Three road races anchor Sweden’s running year: a marathon in Stockholm, the world’s biggest half marathon in Gothenburg and a 10 km night party on Södermalm. Here is when each opens, what to do if you missed it, and the children’s races alongside.
When you need this
You are planning a trip around a big Swedish race, maybe a first marathon or half. Or you just found out the race you wanted is already full for next year. You might be choosing between a spring city race and a summer night run, or bringing children who want their own medal. Or you are going to cheer for a friend and want to know where to stand.
The three races at a glance
| Race | Distance | 2027 date | Where | Entry for 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Marathon | 42.2 km | Saturday 29 May | Start and finish at Stadion, Östermalm | Sold out 24 August 2026 |
| Göteborgsvarvet | 21.1 km | Saturday 22 May | Start by Slottsskogsvallen, via Hisingen and Avenyn | Sold out 26 May 2026; resale queue |
| Midnattsloppet Stockholm | 5, 10 or 21 km | Saturday 14 August, evening | Round Södermalm | Opens 1 November 2026 |
| Midnattsloppet Göteborg | 5.2 or 10 km | 21 August | Two laps from Gustaf Adolfs torg | Opens 1 November 2026 |
| Midnattsloppet Malmö | 5 or 10 km | 28 August | City centre | Opens 1 November 2026 |
All three are run by athletics clubs or club-owned companies, and the surplus goes back to club sport. Stockholm Marathon is organised by Marathongruppen, formed by the clubs Hässelby SK and Spårvägens FK, which has held the race since 1979. Göteborgsvarvet is run by Göteborgs Friidrottsförbund, the Gothenburg athletics association. Midnattsloppet belongs to the club Hammarby IF Friidrott.
The 2027 sell-outs: what changed
Many English pages still say you can enter these races over the winter. That is out of date. In 2026 both big spring races filled their 2027 fields months earlier than before.
- Göteborgsvarvet opened entry for 2027 on race day, Saturday 23 May 2026. More than 29,000 people had entered two days later, and on 26 May the organiser declared the race sold out. That is the earliest sell-out in its history.
- Stockholm Marathon sold 21,000 places in a two-week window around the turn of May and June, then reopened at 09:00 on 24 August 2026 with about 4,000 left. Those went the same day, amid an overloaded entry system and a queue. It was the fourth sell-out in a row, with about 25,000 runners expected.
So decide early and enter on opening day. If you missed Stockholm Marathon, its resale rules were not readable to us; check stockholmmarathon.se directly. Never buy a bib from a stranger. The capital’s other big race, Stockholm Halvmaraton, is held in late August. In 2026 it had about 20,000 runners, starting on Strömbron by the Royal Palace and finishing on Norrbro.
Göteborgsvarvet: the queue, seeding and cut-offs
Göteborgsvarvet calls itself the world’s largest half marathon: 55,000 people signed up for the 2026 race. If you missed entry, the official resale queue (kölista) is the safe way in:
- Joining is free, and places go strictly in the order people queued. The 2027 queue opened on 22 June 2026.
- When a runner sells their place, the next person gets an e-mail and has three days (72 hours) to accept. You pay the current price.
- A seller gets 90% back once the place is resold; add-ons are not refunded.
Registered runners can also transfer an entry through the website, for a fee, up to seven days before the race. The buyer does not inherit the seller’s start group. Bibs carry the runner’s name, and running on someone else’s can get you disqualified. You must be at least 17 to run.
Seeding (seedning) decides your start group. Results from Göteborgsvarvet 2025 or 2026 or Varvetmilen 2027 count automatically. An external result counts if it is from a sanctioned race between 15 April 2025 and 15 April 2027, you register it by 15 April 2027, and it meets these times:
| 10 km | Half marathon | Marathon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 38:00 | 1:46:00 | 3:55:00 |
| Women | 41:00 | 1:50:00 | 4:02:00 |
Without a result you start in the later part of the field. Spring’s Varvetmilen races give an automatic seeding result whatever your time. You may always move back to run with a friend. Starting in an earlier group than assigned means automatic disqualification.
Cut-offs are firm, because the streets reopen to traffic. Starts run from 13:00 to 16:15. You must pass 5 km by 16:52, 12 km by 17:45, 15 km by 18:10 and 17 km by 18:28, and finish by 19:15. From the last start group that means roughly 7:30 per kilometer. Runners who will not make it are taken off the course and driven back.
Sold out but still want the atmosphere? Cityvarvet is the last 4.2 km: from Götaplatsen down Avenyn to the Slottsskogsvallen finish, starting at 13:00 on race day. It is capped at 1,500 runners, and 2027 entry opens later. Its finish closes at 13:50, when the half-marathon leaders arrive.
Midnattsloppet: the night run
Midnattsloppet (“the Midnight Run”) has run round Södermalm since 1982. It feels more like a street party than a race: samba, DJs, fire and live bands line the course. In Stockholm the 21 km and 10 km start at 21:10 and the 5 km at 21:40, with a costume class later still.
Things that surprise first-timers:
- The T-shirt is your bib. Everyone except elite and costume-class runners must run in the issued participant shirt.
- Entries are tied to a city and a person. You cannot move a Stockholm entry to Malmö, and no one else may run in your name. Name changes are possible only up to set dates.
- Ages: 10 km and 5 km alone from the year you turn 14, and 5 km with an adult from the year you turn 12. The 21 km is open from the year you turn 17, which the organiser says follows the Swedish Athletics Federation’s rules.
- Start groups: only the front groups need a recent result; the rest are free choice. Early entrants get more choice of group and of pick-up shop.
The fee rises in steps, so entering in November pays. Entry for 2027 opens on 1 November 2026; current amounts are in the Practical information table below.
Refunds and the law
Swedish law gives no 14-day cooling-off right for sports events on a fixed date. The Distance Contracts Act (Lag 2005:59, chapter 2, section 11, point 12) excludes them explicitly. Göteborgsvarvet and Midnattsloppet both give you 24 hours to change your mind, and after that the fee is kept.
| If you cannot run… | Göteborgsvarvet | Midnattsloppet |
|---|---|---|
| Within 24 hours of entering | Cancel | Cancel |
| Injury or illness later | Your own insurance; or sell via the queue (90% back) | Refund only with the cancellation add-on (avbokningsskydd) bought at entry, plus a certificate |
| Race cancelled by events beyond the organiser’s control | 100% back over 120 days ahead, falling to 50%, 25%, then 10% or a move to next year | Offered the digital race, plus the price difference |
Races for children
Each big race weekend has children’s races, which turns a race trip into a family weekend:
- Minivarvet (Gothenburg, 22–23 May 2027): about 210 m on grass in Slottsskogen for children born 2021 or later. Parents may run along, and you can enter on the day.
- Lilla Varvet (Gothenburg, 23 May 2027): 1.1 km for ages 7–10 and 2.4 km for ages 11–13, finishing inside Slottsskogsvallen like the adults. About 5,000 children take part each year.
- Mini Midnattsloppet and Lilla Midnattsloppet (Stockholm, 14 August 2027): 300 m for ages 2–7 during the day, and 2 km for ages 7–13 in the early evening.
- Stockholm Marathon weekend ends with children’s races on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Every Minivarvet and Lilla Varvet finisher gets a medal. Collect children’s bibs on Thursday or Friday to avoid queues. Leave the car behind: Slottsskogen is closed to traffic and there is no parking.
Watching, getting there and race-day heat
Watching costs nothing. Göteborgsvarvet counts more than 200,000 spectators and 50 music stations, and friends can follow split times in the race app. The police have estimated Midnattsloppet’s Stockholm crowd at over 150,000.
Use public transport. In Gothenburg the organiser suggests the Marklandsgatan or Linnéplatsen stops and runs a race-day shuttle bus from Åby Arena. Collect your bib in person at the expo before race day.
Late May can be warm: the 2026 Stockholm Marathon was slowed by 22 °C sunshine. Göteborgsvarvet has nine drink stations and ten run-through showers. On a hot day, drink and slow down.
Practical information
| Item | Amount or rule (checked 2026-10-15) |
|---|---|
| Göteborgsvarvet resale queue | Free to join; place at the current price; 3 days to accept |
| Seller’s resale fee, Göteborgsvarvet | 10% kept, 90% refunded |
| Midnattsloppet Stockholm, 5/10/21 km (2026 prices) | 499 kr to 30 November, rising in steps to 799 kr on race day; 2027 prices not yet published |
| Lilla Midnattsloppet (2026 prices) | 249–329 kr |
| Cityvarvet 2027 | 399 kr to 31 January, then 499 kr |
| Lilla Varvet 2027 | 199 kr to 31 January, then 259 kr |
| Minivarvet 2027 | 100 kr online, 125 kr on site |
| Stockholm Marathon / Göteborgsvarvet 2027 adult fee | Sold out; not published here |
| Watching | Free |
FAQ
Can I still get a place in Stockholm Marathon 2027?
Not through normal entry. The organiser declared the 29 May 2027 race sold out on 24 August 2026, the morning entry reopened, with about 25,000 runners expected. Its own resale or transfer rules were not readable to us, so check stockholmmarathon.se directly, and never buy a bib from a stranger. Stockholm Halvmaraton in late August is the capital’s alternative.
How does the Göteborgsvarvet waiting list work?
It is the official resale route. Joining is free; when a registered runner sells their place, it is offered to the next person in the queue, who has three days to accept and pays the current price. The 2027 queue opened on 22 June 2026, so the earlier you joined, the better your chance. There is no guarantee of a place.
When should I enter Midnattsloppet?
As soon as entry opens: 1 November 2026 for the 2027 races. The fee rises in steps, and in 2026 the Stockholm price went from 499 kr in November to 799 kr on race day. Early entrants also get more start-group choices. Stockholm is on 14 August 2027, Gothenburg 21 August and Malmö 28 August.
Can I get a refund if I cannot run?
Usually not. Swedish law excludes sports events on a fixed date from the 14-day cooling-off right, and Göteborgsvarvet and Midnattsloppet allow only 24 hours to cancel. After that, Midnattsloppet refunds injury or illness only if you bought its cancellation add-on at entry; Göteborgsvarvet points to your own insurance or its resale queue, which returns 90%.
Are there races for children?
Yes, each race weekend has them. Göteborgsvarvet has Minivarvet (210 m on grass, ages 0–6) and Lilla Varvet (1.1 or 2.4 km, ages 7–13). Midnattsloppet Stockholm has Mini Midnattsloppet (300 m, ages 2–7) and Lilla Midnattsloppet (2 km, ages 7–13). Stockholm Marathon weekend ends with children’s races on the Sunday. Every Minivarvet and Lilla Varvet finisher gets a medal.
Do I need a previous race result?
Not to take part, but it decides where you start. Without a qualifying result you start in the later part of Göteborgsvarvet’s field, and the last group needs roughly 7:30 per kilometer to beat the cut-offs. At Midnattsloppet only the front groups need proof; later groups are free choice. Varvetmilen gives an automatic Göteborgsvarvet seeding.
Is it worth going just to watch?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Göteborgsvarvet draws over 200,000 spectators and 50 music stations along the course, and the police have estimated Midnattsloppet’s Stockholm crowd at over 150,000, with samba, bands and fire along Södermalm’s streets late into the evening. Use public transport: roads around the start areas close.
Related guides
- En Svensk Klassiker — Lidingöloppet’s 30 km cross-country run and the four-race Swedish challenge.
- Where to stay in Gothenburg — book a bed for Varvet week as soon as you have a place.
- Where to stay in Stockholm — neighborhoods near Stadion and Södermalm.
- Heatwaves in Sweden — what a warm race day means and how heat warnings work.
- Sweden with kids — the rest of the family trip around the children’s races.
Facts verified 2026-10-15. Sources: Marathongruppen (Stockholm Marathon newsroom), Göteborgs Friidrottsförbund (Göteborgsvarvet), Midnattsloppet Nordic AB, Sveriges Riksdag (Lag 2005:59) — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.