Dublin City Council has been announced as the title sponsor of the Dublin City Half Marathon, which will take place on Sunday, 3rd May 2026. The race date has moved from March to the May Bank Holiday weekend, a change designed to better balance the needs of runners, and the wider city community.

The ‘Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon’ is organised by Dublin Marathon Group and will start at 8:30 am in the heart of Dublin City on O’Connell Street. The course will take runners through the north of the city before finishing back in the city centre.

Building on Dublin City Council’s involvement as official event partner for the inaugural event in 2025, Dublin City Council’s confirmation as title sponsor reflects its continued commitment to supporting active lifestyles, public health, and inclusive city-centre events that bring people into the heart of Dublin.

The ‘Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon’, will welcome runners of all abilities, from beginners to experienced athletes. The mission of the event remains to create a vibrant racing experience that celebrates runners, the city of Dublin, and its people. The event theme is “Run Together – Thrive Together.”

A ballot-based entry system was introduced following runner feedback, allocating places through a public ballot, with remaining entries reserved for charity partners, elite athletes, international tour operators and community programmes. Runners who were unsuccessful in the ballot will still have opportunities to take part, with a transfer window from 2nd–8th April and with charity entries available through realbuzz.