Berlin Marathon Ballot Closing Date 2027: Last Chance to Enter by 12 November
Written by Andy Hood · Ultra runner, cancer survivor and Runna ambassador Published Published 6 November 2026
This article contains affiliate codes/links which supports the blog and Andy's cancer charity work.
The Berlin Marathon ballot closing date for 2027 is Thursday 12 November 2026. Entry is free, results are emailed on Thursday 3 December, and the €215 fee is only taken if you're drawn. The race itself is on Sunday 26 September 2027, and it's the first under its new name, the Generali Berlin Marathon.
With a new name and a new entry fee, I suspect the 2027 Berlin Marathon ballot is going to be very busy, and with it closing on 12 November there are only a few days left for you to put your name in the hat. Here's everything you need to enter before the deadline, in the time it takes to drink a coffee.
In This Article
Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot Closing Date, Entry Fee and Key Facts
World Marathon Majors 2027: Running London and New York Towards the Six Star Medal
How to Enter the Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot Before the 12 November Deadline
Berlin Marathon 2027 Charity Places, Tour Operators and Other Entry Routes
Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot: Frequently Asked Questions
Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot Closing Date, Entry Fee and Key Facts
What | Detail |
Ballot opened | Thursday 1 October 2026 |
Ballot closes | Thursday 12 November 2026 |
Results emailed | Thursday 3 December 2026 |
Entry fee taken (if drawn) | From Friday 4 December 2026 |
Race day | Sunday 26 September 2027 |
Entry fee | €215 (up €10 on 2026), free to enter the ballot |
Bag drop | €5 extra, instead of the finish poncho, and only bookable at registration |
Who can enter | Anyone born in 2009 or earlier |
Time limit | 6 hours 15 minutes, walkers welcome, no Nordic walking |
Where to enter |
The organisers don't publish a closing time for the general ballot, so don't leave it until the evening of the 12th. The only time stated is for 2026 goodwill voucher codes, which must be redeemed by 11:59pm CET (10:59pm UK time) on 12 November.
World Marathon Majors 2027: Running London and New York Towards the Six Star Medal
The World Majors are on my radar this year, as I'll be at two of them. As an ultra runner, a marathon is not usually where you'll find me. But keep an eye on my socials in 2027 and you'll see me training for and running London and New York.
London comes first, on Sunday 25 April, running for The Robin Cancer Trust. I'm documenting the whole build in my Road to London Marathon 2027 series. New York follows in the autumn, and if you're plotting your own Majors, my New York Marathon 2027 entry guide covers every way in.
For someone who is driven by achievement, this could be the start of chasing the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, awarded for finishing the six original Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Two down by the end of 2027 would leave four to go, so Berlin may well feature in 2028.
With the Berlin Marathon entry deadline of 12 November closing fast, let's look at your entry route, and what to do if you're successful and looking for a marathon training plan.
How to Enter the Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot Before the 12 November Deadline
You enter through a free SCC Events account, then choose one of three routes. Your choice is final and nothing can be changed once you submit, so read this first.
Create your account on the SCC Events login page. The organisers also have a step-by-step registration guide.
Pick your route:
Individual runner. The route most of us will take.
Team of two or three. The first person registers, picks a team name and gets a team code in their confirmation email. Everyone else chooses "Join an existing team" and enters that code. If the team is drawn, you all get a place. The code can't be added after registration, so decide who goes first.
Fast runner with a qualifying time. Upload proof of a marathon run in 2025 or 2026 on an AIMS-certified, USATF-listed or Majors age-group ranking course. It isn't guaranteed: if your proof is rejected, you drop into the general ballot.
Choose a poncho or bag drop. The poncho is included; a clothing bag costs €5 and can't be added later.
Consider the cancellation insurance. Fees aren't refundable and places can't be transferred or deferred to another year.
Add your payment details and submit. You'll get a confirmation email within 24 hours. That confirms your entry in the draw, not a place.
Berlin Marathon 2027 Qualifying Times
Year of birth | Men | Women |
2009 to 1983 | 2:45 | 3:10 |
1982 to 1968 | 2:55 | 3:30 |
1967 or earlier | 3:25 | 4:20 |
One tip for UK runners: the €215 is charged in euros from 4 December, so check your card's foreign transaction fee before you enter.
Want the odds, and how Berlin compares with the other Majors? I covered that in my Berlin and Chicago 2027 ballots guide.
Generali Berlin Marathon 2027: New Name and €215 Entry Fee
A new name. BMW's name had been on the race since 2011. From 2027 it's the Generali Berlin Marathon, with a new website at generali-berlin-marathon.com. If you're still searching for the "BMW Berlin Marathon ballot", this is the same race.
A new fee. Entry rises from €205 to €215. It still includes a four-day public transport pass for Berlin's A, B and C zones, pacers in every start wave, on-course massage and a finish poncho.
The same fast course. It's the flat loop where Guye Adola won the 2026 men's race in 2:02:50 and Tigst Assefa set a women's course record of 2:11:04. Around 56,000 runners started the 2026 marathon.
Berlin Marathon 2027 Training Plan: When to Start
If the 3 December email says yes, you have nearly ten months until race day. That's a gift, not a reason to panic.
Plan length | Week one starts | Best for |
16 weeks | Monday 7 June 2027 | Runners with a marathon or regular half marathons behind them |
20 weeks | Monday 10 May 2027 | First-timers, or anyone wanting more runway |
The months before that are where Berlin is quietly won. Over winter I'd pick one of three Runna programmes, depending on where you are now:
Run to Maintain: holds your base while the body recovers from a busy season.
Run Faster: a winter of 5K and 10K speed work, so you start the marathon block sharper.
Run Further: builds your long run and weekly volume if you're stepping up from halves.
When June comes, the World Marathon Majors plans are built into Runna, so your Berlin marathon training plan is shaped around the course you'll actually run. It's the same app I'm using to build towards London.
Claim an exclusive two-week free trial of Runna Premium with code ANDY2, double the usual length. Redeem it here.
Berlin Marathon 2027 Charity Places, Tour Operators and Other Entry Routes
A "no" on 3 December isn't the end. These routes stay open after the ballot:
Charity place: guaranteed entry in return for fundraising. UK charities are listed on the official charity page. If you go this way, mean it. My London charity places guide covers how to write an application that stands out.
Official tour operator: a guaranteed place bundled with travel. Only buy from the official tour operator list.
Jubilee Club: a guaranteed place if you've finished Berlin ten or more times.
Volunteer: see the race from the inside and plan for 2028.
Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot: Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot close?
The Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot closes on Thursday 12 November 2026, according to organisers SCC Events. It opened on 1 October 2026 and is free to enter. No closing time is published for the general ballot, so submit your entry well before the end of the day on 12 November.
When are the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot results announced?
Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot results are emailed to every entrant on Thursday 3 December 2026. Successful runners are charged the €215 entry fee automatically from 4 December 2026, and payment can take up to a week to process. Runners who miss out can still apply for a charity place or a tour operator package.
How much is the Berlin Marathon 2027 entry fee?
The Berlin Marathon 2027 entry fee is €215, up €10 from €205 in 2026. Entering the ballot is free, and the fee is only charged if you are drawn. It includes a four-day Berlin public transport pass, pacers in every start wave and a finish poncho. A clothing bag drop costs an extra €5.
What date is the Berlin Marathon 2027?
The Berlin Marathon 2027 takes place on Sunday 26 September 2027. It is the first race held as the Generali Berlin Marathon. The flat course loops through the city and finishes through the Brandenburg Gate, with a time limit of 6 hours 15 minutes.
Is the BMW Berlin Marathon now the Generali Berlin Marathon?
Yes. From 2027 the BMW Berlin Marathon is renamed the Generali Berlin Marathon, after insurer Generali replaced BMW as title sponsor. BMW had sponsored the race since 2011. The organiser, SCC Events, the course and its World Marathon Majors status are unchanged, and entry is now through generali-berlin-marathon.com.
Can you enter the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot as a team?
Yes. Two or three runners can enter the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot as a team. The first runner registers, creates a team name and receives a team code, which the others enter when they register. If the team is drawn, every member gets a place. The code cannot be added after registration.
What are the Berlin Marathon 2027 qualifying times?
The Berlin Marathon 2027 fast runner qualifying times are 2:45 for men and 3:10 for women born 1983 to 2009, 2:55 and 3:30 for those born 1968 to 1982, and 3:25 and 4:20 for those born 1967 or earlier. Times must come from a 2025 or 2026 marathon on a certified course.
Does a Berlin Marathon qualifying time guarantee entry?
No. A qualifying time does not guarantee a Berlin Marathon 2027 place. Fast runner proof is reviewed by the organisers, and the outcome is confirmed with the ballot results on 3 December 2026. If the proof is rejected, the entry is automatically moved into the general ballot.
What happens if you are not drawn in the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot?
Runners not drawn in the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot can still get a guaranteed place through an official charity partner or an official tour operator package. Runners who have finished Berlin ten or more times can claim a place through the Jubilee Club. Ballot entries are personal and cannot be transferred.
When should you start a Berlin Marathon 2027 training plan?
For the Berlin Marathon on 26 September 2027, a 16-week training plan starts on Monday 7 June 2027 and a 20-week plan on Monday 10 May 2027. The months before that are best used maintaining a base or building speed, so the marathon block starts from solid fitness.
About the Author
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner, testicular cancer survivor and proud Runna ambassador. After cancer knocked him off his feet in 2021, he rebuilt his running with Runna's structured, personalised plans and went on to complete multiple ultra marathons.
He designs bold running challenges to raise awareness of testicular cancer and has raised over £28,000 for cancer and mental health charities. He is the founder of Check Ya Balls gear, menswear that saves lives.
As a Runna ambassador, Andy can offer new users an exclusive two-week free trial. Claim your free trial here or use promo code ANDY2.
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