Interest in CPH Half 2027 has been immense since the lottery opened on Wednesday, 16 September. More than 100,000 hopeful runners have now entered the draw for the 45,000 available places. The lottery remains open until 30 September.

In the first 12 hours alone, 47,320 runners entered the lottery. Since then, that number has more than doubled, meaning the CPH Half lottery has quickly surpassed previous lotteries for mass participation races in Denmark.

The lottery is taking place alongside WRRC Copenhagen 26, with the World Championship half marathon set to take place on Sunday morning.

Hosting the World Championships means that CPH Half will not be held in 2026, but this does not appear to have affected interest in the race.

“We knew there was a lot of excitement about the return of CPH Half, but the response we are seeing is still overwhelming. To have so many runners from Denmark and, in particular, from around the world enter the lottery already confirms the strength and popularity of the CPH Half brand,” says Dorte Vibjerg, CEO of Sparta Atletik & Løb.

This is the first time that places for CPH Half have been allocated through a lottery, although Sparta has previously used lotteries for the half marathon at the ongoing World Championships and for next year’s Copenhagen Marathon.

“The figures also show us that a lottery is the right approach. When demand is this high, particularly internationally, the lottery gives everyone a fair and equal chance of securing a place in the race, regardless of where in the world they are or what time of day they are able to go online.”

CPH Half was first held in 2015, following the World Half Marathon Championships staged in Copenhagen the previous year.

Facts: Who has entered the lottery?

• International runners account for 70% of all registrations
• Denmark is the largest individual market
• The United Kingdom, Germany, Norway and Sweden are among the other countries with the highest number of registrations
• The gender split among registered runners is almost equal
• Runners aged 30–39 make up the largest age group

Facts about CPH Half 2027 and the lottery

• More than 100,000 runners have entered the lottery
• 47,320 entries were received in the first 12 hours
• CPH Half 2027 has capacity for 45,000 runners
• Entering the lottery is free, and it remains open until 30 September 2026
• The first selected runners will be notified from 5 October
• CPH Half 2027 takes place on Sunday, 19 September 2027
• The race is organised by Sparta Atletik & Løb, a non-profit sports association