54th Hermannslauf
31.1 kilometers road race from the Hermannsdenkmal Detmold to the Sparrenburg Bielefeld – one of Germany's most traditional road races
2026
About Hermannslauf
Hermannslauf — edition 2026
The 54th edition of the Hermannslauf 2026 will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The organizer is TSVE 1890 Bielefeld, supported by Sparkasse Bielefeld and Neue Westfälische.
Highlights Hermannslauf 2026
- 54th edition – one of Germany's oldest road races
- 31.1 km from Hermannsdenkmal to Sparrenburg
- Famous Tank Road near Augustdorf as a course highlight
- Competition for runners (5 waves) and parallel hiking race
- Sold out within 35 minutes
Programme Hermannslauf 2026
Program April 26, 2026
Saturday, April 25, 2026 – Day Before
- 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Collection of start numbers at Lenkwerk Bielefeld
Sunday, April 26, 2026 – Race Day
- 6:20 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. — Late collection of start numbers (Stadtwerke Bielefeld)
- 6:30 a.m. — first shuttle bus from Bielefeld to the Hermannsdenkmal
- 7:15 a.m. — first shuttle bus from Detmold
- 8:00 a.m. — Start for hikers at the Hermannsdenkmal
- 11:00 a.m. — Start for runners in five waves (A–E)
- during the morning — the leaders reach the Tank Road near Augustdorf
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Finish line arrivals at the Sparrenburg Bielefeld
- afternoon — finish refreshments and award ceremony
Prices Hermannslauf 2026
Registration via davengo.com (from January 18, 2026). Starting fees approximately €35–€60 depending on category and registration time. Postal delivery of start numbers costs an additional €8.
Practical information — Hermannslauf
Getting to the Start
No direct car access to the Hermannsdenkmal on race day – park-and-ride and shuttle from Detmold (Lenkwerk, Stadtwerke Bielefeld) from 6:30 a.m.
Getting to the Finish
Sparrenburg Bielefeld is directly accessible by tram line 4. About a 10-minute walk from Bielefeld main station.
Registration
Via davengo.com. Registration in early January of the following year – places are gone within minutes.
On Site
Refreshment stations every 5 km, medical service, finish refreshments at the Sparrenburg, shower facilities at club grounds.
Tips
First time participating: start slowly – the course is long and hilly, many runners falter. Train marathon preparation for two weeks before the race. Those who prefer a quieter experience can participate in the hiking category (start 8 a.m.) – the same route, but a different atmosphere. Sponsors: Sparkasse Bielefeld and Neue Westfälische present the event, along with partners Altra Running and PhysioRelax.
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.
Where it takes place Hermannslauf
Hermannslauf at a glance
History of Hermannslauf
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