PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONIN / RACE GUIDE

New Delhi Marathon

Name: Everything You Get for Free at The Delhi Half Marathon 🏃♀️
Uploaded: 2025-10-19
Description: It starts and finishes at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The course follows Lodhi Road past Lodhi Garden and near Humayun's Tomb, then loops around India Gate, Kartavya Path and the Khan Market area.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

New Delhi
IN

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports · GODL-IndiaWikimedia Commons · Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, GODL-IndiaWikimedia Commons · Subeesh Balan, CC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons · A.Savin, FALWikimedia Commons · Nikhilb239, CC BY-SA 4.0

Race date in 146 days: Feb 28, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: New Delhi · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Entry fee: ₹5,040Varies by event and entry period
Status: ClosedTue, September 1, 2026 ~ Mon, September 7, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 5, 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.

It starts and finishes at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The course follows Lodhi Road past Lodhi Garden and near Humayun's Tomb, then loops around India Gate, Kartavya Path and the Khan Market area.

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.

#NewDelhiMarathon#NewDelhi#Overseas Marathon#February Marathon#Full marathon Marathon

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

Race reports: 3

AravindRan in 2026

“This approach gave me plenty of time to progress without feeling rushed.”

A New Delhi full marathon participant shared their preparation process and race strategy, using two training cycles.

Read the original on Geeks on Feet

KartikRan in 2026 · Finish time 3:15:20

“The splits tell the story of the day: a controlled opening that steadily sharpened as the race settled in.”

The course started at 4:05 am. The cool, flat conditions made it easy for the runner to manage their pace. After running comfortably at the start, the runner gradually increased their pace and finished in 3 hours 15 minutes 20 seconds, 26 seconds faster than their target time of 3 hours 15 minutes 46 seconds.

Read the original on Geeks on Feet

Aditi PandyaRan in 2024 · Finish time 3:37:06

“I was patient with my pace and constantly told myself to slow down a bit.”

The runner kept to their planned pace at the start, but experienced calf cramps after 28 km. After receiving a gel from a nearby runner, they ran the second half cautiously and finished in 3 hours 37 minutes 6 seconds, faster than their goal.

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.

Finisher vlog

Gayu's Kitchen · Finisher vlog

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.

General entry entry has closed

It ran Sep 1, 2026–Sep 7, 2026.
Check separately whether other entry routes are open and spots remain.

Registration history · The 2027 race opened entry on Tue, September 1, 2026

General entry

Standard online registration is available at newdelhimarathon.com, with no lottery or qualifying time required.

The Entry fee varies by distance.

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

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

Time limitThe full marathon time limit for the 2027 New Delhi Marathon is 6 hours

The full marathon time limit for the 2027 New Delhi Marathon is 6 hours, and runners must complete the first lap within 3 hours.

START

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

start, on Lodhi Road

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
2027 New Delhi Marathon time limits: 6 hours for the full marathon, with the first lap to be completed within 3 hours. If you continue running after time limit, course support and an official finisher certificate will not be provided.

The Cognizant New Delhi Marathon, which also goes by the name National Marathon, holds a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.

The 12th edition in 2027 is on Sunday, February 28.

The start and finish are at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Pragati Vihar.

The half marathon runs one lap and the marathon two laps of the same loop.

In 2026 the course left the stadium along Lodhi Road past Lodhi Garden and near Humayun's Tomb,

skirted Mathura Road and Purana Qila to the India Gate roundabout and Kartavya Path, then looped around by Khan Market back to the stadium.

With wide roads and a mostly flat profile, it has a reputation as a good place for a fast time.

Starts are before dawn to beat the heat.

In 2026 the marathon elites started at 4 a.m., the mass marathon at 4:05, the half marathon at 6:15, the 10K at 7:45 and the 5K at 8:30.

The time limit is 6 hours for the marathon,

with the first lap to be completed within 3 hours, 3 hours 30 minutes for the half marathon and 1 hour 30 minutes for the 10K.

The marathon and half marathon are open from age 18 and the 10K from 14.

More than 20,000 runners from all over India and 30-odd countries take part.

World Athletics Label: Gold Label
Typical race-season temperature: around 17°C (63°F): Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Bag drop 2026

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher medal 2026

Timing chip 2026

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

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

2026 edition basis – 2/21 Sat

Pick up your bib at the expo

Uploading valid photo ID (Aadhaar/passport/driver’s licence, etc.) is required during registration, and identity checks are also conducted during expo collection.
There is no official confirmation regarding proxy collection or race-day collection.
Starting with the 2026 edition, the title sponsor changed to Cognizant.

Gate No. 14, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Pragati Vihar, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003

Google Maps Directions

2026 edition basis — 2/20 (Fri): 11:00–18:00
2/21 Sat: 10:00–17:00

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Stations & transport near the venue

Get 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.

Getting to the start

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station (Violet Line) -- runner entry via Gate No. 3; general venue entry via Gate 13/14

Per prior edition (2026, Feb 22): race bibs came with a free Delhi Metro travel QR-code band (collected at expo), valid round-trip on race day.

Parking at Scope Complex (Gate 10) but limited on race day -- metro travel recommended over driving.

Getting to the finish

Same JLN Stadium/Violet Line station -- exit via Gate 13/14

Start and finish are both at JLN Stadium complex.

More details

No dedicated shuttle bus -- instead Delhi Metro ran special early service for the 2026 edition: Yellow/Blue/Violet Lines began 3:30am (instead of ~6am Sunday normal start),

every 30 min until 6:00am, for the pre-dawn start.

2027-specific transport arrangements not yet published.

IC 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.

More details

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.

Foreign contactless Visa/Mastercard tap-to-ride is not confirmed to work at regular Delhi Metro gates as of 2026 —

only the Airport Express Line accepts QR-code app tickets or India's own RuPay-based NCMC card,

which DMRC only 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.

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.

For the 2026 race, bib pickup was only at Gate 14 of JLN Stadium before race day, and one person could collect at most 2 bib packets at the counter.

To get a personalized bib with your name, register at least 15 days before the race.

The timing tag is on the back of your bib, so pin all four corners with the front facing out for your time to be recorded.

On race day, participants can only enter through Gates 13 and 14, and you're asked to arrive at least 1 hour before your race starts.

Bag storage is also at Gates 13 and 14, for marathon, half marathon and 10K runners only,

and closes at 10:30 a.m. Parking is tight, so the organizers recommend carpooling or taxis.

JLN Stadium station on the Delhi Metro Violet Line is right next to the stadium.

In 2026, course roads including Lodhi Road and Mathura Road were closed from 3:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

There's an aid station every 1km along the entire course, medical support at the start/finish and around the course, and motorbike paramedics on patrol.

After the finish there's a hot breakfast and physical therapy booths.

New Delhi in February averages a high of 24.3°C and a low of 11°C;

it's cool at the pre-dawn start but climbs to the mid-20s Celsius by midday, with fewer than two wet days in the month.

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.

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

The Lodhi – A Member Of The Leading Hotels Of The World

Hotel · 1.1km

8.9/10(309)

View on Booking.com

Bloomrooms @ Link Road

Hotel · 509m

8.1/10(422)

View on Booking.com

Hotel O Maharaja Inn

Hotel · 693m

1.1/10(9)

View on Booking.com

Hotel White Palace Nizamuddin Railway St

Hotel · 1.3km

4.8/10(5)

View on Booking.com

Frangipani Suite

Accommodation · 1.1km

9.4/10(38)

View on Booking.com

Colonels Retreat 2

Bed & breakfast · 1.0km

9.2/10(191)

View on Booking.com

Zaza Stay

Bed & breakfast · 1.2km

9.0/10(350)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

42 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

RECOVERY & SPA2SIT-DOWN TOURS3CARB LOADING7LOCAL TRANSIT7FAMILY PASS7TRAIL & OUTDOOR7CITY TOURS7EASY WALKING2

Lodi Garden Yoga Session

Morning yoga in the historical park · ₹3,710

View on GetYourGuide

Delhi Family Home: Yoga, Saree, Henna, and Various Activities

₹1,038

View on GetYourGuide

Yamuna River Boat Trip with Folk Musicians

River boat trip with traditional music · ₹4,236

View on GetYourGuide

New Delhi Qutub Minar Sunset Light & Sound Show

₹2,438

New Delhi Marathon

About New Delhi 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