Name: Kiel.Lauf 2026
Start: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Innenstadt Kiel (Start Martensdamm, Ziel Rathausplatz)

Kiel.Lauf

About Kiel.Lauf

Since 1988, the Kiel.Lauf has been a firm fixture in Schleswig-Holstein's sports calendar and one of Northern Germany's largest fun runs. Every September, you start together with thousands of runners in the heart of the state capital: from Martensdamm, you'll run a 10.4-kilometer circuit through the city center, past the castle, harbor, and the famous Kiellinie right on the fjord, before the finish line awaits you on Rathausplatz. From the Bambini run to the half marathon, there's a suitable distance for every age group and level.

Dates 13 Sep — 13 Sep 2026

Venue Kiel (01002)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Kiel.Lauf — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 38th Kiel.Lauf powered by Förde Sparkasse will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in Kiel's city center. Six competitions – from Bambini to half marathon – attract thousands of runners to the circuit through the city center. Registration has been fully booked for months.

The 38th edition of the Kiel.Lauf will bring together thousands of participants on the second Sunday in September 2026 in the state capital. The start and finish areas are located in the heart of the city center – at Martensdamm and on Rathausplatz – the 10.4-kilometer circuit runs through the center and along the Kiellinie on the fjord. The organizer is again Zippels Sportveranstaltungs GmbH, with Förde Sparkasse as the main sponsor.

The participant limit was reached many weeks before the date: the official registration form has shown the status "We are fully booked" since early summer 2026.

Highlights Kiel.Lauf 2026

Six competition classes, half marathon along the Kiellinie, fully booked participant field months in advance.

Programme Kiel.Lauf 2026

Start Times on September 13, 2026

08:30 AM — Bambini Run (≈ 0.9 km)
08:40 AM — Youth Run (2.9 km)
09:15 AM — Short Run and Youth Run (5.3 km)
09:45 AM — Fun Run (10.5 km)
10:50 AM — Half Marathon (21.1 km, two laps of the circuit)

All competitions start at the Martensdamm, and the finish line for all distances is on Rathausplatz. The half marathon is officially measured and listed with German Road Races.

Prices Kiel.Lauf 2026

Registration exclusively online via kiellauf.de. Early bird rates for individual distances; late registrations are usually no longer possible as the limit is reached well before the race day. The event is already fully booked for 2026.

Practical information

Practical information — Kiel.Lauf

Getting There

Kiel Central Station is just a few minutes' walk from the start and finish area at Martensdamm/Rathausplatz. By car, you can reach Kiel via the A215 (Kiel-Mitte exit); on the day of the event, the Park & Ride facility at Citti-Park is recommended.

Registration & Entry Fee

Registration is exclusively online via kiellauf.de. Places are limited – in recent years, the events have regularly been fully booked weeks before the run. Early birds pay lower fees than those who register later.

Course Closures

On the day of the run, extensive road closures will be in effect in the city center around Rathausplatz, Holstenstraße, and Kiellinie. Please observe the notices from the City of Kiel.

Running with a Fjord View in the Heart of Kiel

The Kiel.Lauf, presented by Förde Sparkasse, has been an institution for the running scene in the state of Schleswig-Holstein since the late 1980s. It is organized by Zippels Sportveranstaltungs GmbH and certified by the German Athletics Association as part of the German Road Races. With several thousand registrations per year, the run is one of the major grassroots sports highlights of the state capital and is regularly fully booked weeks before the start.

Six Competitions for All Age Groups

The program covers all distances from crawling to professional level, making the run a true family festival:

Bambini Run over approx. 0.9 kilometers for the youngest
Youth Run over 2.9 kilometers and 5.3 kilometers
Short Run over 5.3 kilometers
Fun Run over 10.5 kilometers
Half Marathon over the official distance of 21.1 kilometers

The Course: A City Tour at Running Pace

The circuit leads from the start at Martensdamm through the city center, past Holstenstraße, Schlossgarten, and the Hörn harbor, before turning onto the Kiellinie directly on the Kiel Fjord. Here, you can enjoy the view of passing ferries in the final kilometers before the finish line on the central Rathausplatz, complete with commentary and refreshments. The half marathon covers the circuit twice.

Tradition and Atmosphere

What makes the Kiel.Lauf special is its close connection with the city: thousands of spectators line the course, clubs, schools, and companies send their own teams to compete, and after crossing the finish line, the shared running experience is celebrated on Rathausplatz. In the independent city of Kiel in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the second Sunday in September is firmly linked to the Kiel.Lauf.