Last updated: August 2026
🔴 Registration Status — Updated 19 August 2026
Half Marathon general registration is now closed. Limited spots remain under Youth Age Criteria (18–21), Good for Silver (65+), Sportytrip Concierge Package and Charity. All registrations close 8 September 2026 — check availability at the official website →
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is one of India’s most prestigious running events — a World Athletics Gold Label race, the same global standard as the Tokyo and Berlin Marathons. The 2026 edition is confirmed for Sunday, 18 October 2026, starting and finishing at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
Race categories include the Half Marathon (21.1 km), Open 10K, Great Delhi Run (5K) and Senior Citizens Run. Over 30,000 runners participate annually, making it the most competitive half marathon on Indian soil.
I’ve been running in Delhi for over 12 years and VDHM is the one race on the Delhi calendar that genuinely feels like a world-class event. The flat, fast course past India Gate, the elite field, and the roar of the crowd at the finish make it unlike anything else in Indian running.
This complete guide covers everything you need: race date, registration status, entry fees, the course route, Expo and bib collection, start waves, cut-off timings and training tips specific to Delhi’s October conditions.
📋 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 — Quick Facts
- Race Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
- Organiser: Procam International
- Race Label: World Athletics Gold Label
- Categories: Half Marathon · Open 10K · Great Delhi Run (5K) · Senior Citizens Run · Champions with Disability · Virtual Run · Half Marathon Elite
- Registration: Half Marathon general slots closed · Limited Youth (18–21), Silver (65+) and Charity places remain · Closes 8 September 2026 · check status at the official website →
- Entry Fee: ₹3,200 (Half) · ₹3,200 (10K) · ₹800 (Great Delhi Run) · ₹450 (Champions with Disability)
- Race Expo: 15–17 October 2026 · PLAYSCAPE, JLNS
- Official Website: vedantadelhihalfmarathon.procam.in
Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 — Registration Update
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 is confirmed for 18 October 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Registration opened on 23 July 2026 at 7 AM IST — and as always, the Half Marathon filled up fast.
General Half Marathon registration is now closed. If you are still looking to get in, limited running places remain under the following:
- Youth Age Criteria — runners aged 18–21 (born on or after 18 October 2004)
- Good for Silver — runners aged 65 and above
- VDHM Sportytrip Concierge Package
- Charity running places
All registrations close on 8 September 2026 at 11:59 PM IST — or when all remaining places are filled, whichever comes first. Check real-time availability at the official Procam website →
Already confirmed? Your next step is bib collection at the PLAYSCAPE – VDHM 2026 Expo (15–17 October 2026). Book your bib collection slot early — Delhi-NCR runners are requested to pick slots on 15 or 16 October, leaving 17 October for outstation participants. Slots are first-come first-served through your participant profile on the official website.
Note: The Half Marathon has a confirmation qualifying standard. If you are registering under one of the remaining open criteria, check the qualifying criteria section below before applying.
Entry into the Half Marathon (21.097 km) category requires a valid timing certificate from a certified race conducted on or after 1 October 2024. This applies to all remaining open registration slots — Youth (18–21), Good for Silver (65+), Charity and Sportytrip Concierge. The finish times below are the minimum required to qualify.
| Qualifying Distance | Required Finish Time |
|---|---|
| Marathon (42.195 km) | 07:18:00 or faster |
| 25 km | 04:11:00 or faster |
| Half Marathon (21.097 km) | 03:30:00 or faster |
| 10 km | 01:35:00 or faster |
Entry Fees
🎟️ Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 — Entry Fees
Confirmed fees from the Procam registration portal · Last verified 19 August 2026
Fees are non-refundable. All registrations close 8 September 2026 — check current availability at the official Procam website →
Half Marathon confirmed runners receive a PUMA race day t-shirt at bib collection. Baggage deposit service available at ₹500 refundable deposit — opt in during registration or via your participant profile.
Delhi Half Marathon 2026 — Course Route and Highlights
The VDHM course is one of the reasons this race has produced so many fast times. It runs through the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi — wide, well-maintained boulevards, minimal elevation and some of the most iconic scenery in the country. Starting and finishing inside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the 21.097 km loop takes you past Lodhi Garden, the Mathura Road flyover, India Gate and Kartavya Path before bringing you home.
📍 Course Route — Section by Section
0–5 km · Lodhi Road
Out of JLN Stadium Gate 1, right onto Lodhi Road. Watch the cobblestones near Sai Baba Mandir at ~1 km — easy to misstep in the dark at 5 AM. U-Turn #1 at ~2.6 km, then back along Lodhi Road past Safdarjung Tomb with cool winds from Lodhi Garden. Completely flat — use this stretch to settle into your goal pace.
5–8 km · Mathura Road and Dr Zakir Hussain Marg
The only real climb on the course — a gentle flyover on Mathura Road at around 5–6 km. Do not attack it. Past Delhi Zoo and along Dr Zakir Hussain Marg into the India Gate C-Hexagon. Still largely flat once off the flyover.
8–11.1 km · India Gate and Kartavya Path
India Gate appears on your right just as dawn is breaking — one of the most memorable moments in Indian road racing. Full run down Kartavya Path (1.6 km) with Rashtrapati Bhavan straight ahead. U-Turn #2 at ~10.5 km on Sansad Marg and head back east.
11.1–15 km · Janpath and India Gate Loop
Now merged with the Open 10K route. U-Turn #3 on Janpath at ~13.5 km, then a loop around the India Gate C-Hexagon with the Netaji statue and National War Memorial on your left. The sunrise behind India Gate on this return leg is what most runners remember longest.
15–19 km · Dr Zakir Hussain Marg Return
The adrenaline fades here and lactic acid sets in. This is where races are lost. Stay disciplined. The Mathura Road flyover reappears at ~19 km — the same one from the outward leg. Do not overpace the ascent.
19–21.1 km · Lodhi Road to Finish
Back on Lodhi Road with spectators and music lining the route. Watch the cobblestones near Sai Baba Mandir again. Into JLN Stadium Gate 1 and ~100m to the finish line. This is the stretch you trained for — leave nothing out there.


Final thoughts
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon stands out as one of the most professionally organised and competitive races in India. With global recognition, a fast course, and strong participation, it offers a world-class running experience.
If you are planning your race calendar, this is one event worth adding — whether you are chasing speed, consistency, or your first major milestone.

