54th Hermannslauf

Road Race with Cult Status

The Hermannslauf is more than just a sporting event – it is a communal experience that connects two cities over 31 kilometers of forest. Since 1973, TSVE 1890 Bielefeld has organized the race from the Hermannsdenkmal in Detmold to the Sparrenburg in Bielefeld. It leads through one of the most scenic low mountain regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and is considered one of Germany's most traditional road races.

When and Where is the Race?

The 54th Hermannslauf 2026 will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Start at the Hermannsdenkmal in Detmold (Lippe), finish at the Sparrenburg in Bielefeld. The course is 31.1 kilometers long and follows the Hermannsweg through the Teutoburg Forest.

Start Times and Start Groups

• 8:00 a.m. – Start for hikers (own category, separate from the run)
• From 11:00 a.m. – Start for runners in five staggered waves (A–E)
• Wave staggering to ease traffic on the course
• Timing by chip

The Course

The 31.1 kilometers are challenging:

• Start at the Hermannsdenkmal – after a short warm-up, you enter the forest
• Teutoburg Forest – the profile is hilly, but not alpine; around 600 meters of elevation gain and loss spread out
• Tank Road near Augustdorf – the mythological point of the course: a wide supply road of the Bundeswehr through the forest, where hundreds of runners form a corridor together
• Hermannsweg – the race runs along this hiking trail for long stretches
• Finish straight Sparrenburg – the last kilometers uphill to Bielefeld's landmark
• Refreshment stations every 5 kilometers (water, isotonic drink, fruit)

Registration and Starting Places

Registration for 2026 started on January 18, 2026, via davengo.com. Based on experience: The hiking category sold out within an hour, the running category in 35 minutes – a record. Those who want to participate in 2027 should prepare well in advance and be online exactly at midnight on the registration day.

Start Numbers and Logistics

Collection of start numbers on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Lenkwerk in Bielefeld, or on race day from 6:20 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at Stadtwerke Bielefeld. A postal delivery option (€8 surcharge) must be selected during registration.

Travel and Shuttle Bus

• Shuttle buses from Detmold (from 7:15 a.m.) and Bielefeld (from 6:30 a.m.) to the start at the Hermannsdenkmal
• Private car traffic directly at the Hermannsdenkmal is restricted
• Train service from Bielefeld and Detmold to the start areas is possible

Teutoburg Forest as a Stage

The Teutoburg Forest is a low mountain range that runs through Ostwestfalen-Lippe from north to south. It is said that Arminius (Hermann) defeated the Romans here in 9 AD – the Hermannsdenkmal from 1875 commemorates this. The Hermannslauf runs along this historically charged mountain range, making it physically tangible for thousands of runners.