Rome, 15 September ’26 — The official course of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks, scheduled for Sunday 18 October 2026, has been confirmed. The race, organised by RomaOstia and RCS Sports & Events, will once again bring thousands of runners to the heart of Rome.
As anticipated, the start of the third edition will be located at the arches of Viale di Porta Ardeatina at 8:00 a.m., between Viale delle Terme di Caracalla and Via Cristoforo Colombo — an unprecedented location, with the Roman walls framing the start of a sporting event for the first time. The finish line remains unchanged from the first two editions: Via degli Annibaldi, with a breathtaking view of the Colosseum, ready to welcome the 40,000 participants of Italy’s most attended half marathon.
Covering the standard 21.097 km, the course winds through the historic centre of Rome, in line with the vision of the Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion. Councillor Alessandro Onorato stated: “We are proud to present a unique route in the heart of Rome, allowing every runner to compete inside an open‑air museum. No other half marathon in the world offers the chance to race through history. It is no coincidence that in just three years the event has become one of the most important races globally, with 40,000 participants — 80% arriving from abroad. I am also pleased with the success of the Charity Program, which has already raised over €70,000 for social projects. This confirms that major events are essential not only for economic and employment impact, but also for the social benefits they generate for the territory.”
From Porta Ardeatina, runners will follow Circonvallazione Ostiense and Via Ostiense to the Piramide Cestia, then continue toward the Circo Massimo and the Isola Tiberina. Running along the Lungotevere, they will reach Castel Sant’Angelo before entering Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to the extraordinary view of San Pietro in Vaticano — a new highlight introduced for this third edition.
After leaving the Vatican area, participants will head north to the Foro Italico at kilometre 13. The course then returns toward the finish line, passing the Ara Pacis, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Via del Tritone and Via del Corso, before reaching Piazza Venezia. The final stretch includes Via dei Fori Imperiali, Via Cavour and the iconic arrival in front of the Colosseum on Via degli Annibaldi.
Saturday will also feature a rich programme of events: the approximately 5 km non‑competitive Gemelli – Longevity Run presented by Altograno, organised with Policlinico A. Gemelli and researchers from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and the Arcaplanet Dog Run, the non‑competitive walk/run open to dogs and their owners. Both routes are currently being finalised.
VILLAGES
The Rome Half Marathon village — where competitive athletes can collect their race kit and visit partner stands — will be located at Eataly Roma Ostiense (Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492), open from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 October. The Longevity Run village at the Terme di Caracalla is also confirmed for Friday and Saturday, offering registration services, race kit collection and free health screenings for participants, promoting prevention and healthy lifestyles through targeted risk‑factor assessments.
CHARITY PROGRAM
The final bibs for the half marathon are available through the Charity Program, supporting fundraising for the official partner organisations: Fondazione Bambino Gesù ETS, Sport Senza Frontiere, UNICEF – Fondazione ETS, Fondazione Italiana Diabete, Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, PlayMore! with RunChallenge and Liberi Nantes ADS. More information: https://www.romehalfmarathon.it/charity
