This will be an unforgettable experience. Everyone who completes 21 kilometers and 97 meters, the half marathon distance, will feel like a true star in the final meters of the run.
The finish line of the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon returns to the City Beach. This is a reference to the already legendary course with the final straight along the Seaside Boulevard and the finish on the sand. Runners do not need to worry though. Special panels will be placed on the beach and a carpet will be laid on top of them. The unique atmosphere will be created by lights, music, the announcer and the best supporters in the world.
On the final straight to the finish line, stands will be placed on both sides with several hundred seats for supporters. Of course, it will be worth cheering for the runners along the entire course, but the last meters are special and this is where the most fans always gather. This zone will also include a VIP stand available to anyone who buys a ticket. The ticket price will be 200 PLN for an adult and 150 PLN for a child. The ticket includes drinks, snacks and, of course, the best spots for cheering.
The PKO Gdynia Half Marathon is a night run. Light will play a very important role in creating the atmosphere at the City Beach, alongside the announcer and the DJ. The organizers say that the lighting effects will be visible from a long distance.
The PKO Gdynia Half Marathon is an event that matters just as much to the runners as it does to the supporters — the families of the half-marathoners and the residents of Gdynia. We want all the lighting effects, the sound and the atmosphere in the stands to create memories that will stay by the Baltic Sea and in the hearts of the runners for a long time. That is why we planned to build this spectacular finish line. This place will go beyond the usual concept of a finish area at a sports event — it will be a theatre of light and sound.
Maciej Stroiński – spokesperson of the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon
Next year’s PKO Gdynia Half Marathon will have a special character. It is part of the celebrations of the city’s 100th anniversary. The course will lead through the most important streets of Gdynia, and runners will pass key places in the city’s history, including the Monument to the Victims of December 1970, the main railway station, the Experyment Science Centre and the City Stadium.
Participants of the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon can expect refreshments, which will be provided in the form of recovery bags. Inside, they will find drinks, fruit and snacks. Runners will also be able to use a deposit for their personal items, located at Kościuszko Square.
All the infrastructure will be placed on the sand, but the runners will cover the final meters on special mats laid out on the beach. It was here, in 2020, that the world champions crossed the finish line, and Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir broke the women’s half marathon world record.
Among the men, the winner was Jacob Kiplimo, who holds the current half marathon world record. For many years, the finish line at the City Beach also welcomed participants of the legendary IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia triathlon.
The 2026 PKO Gdynia Half Marathon will have another special element. For the first time in history, the official Polish Half Marathon Championships of the Polish Athletics Association (PZLA) will take place in Gdynia. Medals will be awarded not only to professional runners but also to the fastest athletes in each age category. The Polish Athletics Association has decided to award medals in as many as six age groups.
