Photo: Jonathan Beech · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRoad Running
The Christmas Rush
Auchy-les-Mines, France
November 29, 2026Date confirmed
10 km5 km500 m
FestiveCity Run+3
Running Theme (Atmosphere, Gastronomy & Experience)
Christmas Run Race Calendar & Dates 2026-2027
December Santa, Advent, and Christmas runs through festively lit streets and winter markets. Browse 55 events (36 confirmed dates) and 174 races from 0.5 km to 133 km.
Events5536 confirmed dates
Competitions174Races & courses
Distances0.5 - 133 kmCourse distance range
Max. Elevation Gain+3,458 m D+Course elevation profile
Selected Events
Featured Events & Highlights
Photo: Jonathan Beech · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRoad Running
Course de la Saint-Nicolas de Mayence
Mainz, Germany
December 5, 2026Date confirmed
12 km6 km3 km
City RunKids & Youth Races+1
Photo: marek7400 · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRoad Running
Running to Help - Santa’s Helpers Run
Warsaw, Poland
December 5, 2026Date confirmed
10 km5 km1 km
City RunFestive+1
Photo: D Delang · CC0 1.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
Krakow Grand Prix in Mountain Running - Santa Run
Kraków, Poland
December 6, 2026Date confirmed
23 km11 km5 km3.7 km+1
City RunNature & Off-Road+4
Photo: Jorge Jaramillo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRoad Running
Suresnes Christmas Run
Suresnes, France
December 6, 2026Date confirmed
5 km2 km
Charity RunCity Run+7
Photo: Christoph Strässler · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
Trail Nocturne Haut Bugey
Plateau d'Hauteville, France
December 11, 2026Date confirmed
14 km7 km
Nature & Off-RoadForest+4
Photo: Kris Sliver · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail RunningWalking & Hiking
St. Nicholas Run
Warsaw, Poland
December 12, 2026Date confirmed
10 km5 km
Nature & Off-RoadForest+1
Photo: gadl · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRoad RunningWalking & Hiking
Corrida de Noël d'Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
December 13, 2026Date confirmed
10 km5 km3 km1.5 km
City RunKids & Youth Races+5
Dates & Schedule
Race Calendar
November 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2026 | The Christmas Rush | Auchy-les-Mines, Hauts-de-France, FR | Road Running | 10 km5 km500 m |
December 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 | Course de la Saint-Nicolas de Mayence | Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, DE | Road Running | 12 km6 km3 km |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Running to Help - Santa’s Helpers Run | Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, PL | Road Running | 10 km5 km1 km |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Krakow Grand Prix in Mountain Running - Santa Run | Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, PL | Trail Running | 23 km11 km5 km3.7 km |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Suresnes Christmas Run | Suresnes, Île-de-France, FR | Road Running | 5 km2 km |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Trail Nocturne Haut Bugey | Plateau d'Hauteville, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR | Trail Running | 14 km7 km |
| Dec 12, 2026 | St. Nicholas Run | Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, PL | Trail RunningWalking & Hiking | 10 km5 km |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Corrida de Noël d'Issy-les-Moulineaux | Issy-les-Moulineaux, Île-de-France, FR | Road RunningWalking & Hiking | 10 km5 km3 km1.5 km |
| Dec 19, 2026 - Dec 20, 2026 | Les Courses du Père Noël | Les Herbiers, Pays de la Loire, FR | Trail RunningWalking & Hiking | 133 km35 km24 km16 km |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Ronde de Noël de La Meignanne | Longuenée-en-Anjou, Pays de la Loire, FR | Road Running | 10 km4.3 km |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Runrise December | Sassenage, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR | Road RunningWalking & Hiking | 5 km |
| Dec 19, 2026 | La Ronde des Pères Noël d'Uzès | Uzès, Occitanie, FR | Road Running | 5 km |
Events by Month
Overview & Route Character
December Santa, Advent, and Christmas runs through festively lit streets and winter markets. In the RunningCompass calendar, the Christmas Run theme currently spans 55 public events and 174 individual competitions, including 36 confirmed editions for 2026-2027. Festive 5K and 10K city runs and Santa dashes mark the close of the annual running calendar. Primary disciplines include Road Running, Trail Running, and Walking & Hiking with race distances from 0.5 km to 133 km.
Crisp December road and park surfaces call for warm thermal layers and dependable road grip. Across the catalog, the most demanding courses in this category feature up to +3,458 m of climbing. Leading host destinations include Auchy-les-Mines, Mainz, Warsaw, and Kraków. Notable events in this category include The Christmas Rush, Course de la Saint-Nicolas de Mayence, and Running to Help - Santa’s Helpers Run. Every event page includes an interactive course map, elevation telemetry, GPX track downloads, and direct filters for date, distance, and destination.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What defines Christmas Run events and how many races are listed in the calendar?
December Santa, Advent, and Christmas runs through festively lit streets and winter markets. RunningCompass currently lists 55 events with 174 individual competitions under the Christmas Run theme. A total of 36 events have confirmed dates for the 2026-2027 season, alongside additional races with full course profiles for season planning.
What distances and disciplines are typical for Christmas Run races?
Festive 5K and 10K city runs and Santa dashes mark the close of the annual running calendar. The 174 listed competitions span distances from 0.5 km to 133 km, led by Road Running, Trail Running, and Walking & Hiking. You can narrow the calendar by 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, or ultra distance brackets using the search filters.
What terrain, elevation profile, and preparation should I expect for Christmas Run?
Crisp December road and park surfaces call for warm thermal layers and dependable road grip. Races in this theme reach up to +3,458 m of climbing. Each event detail page provides interactive course maps, elevation gain and loss metrics, altitude ranges, and downloadable GPX files to help you plan pacing and gear.
Where do Christmas Run events take place and how can I filter by region and date?
Leading host destinations include Auchy-les-Mines, Mainz, Warsaw, and Kraków. Notable events in this category include The Christmas Rush, Course de la Saint-Nicolas de Mayence, and Running to Help - Santa’s Helpers Run. Using the monthly calendar groups on this page or the linked interactive map explorer, you can filter all 55 events by country, region, month, and distance.