On March 29, 2026, the Generali Berlin Half Marathon will celebrate its 45th anniversary. Organiser SCC Events is looking back on the event’s development alongside Berlin’s transition as Germany’s capital over the years and will be introducing new features for the 2026 event.
Road races became a fixture of sporting life in both parts of Berlin during the 1980s. While the Peace Race was the largest event in the GDR, the Berlin Half Marathon – organised by SC Charlottenburg in West Berlin – served as a local performance test ahead of the Berlin Marathon.
In late summer 1990, roughly ten months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a joint race took place. Over the following decades, the event grew into one of the largest half marathons internationally.
A significant update occurred in 2019 when the start and finish were moved to Straße des 17. Juni. The finish line is now situated behind the Brandenburg Gate, providing one of the most recognised backdrops in road running.
Since 2024, the Generali Berlin Half Marathon has been part of the SuperHalfs series. This international series includes half marathon events in cities such as Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.
The international standing of the Berlin race is reflected in its participation figures, with athletes from more than 100 nations taking part each year. The proportion of female participants has risen to over 40% and continues to grow, marking it as one of the events with the highest percentage of women runners in Germany.
To mark the anniversary year, SCC Events is expanding the event programme with the premiere of the Garmin Berlin Mile at Generali Berlin Half Marathon.
The new race covers the classic mile distance. The course follows the final section of the half marathon route, running from Lustgarten near Berlin Cathedral and the Humboldt Forum, past the State Opera and Humboldt University, to the finish line behind the Brandenburg Gate.
Garmin, a US-based active tech company, will serve as the title sponsor of the Garmin Berlin Mile and the official timing partner for the entire event.
Kai Tutschke, Managing Director of Garmin DACH, said “We want to motivate people to get moving – whether it’s taking the first step, participating in their first running event, or striving toward new personal goals.
“The Garmin Berlin Mile at Generali Berlin Half Marathon offers the opportunity to experience the mile in an individual way and become part of a great community.”
Christian Jost, CEO of SCC Events, said “Garmin is a reliable and innovative partner for us who not only enriches our events technologically, but also shares our vision of inspiring people to come together through movement and sport and creating unforgettable moments. The partnership underscores our shared commitment to quality, experience, and community.”
Peloton returns as an official event partner for the third time. The company supports participants by combining cardio, strength and recovery through its indoor and outdoor training platforms.
Martin Richter, General Manager of Peloton Germany and Austria, said “The Generali Berlin Half Marathon stands for determination, community, and personal development – values we share at Peloton.
“Peloton is helping the runners by combining cardio, strength and recovery for both indoor and outdoor training. With data-driven training on a Bike or Tread along with the infectious energy of our instructor-led classes live or on demand, we provide the personal training structure and community support for runners unlock their personal best on race day.”
Christian Jost at SCC Events added “The Generali Berlin Half Marathon thrives on strong partnerships that share our values and create real added value for participants. Peloton is a partner that authentically embodies determination, community, and personal development. With a holistic training approach, Peloton optimally supports runners in their preparation and beyond.”
www.generali-berliner-halbmarathon.de
