Warsaw Independence Run on 11 Nov 2026: dates, start numbers
Short answer: The 36th Warsaw Independence Run is on Wednesday 11 November 2026. The 10 km starts at 11:11, with 22,000 places. Start numbers are collected at Westfield Arkadia on 7, 8 and 10 November.
Every 11 November, Poland celebrates Independence Day, and in Warsaw one of the biggest events of the day is a street race: the Independence Run (Bieg Niepodległości). In 2026 it is the 36th edition, and it falls on a Wednesday. The run is open to amateurs, it is a good way to see how Poles celebrate, and you do not have to run to enjoy it. This guide collects the facts from the organisers' website and race rules as of 16 October 2026. The route for this year had not been presented in the sources we checked, so look at the official site for it.
The events and the start
According to the organisers and Warsaw City Hall, the 36th Independence Run includes:
- A main 10 km run on a course certified by the Polish Athletics Association (PZLA). The start is at 11:11 on 11 November, in waves.
- A Nordic walking event of about 5 km.
- The Independence Mile (Mila Niepodległości) of 1,918 metres, aimed at young people aged 10 to 14. It starts at 10:00.
- A virtual 10 km run, which you can do anywhere between 11 and 18 November 2026 and register using a record from a running app or sports watch.
The limit for the main run is 22,000 places, which is 2,000 more than in 2025, when all 20,000 numbers sold out. There are 600 places for Nordic walking. According to the City of Warsaw, just before the start the participants and spectators sing the national anthem, and a historical re-enactment group takes part.
The run is part of the Warsaw Running Triad "Zabiegaj o Pamięć", a set of sports events linked to important dates in Polish history.
* Photos: runners at marathons in Tel Aviv and Moscow (illustrative, not Warsaw), Wikimedia Commons, CC0 / public domain.
Who can take part
The rules say that anyone who turns 15 by 11 November 2026 (born before 11 November 2011) may start in the 10 km run and the Nordic walking event. The Independence Mile has its own age group, 10 to 14. Check the full rules on the official site for declarations and details for minors.
Collecting the start number
All runners must be verified at the Race Office or choose the shipping of the starter pack. The Race Office is in the main hall of the Westfield Arkadia shopping centre, Jana Pawła II avenue 82, Warsaw, near the main entrance. Opening hours:
- Saturday 7 November: 12:00-20:00
- Sunday 8 November: 12:00-20:00
- Monday 9 November: closed
- Tuesday 10 November: 16:00-20:00
- Wednesday 11 November: 8:00-10:00, only for previously paid packs and only for participants from outside Warsaw
You can verify in person with a photo ID and the QR code sent by the organiser. An authorised person can collect your pack with your QR code and a photo or copy of your ID.
If you choose shipping, the rules say you need a start number, assigned once the fee is registered, by 19 October 2026 at the latest. Shipments go out about 10 days before the run. If your pack does not arrive by 6 November 2026, tell the organiser at the e-mail address in the rules ([email protected]).
On the day
According to the programme, on Wednesday 11 November the Race Office works from 8:00 to 10:00 for the cases listed above. The cloakrooms (depozyty) work from 9:00 to 15:00 for the Mile and from 9:30 to 15:00 for the main run. The Mile starts at 10:00 and the main run at 11:11. Some restaurants and cafés in the centre will be open for runners and spectators, according to Westfield Arkadia.
Independence Day is a public holiday, so offices and most shops are closed. Our guide to public holidays and shopping Sundays explains the trading rules. Check the city transport operator's site for the timetable on the day.
If you do not want to run
You can watch from the course, join the crowd at the anthem before the start, or take part in the virtual run from your own neighbourhood between 11 and 18 November.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 36th Independence Run?
On Wednesday 11 November 2026. The main 10 km run starts at 11:11 and the Independence Mile at 10:00.
Who can run the 10 km?
People who turn 15 by 11 November 2026, according to the race rules.
Where do I collect my start number?
At the Race Office in Westfield Arkadia, Jana Pawła II avenue 82, Warsaw, on 7, 8 and 10 November, or with shipping if you registered it by 19 October.
Can I take part without being in Warsaw?
Yes. The virtual 10 km run can be done anywhere between 11 and 18 November 2026.
