Göteborgsvarvet

Course & Elevation

Göteborgsvarvet is a half marathon of 21,097.5 metres through Gothenburg, held on a Saturday in May by the Göteborgs Friidrottsförbund and billed by the organisers as the world's largest half marathon. The 2026 race was on 23 May with 55,000 registered runners; the 2027 race is set for Saturday 22 May and sold out in record time. Start waves leave Margretebergsgatan next to Slottsskogsvallen from 13:00 and the finish is in the Slottsskogsvallen arena in Slottsskogen park. The organisers describe the route as running through Slottsskogen, along the quays of Hisingen and past Avenyn. Rope times are set at 5 km at the southern end of the Älvsborgsbron, at 12 km at the SVT building, at 15 km at Packhusplatsen and at 17 km at Götaplatsen, and the finish closes at 19:15, so the time limit depends on the start group. The first Göteborgsvarvet was run on 7 June 1980 with 1,800 runners starting on Heden and finishing at Ullevi. The organisers say more than 200,000 spectators line the route, with 50 music stations. The same week includes shorter races such as the 4.3 km Cityvarvet and the Stafettvarvet relay.