Sunday September 20th, 2026
Copenhagen, Denmark
Distance: Half Marathon · 5K · 1.61 km
Offical Race Web Site
Six world champions and 65,000 runners just behind them. In September 2026, the heart of Copenhagen is expected to be the stage for Denmark’s largest-ever participant event.
The World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 will take place on September 19-20, 2026. A total of 65,000 participants will join the running festivities behind the world’s fastest female and male athletes competing in the Half Marathon, 5K, and One Mile distances.
| Division | Time | Name | Age | Home |
| Male | 59:10 | Sabastian Kimaru SAWE | KEN | |
| 2nd Male | 59:14 | Daniel Simiu EBENYO | KEN | |
| 3rd Male | 59:19 | Samwel Nyamai MAILU | KEN | |
| 4th Male | 59:22 | Jemal Yimer MEKONNEN | ETH | |
| Female | 1:07:25 | Peres JEPCHIRCHIR | KEN | |
| 2nd Female | 1:07:26 | Margaret Chelimo KIPKEMBOI | KEN | |
| 3rd Female | 1:07:34 | Catherine Reline AMANANGOLE | KEN | |
| 4th Female | 1:07:50 | Tsigie GEBRESELAMA | ETH |
| Division | Time | Name | Age | Home |
| F 60-69 | 1:26:16 | Rosa Mota | POR |
Course highlights
When developing the Half-Marathon course of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, we wanted it to be fast, pretty, compact, and accessible. So here we go! The start and finish area – the Embankment – is the Gate to Old Riga and is right on the main river Daugava. It’s wide, spacious, and in the heart of the city making it easily accessible for Championship runners, fans, and spectators! Right after the start we cross the Akmens tilts (Stone Bridge), allowing perfect UNESCO Heritage Old Riga Views, and head to Pardaugava, the other bank of river Daugava, known for its contrasting architecture combining the National Library, wooden architecture, and skyscrapers with romantic gems like Dzeguzkalns, the Cuckoo Hill.
We return to Old Riga over Vanšu bridge (Suspension Bridge) offering a spectacular Panorama of the City.
The good news is that Vanšu bridge and Stone bridge are pretty much the only hills on the course since the rest of Riga is pretty flat. The compact course includes most of Riga’s central landmarks making it exciting not just for participants, but spectators.
National Museum of Arts. National Theatre. The Monument of Freedom and the very central avenue of Riga – Freedom Street.
Before finishing off – the world-famous Art Noveau architecture on Elisabeth street.
