Altra Sunset Series Hamburg – Inselpark

Running into the Sunset

The Sunset Series – from 2026 under the new main sponsor name "Altra Sunset Series" – is one of the most distinctive running formats in the German popular running calendar. Instead of starting in the morning like a typical marathon or half marathon, participants meet in the late afternoon, the starting gun fires at 7:00 PM – with the clear goal of completing the last laps in twilight and the final steps in the red-gold light of the sunset. On July 15, 2026, the sun sets in Hamburg at 9:41 PM, and the finish line closes at 9:30 PM.

Wilhelmsburger Inselpark as a Backdrop

The venue is Wilhelmsburger Inselpark – the large area in the Wilhelmsburg district, which emerged from the International Garden Show 2013. With lakes, wide meadows, skate facilities, and a dense network of paths, the park offers a versatile 5 km circuit (on asphalt and paved paths) with start and finish at Kurt-Emmerich-Platz. A control point counts each lap.

Format: Three Distances, One Course

The format is deliberately flexible: you run 1, 2, or 3 laps – that corresponds to approximately 5 km, 10 km, or 15 km. You don't make the choice when registering, but on the day itself on the course (you simply run as long as you want and signal to the timing system when leaving the circuit). This makes the run equally suitable for 5 km beginners and 15 km ambitious hobby runners.

Relay Race for Teams

Additionally, there is a relay race: teams of 2 to 4 people complete 4 laps together (20 km total). The teams themselves decide how to divide the course – whether each person runs one lap, one person runs two and another runs two, or other configurations. Standard registration: €70 per team, team tent an additional €30.

Wilhelmsburg – District of Hamburg-Mitte

Wilhelmsburg is the largest inhabited river island in Europe and has been part of the Hamburg-Mitte district since 2008. The Inselpark – on the grounds of the former IGS 2013 – is one of Hamburg's most important inner-city green spaces and a venue for numerous running, concert, and festival formats. Thus, the Altra Sunset Series is an ideal addition to the established Hamburg running calendar (Hamburg Marathon in April, Cyclassics in August) in the state of Hamburg.