027 reaches its 47th edition, starting on Saturday at 9:30 on Mäntymäentie next to the Paavo Nurmi statue and finishing in the Olympic Stadium. In the afternoon comes the OP Uusimaa Helsinki City Half, the country's biggest half marathon, first run in 1994, with waves from 14:20.
The programme also includes a four-person marathon relay, the Helsinki City Double (marathon and half on the same day) and, on Friday evening at 20:00, a 5 km run and 5 km walk; the children's Minimarathon is on Friday afternoon. Both marathon and half have AIMS-certified courses and the marathon is part of the AbbottWMM Age Group rankings.
Course
All races start on Mäntymäentie, next to the Paavo Nurmi statue, and finish in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The marathon course described on the website (2025 version) starts along Mannerheimintie, the country's main street, and mixes seaside, parks and the city centre; there are 11 aid stations, one gel station and a large refreshment area at the finish.
The half marathon, now faster and with more seaside running, also uses Mannerheimintie; in 2026 its stations with Maxim sports drink and water were at Kellosaarenranta (3.5 km), Lauttasaari sports park (7.2 km), Lehtisaari (9.6 km), Tammisairaala (13.5 km) and Tilkanvierto (17.1 km). Relay changeovers are in Meilahti, at the Opera House and again in Meilahti. Details of the 2027 course and aid stations will be updated by the organisers.
Entry fees
- Until 31 October 2026NowMaratona e mezza maratona nello stesso giorno€96
- Final feePrezzo successivo€105
What's included
Rules and requirements
The marathon and the Helsinki City Double are open to runners who turn 18 in the year of the race. The website does not ask for a medical certificate or licence. 2027 prices are reduced until 31 October 2026 and then rise: marathon €75 (then €82), half €59 (then €65), Double €96 (then €105), relay €179 per team (then €209), 5 km €38 (then €40), 5 km walk €26 (then €27); the event T-shirt is extra.
The marathon starts at 9:30 (target under 4 hours) and 9:40, with a 6-hour limit and net times; the half starts in seven waves from 14:20; the 5 km has a one-hour limit. Bibs are collected at the Race Office in the Olympic Stadium by showing your QR code, at least one hour before your start (for the marathon by 8:40 on Saturday); a friend can collect it with your QR code.
Entries are binding: the fee is refunded only with MySafety insurance bought at registration, and pregnant runners can defer by one or two years. A place can be transferred to another runner for the same edition through a €10 re-registration, and distance changes can be requested by email.
