Paarlberg Half Marathon

The Paarlberg Half Marathon is one of South Africa’s most historic road races - second only to the Comrades Marathon in longevity. Sanctioned by Boland Athletics, the event is proudly hosted by Onsite Events in partnership with the Paarl Athletic Club, which was established back in 1895.

The inaugural race took place in 1935, with Laurie du Preez crossing the finish line first in a time of 1:11:34. Running legend Willie Olivier holds the record for the most wins, claiming victory six times and becoming the first athlete to complete the original 18.4km route in under an hour. The race has since evolved into the official 21.1km half marathon distance we run today that includes the traditional almost 9km Jan Phillips gravel road section along the slopes of the iconic Paarlberg Mountain. 

Runners can look forward to a scenic route through the beautiful and historic town of Paarl, offering breathtaking views over the Paarl Valley. For those seeking a shorter challenge, the 10km and 5km run/walk options are flat, friendly, and perfect for all fitness levels.

The Paarlberg Half Marathon now also forms part of the Paarl  Running Festival that takes place in with the inaugural Paarl Adventure Festival. Get ready for the PAARL ADVENTURE FESTIVAL, an action-packed celebration of outdoor fun from 24–27 September 2026 (Heritage Day weekend) For more info on the festival go to paarltrails.com/paarl-adventure-festival/

For info on the Trail Run that takes place on the 24th and the hike that takes place on the 25th please go to Trail Run 

Paarlberg Running Festival

Half Marathon 21km, 10km and 5km.

Number Collection

Friday 25 September 2026 14H00 - 19H00 at Spice Route.

At the start/finish venue - De Poort, Turk Street, Southern Paarl.

Race number collection will also be available on the morning of the event from 5am.

An email will be sent to all participants closer to the time with all the info. 

Please be sure to see if the event is SOLD Out before you come to the event on the morning of the event. If we are SOLD OUT we will not be able to help you with a "late entry"

Saturday 26 September 2026

21.1km - Start 6am - Licensed Athletes R230 / Unlicensed Athletes R320 (Over 60's get R100 discount) Route will include the traditional Jan Phillips Gravel Road on Paarl Mountain.

10km Run/Walk - Start 6:30 - Licensed Athletes R150 / Unlicensed Athletes R220 (Over 60's get R70 discount)

5km Run/Walk - Start 7:00 - R80 

Other Info

• Only 3 000 entries. 
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes on all distances for male and female.
• Start and finish is at De Poort, Turk Street, Southern Paarl.
• Waterpoints on route. 
• It is always advisable to make sure that you have your own hydration as well especially on the longer distances.
• Medals for all finishers.
• Foodstalls and Festival area.
• Bag area will be available at your own risk. Please mark your bag properly. Please don't leave any valuables in your car.
• All info regarding parking etc. will be mailed to you before the event. Please make sure that your info is correct on the system.
• No refunds. All entries must be paid within 3 days otherwise the entry will be cancelled.
• No pets are allowed!!

Event Shirt

Limited stock available. Price R280.

This image was the 2025 shirt.

We will release the 2026 design soon.

You will be able to buy the shirt online at a later stage. 

Rules:

• Licensed athletes must run in their club colours and wear their 2026 licenses on their vests, front and back.
• Age category tags (e.g. 40 / Junior) must be worn on the front and back of the vest, if runners wish to be eligible for category prizes. 
• Runners should enter the age category corresponding to their chronological age,but may enter a younger category down to senior. Temporary licenses will be available at number collection. When collecting, participants must complete and hand in the tear-off strip from the number in order to be eligible to compete.
• The organisers, sponsors and Boland Athletics accept no responsibility for any accident or injury resulting from participation in this event.

Timing by Bouttime. Temporary timing chip on your race number will be handed to you at registration. 

Routes