The inaugural City of Aberdeen Half Marathon has sold out in just six days following a run on entries for the new mid-summer running event.
All general entry places for the 13.1-mile race on Saturday, July 18, 2026 have now been snapped up, following a surge in registrations in the days after launch.
The rapid sell-out marks a significant milestone for organisers and partners behind the event, reinforcing confidence in plans to establish a full City of Aberdeen Marathon from 2027.
Delivered by not-for-profit Aberdeen Marathon Company Limited, the event is backed by Opportunity North East (ONE) and Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, with additional support from Great British Energy, True North Advisors and Ventex, alongside Aberdeen City Council.
Steve Gray, founder of The Aberdeen Marathon Company Limited, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response. To sell out in just six days shows there is a huge appetite for a mid-summer running event – and one that only a place like Aberdeen can deliver.
“The combination of a compact city, stunning coastline and cooler summer temperatures is clearly resonating with runners. This is a really strong start and gives us great momentum as we build towards a full marathon in 2027.”
Runners taking on the half marathon route will start in Duthie Park, before pacing along Riverside Drive, over Bridge of Dee, along the South Deeside Road, and back in the Deeside Line before finishing back in the park.
The full marathon from 2027 onwards will pass key landmarks including Marischal Square, King’s College, the full length of Union Street, the Bridge of Dee and Aberdeen Beach.
The event builds on the momentum of major events in the city, including last year’s Tall Ships Race, which attracted more than 400,000 visits and generated an estimated £32.2million for the local economy, and forms part of a wider ambition to position Aberdeen as a leading destination for events and adventure tourism.
While general entries are now closed, a limited number of places remain available for elite athletes meeting benchmark times of sub-70 minutes (men) and sub-80 minutes (women).
Organisers are also seeking a title sponsor for the event. Steve added: “We are working on some charity and sponsor packages for the 2026 event and will make space available for those – we would love to hear from organisations which would like to get involved.”
Further details and future plans can be found at http://www.aberdeenmarathon.org/