Race Finder
Running Races in Ireland Still Open for Entry in 2026
Every year it's the same. You mean to enter the big spring races in January. Life happens. By February everything popular is sold out and you're stuck refreshing waitlists.
The good news: there are always races with entry still open — and many of them are excellent. Here's where to look right now.
Races open for entry right now
The listings below are pulled live from our database and updated daily. Every race shown has entry currently available.
Browse all upcoming races in Ireland →
Why big races sell out
The major events — Dublin Marathon, Cork City Marathon, Great Limerick Run — sell out because they're genuinely great and the Irish running population has grown substantially over the last decade. There are more runners than places.
But the calendar is full of excellent races that don't sell out. Smaller club events, less-famous routes, distances that get overlooked. These are often better organised than the headline events and offer a completely different experience.
Where to find open races by distance
- 5K races in Ireland — club 5Ks rarely sell out and are great for a fast, low-pressure race
- 10K races in Ireland — the most common distance; plenty of options year-round
- Half marathons in Ireland — popular ones sell out but alternatives are usually available
- Marathons in Ireland — the big ones are gone, but smaller marathons outside Dublin and Cork often have places
Tips for finding open entry
Go longer — 10 miles and marathon distances stay open longer than 5K and 10K. Fewer people training for them.
Look outside your county — a race an hour away with open entry beats a local race that's sold out. Many runners never consider driving 45 minutes, which means anything slightly out of the way stays open much longer.
Check smaller clubs — Athletics Ireland-affiliated clubs run hundreds of races that never appear on the main listing sites. Follow local clubs on social or check the Athletics Ireland competition calendar.
Try midweek — summer evening 5Ks are growing fast and rarely sell out. Great for fitting a race into a busy week.
By county
Looking for open races near you?
Dublin · Cork · Galway · Mayo — or browse all counties from the main listing.
Related
Half marathons in Ireland 2026 · Can't get Dublin Half Marathon entry? · Best running races in Ireland 2026
See all upcoming races in Ireland → — updated daily.