MEXICO · SPORT GUIDE
Key Facts
- —What it is A 13.1-mile (21-kilometre) half marathon in Mexico City, Mexico, with live bands and DJs on the course.
- —The date Sunday 13 December 2026.
- —Start time 6:15 a.m. local, 7:15 a.m. Eastern, per organiser schedule and map; times subject to change.
- —Where Start on Reforma at the Auditorio Nacional, finish at Campo Marte, Polanco. Expo 11 and 12 December.
- —Entries Official site runrocknroll.com; US$75 regular price, non-refundable and non-transferable.
- —Watch in the US No live broadcast or stream announced.
- —Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
The Rock ’n’ Roll Mexico City Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 13 December 2026 along Paseo de la Reforma. Entries are open at US$75, and the start is listed at 6:15 a.m., which is 7:15 a.m. Eastern.
The race is run by the IRONMAN Group’s Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series, and it ends with a festival at Campo Marte. No live broadcast is announced for US viewers.
What the Mexico City Half Marathon Is
The Mexico City Half Marathon, part of the Rock ’n’ Roll series, is a 21-kilometre (13.1-mile) road race on Sunday 13 December 2026. It runs along Paseo de la Reforma, the capital’s main boulevard, with live bands and DJs along the course.
The Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series is operated by the IRONMAN Group, a company best known for triathlons. The previous Mexico City edition took place on Sunday 14 December 2025.
For US readers the format is familiar: a big-city half marathon with music on the course and a party at the finish. The race is listed in international running calendars, and the organiser sells entries in US dollars.
The Mexico City Half Marathon is a mass-participation race for ordinary runners, not an elite championship. The organiser does not publish a field size for 2026, so no turnout figure is given here.
Schedule and Start Times in Eastern Time
The official schedule lists the Mexico City Half Marathon start at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday 13 December 2026. Mexico City has no daylight saving time and stays on UTC-6, so that is 7:15 a.m. in New York.
The race’s course page and its official 2026 course map, dated 10 August, give the same 6:15 a.m. start. The organiser still marks all times as subject to change.
The Health & Fitness Expo opens on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days. That is 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
A finish-line festival runs from 6:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on race day at Campo Marte. That is 7:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon Eastern.
Entries, Prices and Deadlines in US Dollars
Registration for the Mexico City Half Marathon is open at runrocknroll.com, and the 2026 entry page lists only that distance. The regular price is US$75, with processing fees included.
A second price block on the page shows US$60 as a sale price against an original US$75. The page warns that limited spots are available at the listed price and that prices may rise at any time.
No registration deadline is published, and the organiser does not say whether the race can sell out. Entering early is the safest plan for anyone booking flights.
Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable, with no exceptions. You may not sell or give your bib to someone else, and fees cannot be moved to a later race.
The minimum age for the half marathon is 12 years, according to the organiser’s FAQ. A 10K appears in the course description, but the 2026 entry page does not offer it.
Where to Start, Finish and Collect Your Bib
The Mexico City Half Marathon course page puts the start on Paseo de la Reforma at the Auditorio Nacional, the capital’s big concert hall. The finish line is at Campo Marte, a former military riding field just west of the hall.
The course is described as mostly flat, and the time limit is three hours and 30 minutes. The organiser says that limit is subject to change.
Every runner must collect their own bib, timing chip, shirt and gear bag in person at the expo at Casino Campo Marte. The organiser requires a photo ID, such as a passport or a driver’s licence.
The large gear bag doubles as your bag check on race day. Bags must be claimed before the finish festival closes, and valuables should stay at the hotel.
Finisher medals are handed out at the finish. Limited-edition and special medals must be picked up on site and are not mailed after the event.
Getting There From Your Hotel
Campo Marte sits on Paseo de la Reforma in Polanco, in the Miguel Hidalgo borough; see our Mexico City expat guide. The city’s tourism site names Metro Auditorio as a convenient stop for the Polanco hotel district.
Metro Line 7 stops at Auditorio station, which the tourism site places in direct crossing to one side of the Campo Marte entrance gates. Metrobús Line 7 stops at Campo Marte and Auditorio, and the tourism site lists it as a direct connection.
Parking at the Auditorio Nacional charges by the hour on the expo days, and parking meters and other lots are nearby. Race-day road closures have not been published.
The nearest airport is Mexico City International (code MEX). Runners arriving from the US should expect to clear immigration and customs before heading to Polanco.
Altitude, Safety and Costs for US Visitors
The Mexico City Half Marathon is run at 2,240 metres (about 7,349 feet) above sea level, which is harder than at home. The city’s tourism site says altitude sickness usually occurs above 1,500 metres and that dehydration can make it worse.
The same page lists shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite as common symptoms. Many visitors have no symptoms at all, but a runner should plan an easy pace.
The US State Department publishes a separate travel advisory for each Mexican state, including Mexico City. Visitors should read the current Mexico City entry before booking flights and hotels.
Runners start in a corral based on the finish time given at entry, and gear check trucks stand near the start. A faster corral can be requested at the expo.
Only the US$75 entry fee is confirmed here. Hotel, flight and transport costs for December were not checked, so we give no figures.
How to Watch in the United States
The organiser names no television broadcast or live stream for the race. Nothing is listed on the event pages for viewers in the United States.
Supporters can follow the race on the ground at the Campo Marte finish festival. It runs from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and results are not described online.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
The Mexico City Half Marathon start is 6:15 a.m. on the schedule page, the course page and the official course map. Every organiser page marks times as subject to change, so check again in race week.
The Race Week page says 2026 details will appear closer to the event and points to the 2025 race guide meanwhile. Road closures, a registration deadline, a field size and any broadcast are also unpublished.
A 10K may or may not be offered, since the course page links a 10K map but the entry page lists only the half marathon. The US$60 sale price may also be unavailable to new entrants.
More: Mexico news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Mexico City Half Marathon in 2026?
The race is on Sunday 13 December 2026. The start is listed at 6:15 a.m., which is 7:15 a.m. Eastern, and the organiser says times may change.
How much does it cost to enter the race in US dollars?
The regular entry price is US$75, with processing fees included. Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable, and prices may rise at any time.
Can I watch the Mexico City half marathon live in the United States?
The organiser names no TV broadcast or live stream for the race. Its app offers live runner tracking, which lets fans follow participants from home.
Sources: Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, event page, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, event schedule, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, course overview, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, registration, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, Health & Fitness Expo, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, FAQs, accessed 27 October 2026; Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City, 2026 half marathon course map (PDF, 10 August 2026), accessed 27 October 2026; Mexico City tourism site, Campo Marte, accessed 27 October 2026; Mexico City tourism site, altitude sickness, accessed 27 October 2026; Finishers, Rock ‘n’ Roll Mexico City 2026 (date listed as confirmed), accessed 27 October 2026; Mexico City tourism site, Metro Auditorio, accessed 27 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Living in or visiting Mexico City? See this month's events and our Mexico City city guide with rents, safety and upcoming concerts.