Everything You Need To Know About The Dublin Half Marathon

For many runners, the big target of the summer series is the Dublin Half Marathon. It is the third event in the Dublin Race Series and the point where the distances begin to feel properly serious.

For marathon trainees it acts as the most important checkpoint before October. For others it can stand comfortably as the main race of the summer.

Here is what you need to know.

The Basics

-  Race: Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon
-  Location: Phoenix Park, Dublin
-  Date: Sunday September 20th 2026 @ 9.00am
-  Distance: Half Marathon (21.1 KM)
-  Cut Off time: 3 hours 15 minutes

The Dublin Half Marathon is the third race in the Dublin Race Series, following the Fingal 10K in July and the Frank Duffy 10 Mile in August. By the time this race arrives, runners who have completed the first two races will have built a solid stretch of summer racing.

A Bit Of History

The Dublin Half Marathon has grown steadily as part of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon Race Series.

What began as another stepping stone event has developed into one of the most popular half marathons in Ireland. Club runners treat it as a serious race opportunity. Marathon trainees use it to test their fitness. Plenty of others circle it as their one big target race before autumn.

The race takes place entirely within Phoenix Park, giving runners a scenic but still competitive setting.

Where It Fits In The Race Series

If the Fingal 10K is the warm up and the Frank Duffy 10 Mile builds the endurance, the Dublin Half Marathon is where things start to feel real.

For runners targeting the Dublin Marathon, it acts as the biggest race rehearsal of the series. The distance is long enough to test pacing and fitness without the recovery demands of the full marathon.

If you are not marathon training, it still works perfectly well as a standalone target. With a focused training block, a half marathon is a distance most runners can build towards without completely rearranging their lives.

The Course

The race takes place within Phoenix Park, using wide park roads and longer straighter sections. It is not dead flat, but compared with many Irish races it is considered fair. Once the field spreads out, there is plenty of room to run your own race.

Entry Fee

You can enter the Dublin Half Marathon here.

The entry fee for the 2026 Dublin Half Marathon is €48.15, which consists of a €45 race entry fee plus a €3.15 booking fee.

As with the other races in the Dublin Race Series, demand is traditionally high and places do not tend to linger once entries open. For a large scale, chip timed race in the capital, the event continues to represent solid value.

Pacers

Pacers are typically available across a wide spread of finish times, including:

1:30,1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30

If pacing discipline is not your strongest trait, locking onto a pacing group early can save you from blowing up later on.

What You Get For Your Entry

Finishers in the Dublin Half Marathon typically receive:

-  Finishers medal
-  Official race T shirt
-  Goodie bag

The Practical Bits

Race numbers are posted in advance, usually around ten days before race day.

Timing is chip based and attached to your bib.

Parking inside Phoenix Park is not permitted on race morning, so runners should plan their transport carefully. Shuttle buses have operated from Parkgate Street in previous years to bring runners to the start area.

Arrive early. Plan ahead. Do not leave yourself scrambling five minutes before the gun.

Conclusion

Entries are now open.

If you are already eyeing the Fingal 10K and the Frank Duffy 10 Mile earlier in the summer, the Dublin Half Marathon on Sunday September 20th 2026 is the race that ties the entire series together.

Get the entry in.

Then see just how far your summer fitness can carry you.