Barcelona Marathon and Half Marathon 2027: dates, Expo, start and getting there
For a runner, a marathon doesn't start with the starting gun. It starts with working out when to fly in. In Barcelona, the bib collection schedule answers that: the last day to pick up your number is Saturday. So aim to arrive on Friday, or on Saturday morning at the latest, so you're not stuck in a queue at the Expo an hour before it closes. The marathon itself takes place on Sunday 14 March 2027, starting at 8:30 on Passeig de Gràcia, a short walk from Plaça de Catalunya.
The half marathon has its own day, a month earlier: 14 February 2027. It starts at the same time, 8:30, and runners gather on Passeig de Picasso by Ciutadella Park.
The marathon and half marathon in one table
| marathon | half marathon | |
|---|---|---|
| date | 14 March 2027 | 14 February 2027 |
| start | 8:30, Passeig de Gràcia | 8:30, Passeig de Picasso |
| time limit | 6 hours | 2 h 45 min |
| Expo Sports | 11-13 March | 11-13 February |
For both races, the time limit is counted from the moment the last runner crosses the start line. That matters: 37,000 people are registered for the marathon, and they set off in waves based on the pace they gave when registering. If you signed up for a slower wave, you'll cross the start line well after 8:30, and your finish will shift too. According to the regulations, the marathon closes at around 16:15.
If you're only now planning to sign up, the news isn't great. By 1 November the organisers had sold all 37,000 marathon bibs, four and a half months before the race, and the 40,000 half marathon bibs sold out in May in just seven days. There's still a chance, though. For the half marathon, the website has an official Marketplace where runners resell their bibs. For the marathon, the only option is transferring your bib to another runner, and according to the FAQ section, transfers are accepted until 15 February.
You have to collect your bib in person
Bibs and chips are handed out at Expo Sports on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the race. On Sunday morning you can no longer get one, even if you land at six in the morning and run in the first wave. The rule is strict, so check your arrival time when you book your flight.
The organisers haven't announced the Expo venue yet: as of 10 November, the "venue" field for both races says "Pròximament", meaning "coming soon". The opening hours aren't entirely clear either. The marathon's Expo page gives 15:00 to 21:00 on Thursday and 9:00 to 21:00 on Friday and Saturday, while the FAQ section of the same website says collection ends at 20:00. As long as the website gives two different versions, it's safer to plan on 20:00.
You can collect a bib for a friend. You'll need their registration confirmation with their runner number and their ID, and a digital copy will do. If someone in your group is arriving on Saturday evening, sort this out in advance, not in the queue at the Expo.
Race morning
The marathon bag drop is on Passeig de Lluís Companys and is open from 7:00 to 16:00. From there it's a 1.3 km walk to the start on Passeig de Gràcia, so drop off your things with time to spare, or your warm-up will turn into a run to your start pen.
There are no showers at the marathon. After the finish you'll head back to your hotel as you are, in your running kit with a medal round your neck, so the closer your hotel is to the centre, the nicer that journey will be.
The organisers haven't published the 2027 finish location yet: the link to the finish map is still empty. In 2025, runners finished by the Arc de Triomf, next to the same Passeig de Lluís Companys. The course map and a GPX track for your watch are in the "Recorrido" section of the marathon website. The elevation profile, however, is something you'll have to find out with your legs: there's no data on it there.
The city on race day
The city council hasn't published the list of road closures for 2027 yet. It usually appears a few days before the race. The 2025 marathon gives an idea of what to expect. Closures on Passeig de Gràcia began the day before, on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday from 6:00, sections around Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Urquinaona, Ronda de Sant Pere and Ronda de la Universitat were closed, and from 8:30 all the streets on the course closed as well. They reopened as the last runners went past, and the last restrictions were lifted by 18:00.
Buses have the hardest time on a day like this. In 2025, TMB changed or shortened the routes of 46 lines from roughly 6:30 to 15:30, and the city council and TMB advised people to take the metro.
The Aerobús had a surprise that morning that's easy to miss. From 7:00 until about 14:00 it didn't stop at Plaça de Catalunya or anywhere else in the centre, and only dropped passengers off at Plaça d'Espanya, by Espanya metro station. Flying in on marathon morning? Check the notices on the Aerobús website, or you won't get as far as Plaça de Catalunya, even though on a normal day the bus would take you right to the start. How it runs on other days is covered in our article on the Aerobús.
From the airport to your hotel
Most runners fly in on Thursday or Friday, when the city runs as normal. From the airport to the centre there's the Aerobús, metro line L9 Sud and the R2 Nord train, or you can book a transfer. We compared the pros and cons of each option in our article on getting from the airport to the city. With a transfer from the airport to central Barcelona, the ride takes about 24 minutes, and the driver takes you right to your hotel. Before a race, that saves your legs: no wheeling a suitcase from the stop.
On race morning and when the race finishes, a car is trickier: the streets around the course are closed, and the driver won't be able to pull up right at the start or the finish. Choose a pick-up address outside the closed streets, and agree on the exact meeting point with the driver in the chat. The driver will suggest where it's easiest for you to get in.
You can fly out the same evening, but rushing after the finish is hard. According to the regulations, the marathon closes at around 16:15, and then you still have to collect your things from the bag drop and get to your hotel. Forrest Gump kept running for more than three years, of course, but after 42 kilometres you'll want at least a couple of quiet hours to yourself. If you can fly out on Monday, do: the last day of your trip won't be a rush, and you can book your transfer from Barcelona to the airport in advance. We worked out how much time to allow at the airport itself in our article on how early to get to Barcelona airport.
Frequently asked questions
When should I fly into Barcelona for the 2027 marathon?
Fly in early enough to get to Expo Sports before Saturday evening, 13 March: bibs are no longer handed out on Sunday.
Should I take the metro or a car on the morning of the Barcelona Marathon?
If your hotel is in the centre, take the metro: buses run on diversions that day, and the streets around the start are closed. A car makes sense if you're staying far from the course. In that case, choose a pick-up address outside the closed streets.
Will I make an evening flight on the day of the Barcelona Marathon?
If you're running in a slower wave, it's better to book your flight for the next day. The marathon closes at around 16:15, and after the finish you still have to collect your things, get to your hotel and then to the airport.
Where should I stay for the Barcelona Half Marathon?
The most convenient place to stay is close to Passeig de Picasso and Ciutadella Park. On race morning it's easier to walk there than to drive through closed streets.
You can book in the Let's GO app or on the website: enter the pick-up address and the destination, and the price appears straight away, before you confirm.
Photos: Jorge Jaramillo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0