Information to participants

Contact us: Runners support

As a runner, you have access to excellent customer service, which has also compiled our most frequently asked questions and answers. During Varvet week, you can also meet our customer service team at the Göteborgsvarvet Expo and at the Information Center in the entrance park.

FAQ

Customer service - Varvet week

What start wave?: Seeding system

Like most major marathons around the world, we uses a seeding system to stagger the start. Which wave a runner is placed in is determined by earlier qualifying time.

Seeding system

Make sure to be in time: Bib distribution

Pick up your bib at Göteborgsvarvet Expo in Friidrottens Hus on race weekend.

We recommend everyone who can to pick up the race bib during Thursday or Friday. If you pick up your bib on Saturday, we recommend that you do it during the slot time based on your start wave, this to minimize queuing. It is fine to pick up number bib for others as long as you have their QR code from their start certificate.

Göteborgsvarvet Expo

How to get to the start

This year, there will be more significant traffic impact than usual due to several extensive construction projects in our growing city. Please consider taking public transportation to the start.
Bus/tram stops: Marklandsgatan or Linnéplatsen.
On Göteborgsvarvet's race day, you can also take our own shuttle bus from Åby Arena to the start/finish area. Read more here: Shuttle Bus.

More traffic information and road closures in the city and how to get to the start and finish area will be updated approximately one month before the race.

Bag drop

Bag drop are provided in the event area. See arena map above. Your bib is the receipt when you pick up your bag.

WC

Toilets are located around the event area, see the arena map above for exact locations.

Keep to the right

If you prefer to take it a bit easier during the race, keep to the right — this helps us keep the left side of the course as a passing lane. Please note that wheelchair participants are taking part in Göteborgsvarvet and may reach high speeds on downhill sections.

Show care and respect for your fellow runners – together we create a positive experience for everyone.

Run support: Along the track

• Warm up - At the start by instructors from STC.
• Water station - 9 stations along the course, some also offering Maurten sports drink.
  
• Showers - along the track there are 10 "showers" you can run through to cool off.
• Toilets - In connection to the water stations.
• Medical support - Medical stations at every water station along the course, plus additional locations after Hisingsbron, in Bältesspännarparken, at Brunnsgatan, and in the start/finish area. Defibrillators are also available at the Information Center in the entrance park (between start and finish).
• Music - about 50 music stations along the course, Check out what's happening in each section here.
• Live resultats - Friends and family can follow your split times in the Göteborgsvarvet app.
• Transportation - Back to the start area if you have to cancel the race, from the water stations.

Runner´s Zone: Recovery

Water and energy are provided at the finish.

After the finish: Shower facilities

Shower facilities are available near the finish area:
Men - Frölundaborg
Women and non-binary - Slottsskogens ishall

Your achievement: Result

Result are updated live and can also be found after the race.

Results

Runners zone: Medal

The 2026 medal focuses on the world. Göteborgsvarvet is the world’s largest half marathon, and in the las race runners from 111 different nationalities took part. The medal returns in its iconic round shape, crowned by the silhouette of the Älvsborg Bridge. The leafy motif from recent years’ medals continues to branch out and is integrated into this year’s design. The medal is created by jewellery artist Carolina Claesson.

Add-ons göteborgsvarvet: Make the race extra memorable

Order a personalized medal tag and/or a certificate to celebrate your achievement a little extra. You can add this option when registering or via My dashboard. Purchases are possible until 31 May 2026.

The items will be mailed to your home approximately one month after the race.

My dashboard

Enjoy food and drinks: After Run

Just outside the Runner's zone in the entrance park, you'll find the Göteborgsvarvet food court run by Carotte. Here, Carotte serves both hot and cold food, drinks, coffee, and energizing snacks. Here you can also watch gp.se live broadcast from the course and the finish area. The area is open between 9:00am - 8:00pm for both runners and spectators.

Personal pictures from your race: Photo and video memories

A few days after Göteborgsvarvet, you can find your runner's photos at Marathonphotos. Already now, you can register your interest via the link to be contacted when your running photos are published. You will get your bib number in the start certificate by email 1-2 weeks before the race. Save memories for life!

To Marathonphotos

Your finisher video
See yourself running Göteborgsvarvet! ASICS will send you a link via e-mail with your personal movie shortly after the finish. After your race you can also search for your movie by start number and name.

To the finisher video

Max time

To complete the race, you must pass the following cut-off points:

16:55 – 5 km (southern bridgehead of Älvsborgsbron)
17:45 – 12 km (SVT building)
18:10 – 15 km (Packhusplatsen)
18:27 – 17 km (Götaplatsen)
19:15 – 21 km (Finish – Slottskogsvallen)

Start times take place between 13:00–16:15, so the maximum time depends on your assigned start wave. An average pace of approximately 7:30 min/km is required if you start in the last start wave.

Runners who are not expected to meet the cut-off times must leave the course. This is to allow traffic to reopen according to plan. Transportation back to the finish area will be provided. If you choose to continue outside the official race, you do so at your own risk.

Start with a friend

If you want to run with a friend, it is always allowed to move to a start group further back. You can do this without contacting us and it will not affect your result. Observe that this only applies when moving to a start group further back, moving to an earlier start group will lead to disqualification.

Experience Gothenburg

Take the opportunity to experience the city during your stay. Make sure to make the most of Gothenburg before and after the race.

Experience Gothenburg

Organizer and rules

Göteborgsvarvet Half Marathon is organized by the Göteborg Athletic Association in support of athletics in the district. Around 3000 volunteers are engaged through the district's affiliated clubs, and sports clubs from many other disciplines also contribute to the event. The Swedish Athletics Federation's regulations apply to Göteborgsvarvet, the race is officially measured, and it features two competition classes: women and men.

Read more about Göteborg Athletic Association