Image: IICC New Delhi
Most runners treat bib collection as an errand. Get in, queue, grab your number, leave. The VDHM 2026 Playscape Expo is not that kind of setup.
Procam has moved the pre-race expo to Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka Sector 25 — one of Delhi’s newest and most impressive large-format venues — and is billing it as the city’s biggest fitness expo. For outstation and international runners, there is genuinely good news buried in that venue choice. Yashobhoomi sits directly on the Airport Express Line. If you are flying into IGI on October 15 or 16, you can land, take the metro straight to Dwarka Sector 25, collect your bib, and be at your hotel before the jet lag kicks in.
What is the VDHM 2026 Playscape Expo?
The Playscape Expo is the official pre-race expo for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026, held across three days from 15 to 17 October. It is the only venue for bib collection and race kit pickup — there is no on-site collection on race morning. If you miss the expo window, you cannot race.
Beyond bib pickup, the expo brings running brands, gear stalls and fitness activations together at Yashobhoomi’s Exhibition Hall 1C. Think of it as a scaled-down version of what you’d find at Berlin or London pre-race — not quite that scale, but a noticeable step up from previous VDHM editions.
Planning your full race weekend? Our complete Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 guide covers registration status, course route, cut-off times, training tips and everything else you need for race day.
Playscape Expo Dates and Timings
| Date | Day | Timings (IST) | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 October | Wednesday | 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM | Delhi-NCR runners |
| 16 October | Thursday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Delhi-NCR runners |
| 17 October | Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Outstation and international runners |
Slot booking is not optional. Walk-ins may not be accommodated. Book your bib collection slot through your participant profile on the official Procam website — slots are first-come first-served. If you have not booked yet, do it today. The expo is five weeks out and slots will fill.
Procam has requested that Delhi-NCR runners use October 15 or 16, keeping the Saturday slot open for outstation participants arriving in the city. It is a sensible system. If you are flying or driving in from outside Delhi, October 17 is your designated day and the expo will be calibrated for the higher outstation footfall.
One thing to keep in mind: October 17 closes at 5 PM — two hours earlier than the previous two days. If you are landing on Saturday, check your arrival time carefully. Missing the 5 PM close means no bib, no race.
Where is the VDHM Expo 2026: Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Dwarka
The full address is Exhibition Hall 1C, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Sector 25, Dwarka, Delhi 110077. If you have seen earlier references to the expo being held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, that information is outdated. The 2026 Playscape Expo venue is Yashobhoomi, Dwarka — confirmed on official race communications.
The convention centre itself is large, well-ventilated and easy to navigate. Hall 1C is accessible directly from the metro station, which makes the logistics straightforward even if you are unfamiliar with Dwarka.
How to Reach Yashobhoomi Convention Centre for the VDHM Expo
By Metro: Take the Airport Express Line or Orange Line to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 station. The station connects directly to Hall 1 of the convention centre — no auto-rickshaw, no last-mile confusion.
By Cab or Taxi: Pick-up and drop-off at Gate No. 6, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre. Ola and Uber both service the venue reliably.
By Car: Basement parking at Gate No. 8A, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre. Paid parking — carry cash or a UPI app.
For international runners arriving at Terminal 3, IGI, the Airport Express puts Yashobhoomi under 15 minutes away. It is one of the more painless expo logistics you will deal with on any major race trip.
What to Bring for Bib Collection at the Playscape Expo
Do not show up empty-handed. You will need:
- Government-issued photo ID — Aadhaar, passport or driving licence
- Registration confirmation — email printout or a screenshot on your phone
- Qualifying timing certificate — if you registered under Youth, Silver or Charity criteria
Your race kit includes a PUMA race-day t-shirt along with your bib. If you opted in for the baggage deposit service during registration, confirm that at the expo counter as well.
Collect your Metro QR band at the expo — do not skip this. All confirmed VDHM 2026 participants are entitled to free Delhi Metro travel on race day (to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and back). The QR band is issued only at bib collection. It will not be available on race morning. Parking near JLNS on race day is a genuine headache — the metro band is worth picking up.
Tips for Outstation and International Runners Attending the Expo
Book your race-night hotel near the start line, not the expo. The expo is in Dwarka; the race starts at JLN Stadium in South Delhi. They are not close. Collect your bib on October 17, then head east to your race-area accommodation. Lodi Road, Defence Colony and the area around JLNS are the practical choices for race night.
Give the expo more than 20 minutes. The brand activations and energy inside a well-run pre-race expo do something useful for race nerves — they make it feel real. Budget at least an hour if your schedule allows. The Saturday slot will have a good crowd, which is part of the experience.
Sort your Sunday transport before you leave the expo. Once you have the Metro QR band in hand, decide your race-morning route. The metro is the cleanest option for most runners staying in Central or South Delhi. A cab to JLNS on race morning is possible but expect surge pricing at 4 AM.
Yashobhoomi is a genuine upgrade as an expo venue — well-connected, well-sized and easier to reach from the airport than any previous VDHM expo location. Book your slot, keep October 17’s 5 PM close in mind if you are an outstation runner, and do not leave without the Metro QR band. The admin is simple. Get it done early and save your focus for Sunday.