Running race schedule in Spain through December 2026

From mid-May until December 31, the Spanish running calendar enters its most interesting stretch: first the mountains tighten up, then the races survive the heat, and when the temperature drops, the big road events arrive, with half marathons, urban 10Ks, international marathons and the inevitable San Silvestre Vallecana, that sneaker-clad street party Madrid celebrates every New Year’s Eve as if running ten kilometers were a reasonable way to say goodbye to the year.

The schedule left in Spain wouldn’t fit on a napkin, because the country runs a lot and sometimes runs for any noble, municipal or downright sentimental excuse. But there is a clear map for anyone looking for races from now until December 2026: Zegama-Aizkorri and several popular races in May, 10Ks and trail in June, hard mountain racing in July, an almost desert-like August for road running, a strong return in September, a buildup of half marathons and 10Ks in October, a big competitive block in November and a December finish with the Valencia Marathon and the San Silvestre Vallecana.

The calendar left from May doesn’t start gently

The real starting point, May 15, 2026, comes with a weekend that explains Spanish popular athletics pretty well: a bit of epic, some logistics, lots of sold-out entries and villages turning a race into a local celebration. The Zegama-Aizkorri, on May 17, opens the big trail spotlight: mountain marathon, cult atmosphere, 25th edition and the square in Zegama turned into a Basque theater of mud, fog and bells. The main race shares the stage with the Vertical Kilometer on the 15th and the junior race, in a program where the bib almost feels like an invitation to dinner with the lesser gods of the mountain.

That same stretch of May also leaves popular road races with a life of their own. Almansa celebrates its 25th Half Marathon on Saturday, May 16, with 3,000 registered runners and the presence of Reyes Estévez in an anniversary edition that mixes competition, memory of the provincial circuit and runner services with that Manchegan generosity that doesn’t ask too many questions before putting food on a table. A week later, Sabiñánigo concentrates its half marathon, 10K and children’s races on May 23 and 24, with a Sunday 9:00 a.m. start from Plaza de España for the half and the 10K.

In the last part of May, names still appear on the calendar for very different profiles. The Albacete Night 10K, on May 23, comes in as a fast option for those looking for a short distance; the Ironman Lanzarote includes a marathon within its final segment, though it shouldn’t be confused with a typical popular race because it comes after an eternity of swimming and cycling, a minor detail only for triathletes with a questionable relationship with rest. In that same May showcase, the pull of mountain and endurance events remains, even if they don’t always speak to the same audience, but they do speak to the same body: legs, head and stomach.

May and June: from the nearby bib to real trail

June already changes the temperature of the whole thing. The Huelva 10K, set for June 6, appears as one of the standout road events, while the mountain calendar gains weight with the Travesera Integral Picos de Europa, on June 13, a 74-kilometer race that isn’t chosen on a whim or for a pretty photo on social media; it’s chosen because you know what you’re getting into, or because you still don’t know and the mountain will explain it to you with its usual teaching style.

The second half of June fills up with trail and long distances: Burdin Hesiko Mendi Lasterketa on June 20 in Bizkaia, Ultratrail Torla-Ordesa from June 26 in Huesca, Epic Trail Vall de Boí on June 27 in Lleida and Gran Trail Picos de Europa also on June 27 in Asturias. It’s no coincidence. When the asphalt starts to boil, Spanish runners look north, to the Pyrenees or the Cantabrian coast, like someone looking for decent shade in a square with no trees.

For the city runner, June is still useful as a month for 10Ks, night races and local events, but expectations should be adjusted. There’s no autumn marathon festival here. It’s more of a split calendar: those looking for a time go for early or night starts; those looking for adventure head to the mountains; those looking to debut should choose manageable, well-organized races with serious hydration. It sounds obvious. Then June arrives, the sun hits the back of your neck, and the obvious turns into science.

July and August: when the asphalt hides

July belongs almost entirely to the mountains and endurance. The Trail Val d’Aran by UTMB, scheduled for July 3 in Lleida, opens a tough month, followed by Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz on July 12, with a marathon inside the triathlon, and the Gran Trail Aneto-Posets on July 17 in Huesca. The Spanish summer doesn’t forgive: the schedule shifts toward altitude, valleys, trails and races where the scenery is beautiful, yes, but can also be a harsh judge with a granite whistle.

August, on the other hand, is a curious gap in the running calendar in Spain. The big road races almost completely disappear, and the aggregated calendars barely find any relevant events in the country. It’s not a lack of enthusiasm, it’s applied biology. In much of the country, running at certain hours in August feels more like penance than sport. There are very specific trail challenges, small local festival races and niche formats, but the big calendar is saved for September, like schools, traffic jams and promises to train better this year.

September brings another kind of breathing. The Trail Valle de Tena, on September 5 in Huesca, and Canfranc-Canfranc, on September 11, keep the Pyrenean pulse going. Then come Ultra Trail Gredos, 100K Madrid-Segovia, the Valencia Night 15K, the Abel Antón Half Marathon Ciudad de Soria, Gorbeia Suzien and the Valladolid Half Marathon, all in the second half of the month. It’s the runner’s back-to-school season: it’s still hot, but now you can talk about paces without it sounding like a cruel joke.

October puts the city back at the center

October brings back the urban rhythm. The Gijón Villa de Jovellanos Half Marathon is set for October 10 at 5:30 p.m., with bibs increased to 3,000, a certified course and a tourism push that is already looking even toward Portuguese runners. It’s one of those races that explain why medium-sized cities have understood the soft business of running very well: it’s not enough to close streets, you have to fill hotels, cafés, cider houses, promenades and Monday conversations.

On October 17, Bilbao celebrates the Bilbao Night Running Fest, no longer under the old mold of the classic night marathon, but with a half marathon and 10K format. The start is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from San Mamés and the finish at the Guggenheim, with music, fireworks and that Bilbao staging that turns effort into a well-lit industrial postcard. The half, at 21.097 kilometers, and the 10K keep certification, a shared start and an urban route designed more for living the night than for arguing with the clock every five seconds.

The main dish of October, for anyone looking for a half marathon personal best, arrives on the 25th with the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon. The start is scheduled for 8:25 a.m. and the city will once again sell its strongest argument: fast course, dense field, favorable weather and a recent history full of world records. Valencia doesn’t just organize races; it has built an identity around running fast on flat asphalt, almost as if the city had decided that epic can also be horizontal.

November concentrates the big competitive block

November is the busiest month in the remaining calendar. On the 7th comes the Marató dels Dements, in Castellón, with 42.5 kilometers and a 22.5-kilometer version, a mountain race that sounds like a warning even before looking at the profile. On November 8, several major events line up: Behobia-San Sebastián, the Málaga Marathon and the Cádiz City Half Marathon. At this point we’re no longer talking about isolated races, but a real autumn traffic jam. Blessed traffic jam, the bib-wearing runner will say; cursed, the one who has to choose.

The Behobia-San Sebastián returns on November 8 with its 20 kilometers between Irun and Donostia, start in Behobia and finish on Alameda del Boulevard. The announced maximum field is 30,000 participants and the time limit is 2 hours and 35 minutes from your own start. It’s not a half marathon, even though many people mentally file it there: it’s 20 kilometers with personality, dense crowds, climbs, tradition and that Basque way of cheering that feels more like a moral order than applause.

That same November 8, Málaga presents its Marathon and Half Marathon with a 8:30 a.m. start. The marathon measures 42.195 meters, is certified, follows WA and RFEA regulations and has its start and finish on Paseo del Parque, in front of City Hall. The half shares the day and offers 21.095 kilometers, with a maximum time of 2 hours and 45 minutes from the last start. Málaga has made a move: new routes, a promise of a faster, flatter course with fewer turns. The Mediterranean also knows how to get serious when it’s time to compete.

On November 15, two interesting names appear for very different audiences. On one hand, the Toledo Marathon, listed in national calendars as a 42-kilometer event; on the other, Ponle Freno Madrid, with 5K and 10K from Plaza de Colón, a popular race with a charitable angle and an affordable price. Also scheduled for November is the Derbi de las Aficiones race, though municipal information still keeps the date to be confirmed. In Madrid, even running can end up smelling like football. What a surprise.

On November 22 comes the Zurich San Sebastián Marathon, one of the most appealing events for anyone looking for an urban, flat, sea-level marathon. The main race will start at 9:00 a.m. and the 10K at 8:15 a.m., with distances certified by the RFEA through an authorized World Athletics commissioner. San Sebastián has an unfair advantage: even when you’re suffering, the scenery insists on looking good.

December: Valencia, Vallecas and the last bib

December begins with the great beast of Spanish distance running: the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, December 6 at 8:15 a.m. There will be 42.195 certified meters, a start at Plaza Maratón and an edition presented with World Athletics Platinum label and recognition as Spain’s best marathon by the RFEA. The organization describes it as the fourth fastest marathon in the world, with 2:01:48 as its great calling card, and that sets the tone: Valencia is no longer just a beautiful race, it’s a factory of ambition.

The important detail for the popular runner is the registration system. The 2026 edition introduced a lottery to distribute bibs, with tens of thousands of requests and a waiting list. The Valencia Half Marathon also sold out its 25,000 bibs after the loyalty process, lottery and waiting list. In other words: in the big Spanish races, wanting to run is no longer enough; you also have to be on time, accept the luck of the draw and watch your email like it’s an exam for a technical shirt.

The year ends on December 31 with the San Silvestre Vallecana, 10 kilometers in Madrid and two different souls: the popular race, open to runners aged 16 and over, and the international race, reserved for athletes with accredited times under 39 minutes for men and 45 for women. The mini race is held a few days earlier and completes one of the country’s most recognizable sporting rituals. Some people eat grapes; others first tackle the climb to Vallecas. Spain, when it wants to, is a pretty hard country to explain.

A living agenda, with bibs flying out

The full agenda of running races in Spain until December should be read with reasonable caution: calendars change, some small races are added late, others alter their route because of works, heat, permits or safety, and not all local races appear in national aggregators. Even so, the 2026 map already leaves a solid pattern. May and June are good for popular races, 10Ks and trail; July leans toward the mountains; August empties out; September reactivates long distance; October brings back urban half marathons; November concentrates almost everything; December reserves two symbols, Valencia and Vallecas.

To choose well, runners should look less at the shine of the name and more at the real combination of date, distance, weather, travel and bib availability. A June 10K can be perfect for testing the legs; an October half, ideal for chasing a personal best; Málaga or San Sebastián, alternatives for an autumn marathon; Valencia, the big target if the bib comes through; the San Silvestre, a year-end ritual. Spanish running is not a straight line. It’s more like a network of secondary roads, closed avenues, muddy trails, impossible bibs and bars open when everything is over. That’s why it hooks you.

The country that runs when the noise dies down

The picture left by 2026 is pretty clear: Spain runs all year, but it runs differently depending on the month. In late spring, popular racing mixes with the mountains; in summer, survival takes over; in autumn, the methodical runner appears, that citizen who talks about paces the way others talk about mortgages; and in December the calendar becomes almost ceremonial, with Valencia chasing times and Madrid saying goodbye to the year in strides.

The useful answer is not to choose a single race, but to understand the character of each stretch. Those who want brutal atmosphere have Behobia. Those who want speed, Valencia. Those who want a beautiful urban marathon, San Sebastián. Those who want night racing, Bilbao. Those who want mountain running in capital letters, Zegama, Canfranc, Tena or Aneto. Those who want to run without solemnity, any local 10K will do, because sometimes athletics starts there: a crooked bib, a shirt that’s way too new, a gel nobody needed and that suspicion, when crossing the finish line, that the body still has more road in it than it seemed.