Ballot System Ensures Fair Entry for All
Following a highly successful first event, the organisers of the Dublin City Half Marathon have announced that the 2026 race will take place on Sunday, 3rd May. The event will move to a ballot-based entry process, following runner feedback on last year’s first-come, first-served system. This new approach aims to create a fairer process, giving all interested runners an equal opportunity to take part. The race date has also shifted from March to the May Bank Holiday weekend, a change designed to better balance the needs of runners, organisers, and the wider city community.
Ballot Process
The general ballot will be open for seven days from 7am on Friday the 16thJanuary until midnight on Thursday 22nd January on the Eventmaster website. The ballot URL will be published closer to the opening date.
Entrants will be notified of their ballot outcome by email in batches between Wednesday, 28th January and Thursday, 29th January. Notifications will be issued in stages, with unsuccessful applicants notified first, followed by successful applicants. The full notification process may take up to two days to complete.
The race capacity for 2026 is 12,500, agreed with statutory agencies to ensure participant safety and a high-quality race experience. A total of 11,200 places will be available through the public ballot. The remaining entries will be allocated to our charity partners, elite athletes, international sports tour operators, and community participation programmes.
A €4 ballot entry fee (plus platform and payment transaction fees) will apply to all applicants entering the 2026 Dublin City Half Marathon Ballot. Applicants who are unsuccessful in the ballot will receive a full refund of the €4 ballot fee.
Race Entry Fee
The entry fee for the 2026 Dublin City Half Marathon is €75. Successful ballot entrants will have the €4 ballot fee deducted and will be required to pay the remaining balance of €71 to confirm their place. Non-Athletics Ireland members will be required to pay a €2 one-day licence fee.
The entry fee includes an official event t-shirt, finisher medal and postal delivery of the race bib. It also reflects the scale, quality and significant logistical costs involved in staging a major road race in Dublin city centre, which operates on a similar city-centre footprint and delivery scale to the Dublin Marathon. In addition, the fee covers the administrative costs associated with operating the ballot system.
Additional Opportunities to Participate
With the growing popularity of the Dublin City Half Marathon, organisers expect strong interest for the 2026 race. While not all runners may secure a place through the ballot, additional entry opportunities may become available via the official transfer window which will take place from Thursday 2nd April to
Wednesday 8th April. A €10 transfer fee will be charged to the recipient of a transferred entry. There will also be charity places for runners wishing to support good causes while securing entry.
Dublin Marathon Group
The Dublin City Half Marathon is organised by the Dublin Marathon Group, a not-for-profit organisation that also delivers the Dublin Marathon and the Dublin Marathon Race Series.
Any financial surpluses generated by the Dublin Marathon Group are fully reinvested into event delivery, safety, participant experience, and operational improvements. In line with best practice, reserve funds are maintained solely for operational stability and contingency planning.
The organisation operates under strong Executive and Board level oversight to ensure sustainable and responsible financial management in support of major public events.
Stay Informed
Stay informed by following the official social channels and the official website https://dublincityhalfmarathon.ie/ for ongoing updates.