The 10 Best Half Marathons in Canada for 2027 (Dates, Courses & How to Enter)

Canada has a short racing season and makes the most of it. The bulk of the country’s half marathons are squeezed into the months between May and October, which means the calendar is dense, competitive, and requires more planning than it does somewhere with year-round mild weather.

It also means the races themselves are good. Canadian road racing punches well above its weight — Toronto hosts a World Athletics Elite Label event, Calgary has been running since 1963, and Vancouver’s course is regularly named among the most scenic on the continent.

Here are ten of the best half marathons in Canada for 2027, spanning every region from the Pacific to the Atlantic. They’re listed in calendar order rather than ranked, because when you’re planning a season that’s more useful than a leaderboard.

A note on dates: Seven of the ten 2027 dates below are confirmed. The remaining three (Edmonton, Montréal, Toronto Waterfront) reflect each event’s established slot and are yet to be officially published. Check the official site before booking flights — and note the clashes flagged below, because 2027’s spring calendar is unusually congested.

1. Hypothermic Half Marathon — Multiple Cities (January-February 2027)

The most Canadian race on this list. The Hypothermic Half is a winter series run across several cities, and the concept is exactly what the name suggests: a half marathon in the middle of a Canadian February, followed by a hot brunch.

It’s not a PB race and nobody pretends otherwise. What it is, is a genuinely fun way to give your winter base training a purpose, and a reminder that the running year doesn’t have to start in May.

2027 dates:

• Edmonton (Event 1): 31 January 2027
• Winnipeg: 6-7 February 2027
• Edmonton (Event 2): 13 February 2027
• Calgary: 28 February 2027

The two Edmonton events a fortnight apart are a nice touch if you want a progression — run the first as a fitness check and the second as an actual effort.

Best for: Winter motivation, and anyone who wants an early-season fitness marker.

Watch out for: Ice, wind chill, and the very real possibility of frozen gels. Dress properly and don’t chase a time.

2. BMO Vancouver Half Marathon — British Columbia (2 May 2027 — confirmed)

The most scenic half in the country. Run on the same day as the BMO Vancouver Marathon, the half takes in Stanley Park, the seawall, and views of the North Shore mountains across the water.

The course is net downhill and genuinely fast — considerably more so than the marathon it shares a weekend with — which makes it one of the better PB options in western Canada. Early May in Vancouver also means cherry blossoms, which is not a factor most race guides get to mention.

The event is organised by RUNVAN and draws runners from over 60 countries across the weekend.

Best for: Scenery and a net-downhill PB attempt in the same race.

Watch out for: It sells out, and Vancouver in May can deliver rain. Book accommodation early — race weekend fills the city.

3. Toronto Marathon Half — Ontario (2 May 2027)

Toronto’s spring race. Not to be confused with the Waterfront event in October, the Toronto Marathon runs in May and offers a half alongside the full, 10K and 5K.

It’s the more relaxed of Toronto’s two major race weekends, with a point-to-point course running south through the city. For runners in southern Ontario it’s a natural spring goal race, and a good way to test fitness before summer.

Best for: A spring target in Canada’s largest running market.

Watch out for: Toronto in May can swing from cold to unexpectedly warm within a fortnight. More importantly, it falls on the same day as BMO Vancouver — if both were on your shortlist, 2027 forces a choice.

4. Blue Nose Half Marathon — Halifax, Nova Scotia (23 May 2027)

Atlantic Canada’s biggest race weekend. The Blue Nose has become the running event of the Maritimes, drawing runners from across the region to Halifax for a weekend that culminates in the half marathon.

Halifax is a compact, walkable harbour city, which makes for straightforward race logistics and a genuinely pleasant weekend. The course takes in the waterfront and the city’s hills — this is not a flat race, and the Halifax terrain will make itself known.

Best for: East coast runners, and anyone wanting to combine a race with the Maritimes.

Watch out for: The hills, and Atlantic coastal weather, which does what it likes.

5. Servus Calgary Marathon Half — Alberta (30 May 2027)

Canada’s longest-running marathon, and a half with the Rockies on the horizon.

First held in 1963 and run annually since 1971, the Calgary Marathon is the oldest event of its kind in the country. It’s certified by Athletics Canada and registered with AIMS, and in 2025 it drew a record 17,280 participants — roughly 17% up on its previous best.

Since 2025 the weekend has been split across two days, with the 5K and 10K on Saturday and the half marathon and marathon on Sunday, finishing at Enmax Park. On a clear day the Rocky Mountains sit on the western horizon for much of the course.

It’s also the race that, in 2024, became the first in North America to serve non-alcoholic beer at an official aid station — which tells you something about the spirit of the thing.

Best for: History, scale, and mountain views without leaving the road.

Watch out for: Calgary sits at around 1,045m, so if you’re coming from sea level expect the altitude to be mildly noticeable. Note too that 30 May 2027 is the busiest day of the Canadian running year — Calgary, Ottawa and Saskatoon all run that morning.

6. Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Half — Ontario (30 May 2027)

One of the largest half marathons in Canada. Ottawa Race Weekend is a genuine institution, and the half marathon is its most popular distance by a wide margin.

The course runs through the capital along the Rideau Canal and past the Parliament buildings, on a flat, fast route that produces a lot of personal bests. The weekend as a whole spans several distances across two days, so it works well if you’re travelling with a group of mixed abilities.

Best for: A flat, fast course with big-event atmosphere.

Watch out for: Late May in Ottawa can be hot and humid — this race has a history of warm editions. Have a heat plan.

7. Saskatchewan Marathon Half — Saskatoon (30 May 2027)

The prairie option, and a properly flat one. Saskatoon’s race weekend runs along the South Saskatchewan River through a city that’s far prettier than most people expect.

If you want flat, this is flat — the Prairies deliver a course profile that most of the rest of this list can’t match. It’s also a smaller, friendlier event than the big-city races, with a strong local running community behind it.

Best for: Flat terrain, a modest field, and a part of Canada most visiting runners never see.

Watch out for: Prairie wind. On a flat course with little shelter, it’s the only thing that will slow you down — but it can do so decisively. It also shares 30 May with Calgary and Ottawa, so it’s competing for the same runners.

8. Edmonton Half Marathon — Alberta (August)

The best of the late-summer options. Edmonton’s race weekend runs in August, filling a gap in the Canadian calendar between the May cluster and the October flagships.

The course makes use of Edmonton’s river valley — the largest urban parkland in Canada — which means a surprising amount of green space for a city race. August in Alberta generally delivers warm days and cool mornings, so an early start does most of the work.

Best for: A late-summer goal race, or a tune-up ahead of an autumn marathon.

Watch out for: The river valley means some elevation change. It’s not flat.

9. Montréal Half Marathon — Quebec (September)

The best atmosphere in Canadian road racing. Montreal’s race weekend has a character entirely distinct from the rest of the country — European in feel, francophone, and noticeably more festive.

The course runs through the city’s neighbourhoods and along the St. Lawrence, and September timing means near-ideal conditions. If you’ve only ever raced in English Canada, Montreal is a genuinely different experience.

Best for: Atmosphere, food, and a September date that works well as a fall marathon tune-up.

Watch out for: Some climbing, and a course that’s more urban and turn-heavy than the flat prairie options.

10. TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon — Ontario (October)

Canada’s most prestigious road race. Held each October alongside the marathon, the Toronto Waterfront Half runs a flat, fast course along Lake Ontario that consistently produces strong times.

The marathon holds a World Athletics Elite Label and serves as Canada’s national time-trial event during Olympic cycles, which gives the whole weekend a seriousness that few Canadian races match. Established in 2000, it has become the country’s flagship road event.

For the half, the appeal is simple: flat, lakefront, cool October conditions, and a deep field to run with.

Best for: Your fastest possible Canadian half, and the strongest field you’ll find domestically.

Watch out for: It sells out reliably every year. Enter early.

Honourable Mentions

Ten is an arbitrary number, and Canada has more than ten good halves. Also worth a look:

• Quebec City Half Marathon (October) — run alongside the Beneva Quebec City Marathon, finishing in North America’s only walled city
• Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon (May) — Manitoba’s biggest, and a well-run community event
• Niagara Falls International Half (October) — for the obvious reason
• Oak Bay Half Marathon (Victoria, BC) — coastal running on Vancouver Island
• Fredericton Marathon Half (May) — New Brunswick’s main event
• Banff and Jasper events — if you want the Rockies up close rather than on the horizon

How to Build a Canadian Half Marathon Season

The Canadian calendar has a distinct shape, and understanding it saves a lot of frustration.

Winter (December-March)

Base building, indoor work, and the Hypothermic Half series — Edmonton on 31 January and 13 February, Winnipeg on 6-7 February, Calgary on 28 February. Racing happens, but conditions dictate that it’s for fitness and morale rather than times.

Spring (May-June)

Extremely crowded — and in 2027, more crowded than usual. The entire spring calendar compresses into four weekends:

• 2 May: BMO Vancouver and Toronto Marathon — same day, opposite ends of the country
• 23 May: Blue Nose, Halifax
• 30 May: Calgary, Ottawa and Saskatoon — three of Canada’s biggest halves on one morning

Five of the ten races on this list fall on just three dates. That’s not a schedule you work through; it’s a set of choices you make. Pick one spring race and commit to it early.

Summer (July-August)

A quieter window. Edmonton anchors August, and it’s a good time for a tune-up or a smaller local race while most of the country is between seasons.

Autumn (September-October)

The best conditions of the year, and where the flagships sit. Montreal in September, Toronto Waterfront and Quebec City in October. If you want your fastest time of the year, this is when to target it.

A realistic structure

One spring half and one autumn half as genuine A races, roughly five months apart, with a winter race and a summer tune-up as supporting efforts. That’s four races across the year — sustainable, well spaced, and it uses the Canadian calendar the way it’s shaped rather than fighting it.

Practical Notes for Visiting Runners

• The country is enormous. Vancouver to Halifax is a longer flight than London to New York. Don’t plan a multi-race trip without checking a map.
• May weather is unpredictable everywhere. Spring arrives at wildly different times across the country, and even within a single city it can swing 15°C in a fortnight. Pack layers and a throwaway top for the start.
• Quebec races operate in French. English is widely spoken at the big events, but race materials and announcements will be francophone. It’s part of the appeal.
• Check entry requirements early. Vancouver and Toronto both sell out reliably; the smaller races generally don’t, but the good ones still fill.
• Bring sunscreen even in May. Altitude in Alberta and long summer daylight make the sun stronger than the temperature suggests.

The Bottom Line

If you want your fastest Canadian half, run Toronto Waterfront in October. If you want the most beautiful morning of your year, run Vancouver in May. If you want history and mountains, run Calgary. If you want the best party, go to Montreal. And if you want to remember that running in February is possible, do a Hypothermic Half and eat the brunch afterwards.

Canada’s season is short, which is exactly why it’s worth planning properly. Pick two races that matter, space them across the spring and autumn, and let everything else be training with a bib.

Ready to plan 2027? Build your race calendar in RunningLog — add your planned races, set your goals, and keep your whole season in one place.

Which Canadian half is on your list for 2027? Share your plans on Instagram or Threads.