Races

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONIN / RACE GUIDE

Delhi Half Marathon

Name: Launch of Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024
Uploaded: 2024-07-24
Description: The Vedanta Delhi half marathon starts and finishes at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. One of India’s leading half marathon events, it holds a World Athletics Label.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

New Delhi
IN

Debatosh Sengupta · GODL-IndiaDebatosh Sengupta / PIB / Wikimedia Commons / GODL-IndiaPIB / Wikimedia Commons / GODL-IndiaPIB / Wikimedia Commons / GODL-India

Race date Expected Oct: October 2027
City · Distance: New Delhi · 21.1km
Entry fee: ₹2,000From the 2026 edition
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date October 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Oct 18, 2026 · Entry Jul 23, 2026 ~ Sep 8, 2026 · Entry fee ₹3,200 · Start 05:00

Official website ↗Marathon · Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon (SIM)

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Nov 15, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The Vedanta Delhi half marathon starts and finishes at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

One of India’s leading half marathon events, it holds a World Athletics Label.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

#VedantaDelhiHalfMarathon#NewDelhi#October Marathon#Half marathon

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3

Juby GeorgeRan in 2024

“At the 6th km, I felt a sharp pain in the right glues and I decided to slow down.”

At the 2024 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Juby George experienced congestion in the opening section. After slowing down because of pain at the 6 km mark, Juby George finished in under 1 hour 42 minutes.

Read the original on Eat, Run, Live, Sleep, Repeat

Sanchit AgarwalRan in 2023 · Finish time 1:21:40

“The sponsor tents, however, were too crowded so I skipped visiting those.”

Management of entry and the starting area had improved, but after 12 km the route merged with the 10K participants, slowing the pace because of overtaking and avoiding other runners.

Read the original on Geeks on Feet

VijayRan in 2023 · Finish time 1:29:38

“I finished in 1.29.38 and was more or less as per my own expectation.”

The runner took part in the 2023 Vedanta Delhi half marathon as the 1 hour 30 minute pacer. The runner experienced a flat course, weather of around 23°C, humidity, 10K participants joining the course in the later stages, and GPS inaccuracies. The official time was 1 hour 29 minutes 38 seconds.

Read the original on Geeks on Feet

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Highlights
Procam International · Highlights
View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

General entry

Entry cost ₹2,400

Open 10K, available to anyone aged 15 or over (finisher certificate not required;

if submitted, it may be used when assigning the start wave)

Aged 15 or over (born on or before 2011-10-17). Overseas applicants: USD 50

Organizer's page

Qualifying time

Entry cost ₹3,200

The main half marathon category is open only to applicants who submit a pre-race finisher certificate (excluding the charity category)

Aged 18 or over (born on or before 2008-10-17);

submission of a pre-race finisher certificate is required.

Overseas applicants: USD 60

Organizer's page

Charity

Entry cost TBD

Charity entry applications with limited places;

no pre-race finisher certificate required

Details such as the entry limit and fundraising requirements have not been published on the website

Organizer's page

Virtual run · Half

Entry cost ₹599

Virtual half marathon, with completion verification during the designated period

Aged 18 or over (born on or before 2008-10-17).

Complete the event during 2026-10-11~18 (practice week: 10/4~10).

Entry fee applies to domestic participants

Organizer's page

About Elite qualification standards · Virtual run · 10K · Virtual run · 5K · Senior non-timed · Para category · Fun Run (Great Delhi Run 5.3 km)

Elite qualification standards

Entry cost TBD

Half marathon elite category for runners who meet the elite qualifying standards by age group

Qualifying standards: half marathon men 1:07:30/women 1:23:30, 10K men 30:35/women 37:50, 25K men 1:20:48/women 1:39:57, marathon men 2:20:44/women 2:54:05.

A result from a World Athletics/AIMS-certified event held during 2025-09-05~2026-09-04 is required.

Organizer's page

Virtual run · 10K

Entry cost ₹599

Virtual 10K, with completion verification during the designated period

Aged 15 or over (born on or before 2011-10-17).

Complete the event during 2026-10-11~18.

Entry fee applies to domestic participants

Organizer's page

Virtual run · 5K

Entry cost ₹599

Virtual 5K, with completion verification during the designated period

Aged 10 or over (born on or before 2016-10-17).

Complete the event during 2026-10-11~18.

Entry fee applies to domestic participants

Organizer's page

Senior non-timed

Entry cost ₹450

A non-competitive run of approximately 2.5 km for participants aged 60 and over

Age 60 or older (born on or before 1966-10-17).

Overseas applicants: USD 10. No timing, finisher certificate not issued

Organizer's page

Para category

Entry cost ₹450

A non-competitive run of approximately 2.5 km for participants with disabilities;

companions may accompany them

Participants must be age 12 or older (born on or before 2014-10-17);

companions must be age 18 or older.

Up to 2 companions (450 rupees/USD 10 per person, charged separately).

Overseas applicants: USD 10

Organizer's page

Fun Run (Great Delhi Run 5.3 km)

Entry cost ₹800

Non-competitive 5.3 km Fun Run, age 12 or older

Age 12 or older (born on or before 2014-10-17).

Overseas applicants: USD 25. No timing, finisher certificate not issued

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 21.1km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 05:00

Time limit3 hours

3 hours and 30 minutes

The start time and cutoff follow the official announcement (checked 2026-08) — re-check on the official page before entering.

Event	Time limit	Entry fee
Half Marathon21.097km	—	₹3,200
Half Marathon - Elite21.097km	3h 30m	—
Open 10K10km	—	₹2,400
Great Delhi Run5.3km	—	₹800
Champions with Disability2.5km	—	₹450
Senior Citizens' Run2.5km	—	₹450
Virtual Run	—	₹599

START

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium(JLNS), Delhi

start/finish

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi

Finish · Google Maps

Cutoff
Official time limit for the 2026 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon: the half marathon must be completed within 3 hours 30 minutes of the start time for official results and a finisher certificate to be issued.

Runners start · local time — Official start times for the 2026 Vedanta Delhi half marathon: the first wave starts at 05:00, followed by 05:06, 05:12, and 05:18; start line closes at 05:30.

2026 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon Official course: Based on Half Marathon Race Route in the official race route and facility information PDF.

The start line and finish are both at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLNS).

When the stadium underwent renovations ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the start was temporarily moved to the Secretariat building grounds.

The course is largely flat, which has produced fast winning times despite its relatively short history.

The men's race has been won in under one hour, while the women's winning time has been under 1:08.

The route passes India Gate and runs near Jantar Mantar.

On the loop around India Gate, runners can see the Netaji statue and the war memorial.

The 10K event, the 'Open 10K,' starts on Sansad Marg (Parliament Street).

The race was first held in 2005 and is now known by its sponsor's name as the Vedanta Delhi half marathon.

It is an AIMS-certified course and has been designated a Gold Label Road Race.

AIMS Certified: Member race of the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races)

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Timing chip 2026

Half · 10K

Event T-shirt 2026

Half · 10K

Free public transit 2026

Bag drop 2026

Half · 10K

Race expo 2026

Finisher certificate 2026

Finisher medal 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Hotels1.6km from the start · ★9.3

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Bib pickup

Overseas and regional participants are advised to choose the Oct 17 time slot.
Oct 15 (Thursday) ~ Oct 17 (Sat), time slot reservation system

PLAYSCAPE

Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 Expo

Google Maps Directions

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startJawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station (Violet Line, JLNS) -- built into the JLN Stadium complex, the…
Transit cardGet the DMRC Tourist Smart Card (₹200 for 1 day or ₹500 for 3 days) — unlimited rides at major stations, no recharging hassle, and your foreign contactless bank card won't yet tap directly at regular gates. Where to buy

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 · Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station (Violet Line, JLNS) -- built into the JLN Stadium complex, the start/finish venue

Start ~100m inside Gate 1. Alternate stations: Jangpura (Violet Line, one stop, 250m-1.1km walk); Jor Bagh (Yellow Line, ~2.5km, free e-rickshaw shuttle to venue in prior editions). Per prior (2025) edition: Delhi Metro ran completely FREE for registered runners via QR-coded wristband from bib pickup, special early service from 3:15 AM.

Arrive 60+ min before gun time. Roads close from ~4:30 AM near the venue -- do not rely on taxi access.

Official transport pages currently down (HTTP 500) -- verify closer to race day. At the 2025 edition, road closures ran from 4:45 AM to 10:00 AM along Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, Zakir Hussain Marg, Kartavya Path (Rajpath), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Janpath, Sansad Marg and the India Gate/C-Hexagon loop.

Participants can receive a free Metro Band (QR) on the day of the event at the Expo.

Map

Getting to the finish

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station -- same as start (loop/out-and-back course)

Expect heavy congestion at JLN Stadium station for 1-3 hours post-race as ~40,000 finishers disperse; Jangpura station may be less crowded as an alternate.

Map

Start shuttle

At prior editions, a free e-rickshaw shuttle ran from Jor Bagh metro station (Yellow Line) to the stadium. This is a metro-centric event.

Transit card

Delhi Metro Smart Card

Customer Care Centre or ticket counter at any Delhi Metro station. Not accepted at the gates — get the local card above

Alternative: DMRC Tourist Smart Card ₹200 for 1-day unlimited validity, ₹500 for 3-day unlimited validity (each price includes a refundable ₹50 deposit) — Worth it for almost any short 1-3 day visit involving several metro trips a day, since it gives truly unlimited rides on all lines except the Airport Express Line and avoids recharge queues. The standard rechargeable Delhi Metro Smart Card costs about ₹150 at issue (₹50 refundable deposit + minimum balance), gives a 10% fare discount plus extra off-peak discounts, and is refillable at station counters.

The Airport Express Line accepts QR-code app tickets and India's own RuPay-based NCMC card, which DMRC began issuing (via an Airtel Payments Bank partnership) in May 2026. Tourist Smart Cards are sold at dedicated counters in roughly 36 stations (including Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat), not every station, so plan your purchase point in advance.

Where to buy

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The programme is led by the half marathon, alongside an open 10K,

the 7km Great Delhi Run, the 4.3km Senior Citizen Run and Champions with Disability.

Across all events, participation is about 40,000.

Bib and race kits must be collected in person at the 'PLAYSCAPE' expo held several days before race day.

The 2026 expo runs for three days, from October 15 to 17, and participants must select a collection time in advance.

Delhi and NCR residents are encouraged to choose October 15 or 16, while participants from elsewhere are encouraged to choose October 17.

The race takes place on the third Sunday of October.

New Delhi's October averages are 33.0°C during the day and 19.5°C at night, so conditions remain hot in daylight but become cooler overnight and before dawn.

Times are local to New Delhi. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotel Westend Holiday Home 5 Mint From Nizamuddin Railway Station

Hotel · 1.4km · 22-minute walk

4.0/10(72)

View on Booking.com

Lodi Garden Yoga Session

Morning yoga in the historical park · ₹3,654

View on GetYourGuide

Delhi Belly Food Tour

₹2,660

View on GetYourGuide

Delhi Night Tour India Gate Birla Mandir Cp Bangla Sahib

₹4,410

Delhi Half Marathon

About Delhi Half Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run