Latvia
Riga Marathon 2027
Sunday 16 May 2027 · confirmed date
205 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 16 May 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 07:35
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Loop
- 11 November Embankment, by Riga Castle to 11 November Embankment, by Riga Castle
- Course record, men
- 2:08:51
- Andualem Shiferaw, 2019
- Course record, women
- 2:26:18
- Birke Debele, 2019
- Time limit
- 6h00
- First held
- 1991
The race
About the Riga Marathon
The Riga Marathon has been held since 1991 and now runs as the Rimi Riga Marathon. In 2026 a record 46,313 participants from 116 countries registered across its distances, which include the marathon, half marathon, 10 km, a mile race and a kids' day over a May weekend. All distances carry a World Athletics road race label.
The marathon starts and finishes beside Riga Castle and crosses the Daugava twice, with the UNESCO-listed Old Town and the city's Art Nouveau architecture as a backdrop. The course is flat and fast, which makes it a good spring target for a personal best, and the early start keeps most of the field in cool air.
Course
The Riga Marathon course
The marathon starts and finishes on the 11 November Embankment next to Riga Castle. In recent editions the single-lap route crossed the Daugava on the Vanšu Bridge and returned over the Stone Bridge, with a section running alongside Old Riga.
The course is flat, so the main challenges are pacing and the open river crossings, where wind can be noticeable. Intermediate checkpoints have cut-off times, so slower runners should know them in advance. The organisers have announced brand-new courses for 2027, described as just as fast, so check the official course map before planning your race.
Race-day weather
At the early start in mid-May it is usually around 8–14 °C, though the day can warm up quickly in sunshine.
Train
Training for the Riga Marathon 2027
29 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 28 December 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 25 January 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 22 February 2027 |
For this course
Riga's early start and flat course reward even pacing: practise long runs at marathon pace on flat roads, and rehearse a very early breakfast and warm-up for a start around 07:30. A mid-May race means building through the Baltic winter, so plan for cold, dark training and indoor backups. Spring weather in Riga can swing from cool to warm, so do a few sessions in the heat of the day in the final weeks.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Riga Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Entry is by online registration, which stays open until the evening before the race. Marathon runners must be 18 or older. Relay options are also offered over the marathon and half-marathon distances.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Nords Event Communications
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Riga Marathon 2027?
The Riga Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 16 May 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Riga Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 25 January 2027, a 20-week plan on 28 December 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Riga Marathon course flat?
Yes. The course is flat and single-lap, crossing the Daugava by bridge. New courses are planned for 2027 but are described by the organisers as equally fast.
What is the time limit for the Riga Marathon?
Six hours for the marathon, with cut-off times at checkpoints along the course.
Is the Riga Marathon a Boston qualifier?
All distances hold the World Athletics road race label and are measured to AIMS standards, and the organisers state that results count toward Boston 2028 qualification.
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