8 Half Marathons to Run in Portugal Before the End of 2026
There is something special about the 21.1K distance.
It requires enough preparation to feel like a real project, but it still allows for a very different approach from a full marathon. For some runners, it is the first major step beyond 10K. For others, it is the perfect distance to chase a new personal best.
And 2026 still has several great opportunities ahead.
From the Algarve to Gerês, we selected 8 half marathons to run in Portugal between September and November, each offering a different kind of challenge and race experience.
1. Meia Maratona Flor de Sal
📅 12 September 2026
📍 Altura, Castro Marim
🏃 21.097K
A half marathon in the Algarve, but without an early morning start.
The Meia Maratona Flor de Sal takes place in the evening, starting at 8:00 pm near the Altura Athletics Track. The main distance is completed over four laps, with a 10.5K option also available.
It is an interesting choice for runners looking to start the second half of the season with a different type of race while enjoying the Algarve outside the peak summer period.
See Meia Maratona Flor de Sal on RaceFinder
2. Meia Maratona da Benedita
📅 13 September 2026
📍 Benedita, Alcobaça
🏃 21K
One day later, the calendar takes us to Benedita.
Organised by Bombeiros Voluntários da Benedita, the event combines a 21K half marathon, a 10K race, a 5K walk and a Kids Run.
It is a good option for anyone who enjoys smaller, more local events, and especially useful for groups where not everyone wants to race the same distance.
See Meia Maratona da Benedita on RaceFinder
3. Meia Maratona Loures-Odivelas-Loures
📅 20 September 2026
📍 Loures and Odivelas
🏃 21K
A week later, Loures and Odivelas are connected once again through running.
The half marathon features a course with international measurement certification from World Athletics, and the event programme also includes a 10K, a shorter walk and children’s races. The 21K starts at 9:00 am.
For runners looking for a half marathon around Lisbon without waiting until late autumn, this is one to consider.
See Meia Maratona Loures-Odivelas-Loures on RaceFinder
4. Meia Maratona do Ameal
📅 27 September 2026
📍 Coimbra
🏃 21.0975K
This is where the stopwatch starts to matter a little more.
The Meia Maratona do Ameal course is measured by the Portuguese Athletics Federation and certified by World Athletics, with just 66 metres of positive elevation gain across the 21.0975K route.
The course runs through Taveiro, Ameal and Arzila, and the event also includes a 10.3K race and a 10K walk.
If you reach the end of summer with a solid training block behind you and want to see what it has produced, this is a race worth considering.
See Meia Maratona do Ameal on RaceFinder
5. Meia-Maratona de Ovar
📅 4 October 2026
📍 Ovar, Aveiro
🏃 21.0975K
New races appear every year. Then there are the ones that have become part of the calendar.
In 2026, the Meia-Maratona Cidade de Ovar reaches its 36th edition and is part of the Portuguese national road racing calendar and the World Athletics Global Calendar.
The competitive courses are certified, and the event also includes a 10K race, a walk and a children’s event.
A strong option for runners who enjoy the atmosphere of an established race and want to set a major goal for the beginning of October.
See Meia-Maratona de Ovar on RaceFinder
6. Meia Maratona de Leiria
📅 18 October 2026
📍 Leiria
🏃 21K
If October is the month you want to take on 21K, Leiria gives you another opportunity.
The Meia Maratona de Leiria combines the half marathon with a 10K race, a 5K walk and a Kids event. The half marathon starts at 9:40 am and has a three-hour time limit.
It is also a good option for groups travelling together, as everyone can choose a different distance while still sharing the same race day.
See Meia Maratona de Leiria on RaceFinder
7. Gerês Extreme Marathon – Half Marathon
📅 29 November 2026
📍 Vila do Gerês, Braga
🏃 21K
Not every half marathon exists to make chasing a PB easier.
The half marathon included in the Gerês Extreme Marathon takes place in a mountain setting within Peneda-Gerês National Park and starts at 9:15 am.
The event follows a semi-self-sufficient format and, due to its environmental policy, runners are expected to carry their own hydration container.
This is probably the choice on this list for anyone who sees 21K less as a race against the clock and more as an experience.
See Gerês Extreme Marathon on RaceFinder
8. Meia Maratona dos Descobrimentos
📅 29 November 2026
📍 Belém, Lisbon
🏃 21K
On the same Sunday, but in a completely different setting, Lisbon hosts the Meia Maratona dos Descobrimentos.
The 21K starts at 10:00 am, with the race beginning at Praça do Império and finishing near Museu da Marinha. The programme also includes a 10K race, a 4K walk and children’s races.
For anyone who would rather finish November beside the Tagus than take on the roads of Gerês, this could be the one.
See Meia Maratona dos Descobrimentos on RaceFinder
Which Half Marathon Is Next?
There are plenty of ways to choose your next 21.1K.
It might be the course. The city. The chance to run faster. The excuse to travel. Or simply the fact that you need a date on the calendar to make training feel serious again.
What matters is finding a race that fits the goal you have right now.
On RaceFinder, you can explore half marathons and other races across Portugal, compare dates, distances and locations, and find your next start line.
21.1 kilometres feel a lot less intimidating once there is a date on the calendar.
