Ávila Christmas race 2026: date, start time and entry fees

Plan your race pace

Ávila will host the 26th Carrera de Navidad Memorial Antonio Jiménez on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026, with the start scheduled for 11 a.m. on Avenida de la Juventud. The event includes races for different age groups and, according to the available information, a 5K for the adult race. It is organized by Club Puente Romanillos.

Adult entry costs 10 euros through Nov. 30 and rises to 12 euros from Dec. 1 through Dec. 17, plus the applicable booking fees. Entry is free for the youth categories. Registration closes Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11:59 p.m., while bib pickup is available at Carlos Soria indoor sports hall and on race morning. Here are the confirmed details and what to keep in mind before attending.

Race date, start time and location

The race is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026, with an 11 a.m. start. The listed location is Avenida de la Juventud, without a street number, in Ávila. This is the 26th edition of a Christmas race featuring events for different ages, although the available information does not specify the start times for each category or the order of the races.

Sports calendars list a distance of 5 kilometers for the adult race. That is a useful indication of the event’s format, but the information provided by the organizers refers to races for all ages without detailing the full course, elevation gain or distance of each children’s event. Those details should be checked in the edition’s rules before planning to take part.

The start address is listed as Avenida de la Juventud, S/N. No detailed map has been provided, nor is there information about possible traffic changes, parking or access arrangements. Anyone driving should check local information and allow extra time, particularly on a Sunday morning when runners, spectators and other sports activities may coincide.

The event takes place in December, in the middle of winter. Temperatures in Ávila can be low early in the day, but the actual conditions cannot be predicted months in advance. The forecast closer to race day will be more useful than historical averages: a light layer while waiting and suitable running clothes make it easier to adapt to the weather and each participant’s pace.

Registration, entry fees and deadline

Registration opened on Oct. 1, 2026, and is scheduled to close on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11:59 p.m. The adult entry fee depends on when registration is completed: 10 euros through Nov. 30 and 12 euros from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17. Applicable booking fees are added to those amounts.

The difference between the two price periods is 2 euros. The booking fee has not been specified, nor is it clear whether the platform charges a fixed or variable amount, so the final total should be checked during registration. The published figures therefore refer to the base entry price: 10 or 12 euros for the adult race, depending on when the entry is submitted.

Entry is free for the youth categories. The published information does not specify age groups, how participants are assigned to each category or whether a separate registration is required for each child. Families should review the full event terms before registering, especially any consent requirements and documents that may be requested.

The registration deadline falls three days before race day. The cutoff is clear, but there is no information on whether in-person registration will be available or whether the deadline could be extended if places remain. It should not be assumed that same-day entry will be possible: the available information lists Dec. 17 as the deadline, and any change would need to be announced by the organizers.

Bib and timing chip pickup

Most bibs will be distributed at Carlos Soria indoor sports hall, located in the Ciudad Deportiva. On Saturday, Dec. 19, pickup is available from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. The organizers also plan to distribute bibs on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 9 a.m. until 30 minutes before the start. Since the adult race begins at 11 a.m., that places the stated cutoff at 10:30 a.m.

The Saturday option avoids handling logistics on race morning, while Sunday pickup is an alternative for those unable to attend the day before. Either way, it is sensible to allow time to find the sports hall, collect the race materials and reach the start area. Race materials must be collected during the published hours; no distribution after the races begin has been specified.

The bib must be worn on the chest and remain fully visible. The organizers say it must not be cut or folded. Adult runners must also correctly use the supplied timing chip, which is required for participation control and time recording under the event rules. It is worth checking both items before leaving the sports hall rather than waiting until the start is imminent.

All participants will receive a runner’s bag. The available information does not list its contents or say whether it will include clothing, products or other items, so it is not possible to predict what it will contain. The procedure for a lost bib or a problem with the chip is also not detailed. Such situations are covered by the race rules and the instructions provided at pickup.

What is known about the course and categories

The event is presented as a race with events for all ages, and sports calendars identify a 5K distance for the main race. However, the supplied details do not describe the route street by street or confirm whether the course is entirely urban, whether it uses multiple laps or which surface predominates. For now, the most precise description is a 5K adult race in Ávila, without assigning unconfirmed course characteristics.

The same lack of detail applies to the children’s races. Youth categories are confirmed and entry is free, but their distances, age groups, start times and any differences between groups have not been provided. These details can affect family logistics and the time spent at the venue, making the complete schedule particularly important for those attending with children.

Avenida de la Juventud is the listed start location, but it has not been confirmed whether it will also be the finish or where participant services will be located. There is no confirmed information about a bag drop, water stations, restrooms or support along the course. The published address identifies the meeting point, but it is not a substitute for an official course map or detailed race rules.

With those caveats, the known 5K distance can serve as an initial reference for both recreational runners and participants who prefer a relaxed pace. That does not establish the course’s difficulty: without details about elevation, surface and turns, each person should assess their own readiness and follow the organizers’ instructions on race day.

A Christmas event for different generations

The day combines an adult race with children’s events, a format often seen at popular December races. Its appeal is not limited to the clock: it also brings different generations together in the same sports setting. For some, it will be a target race; for others, a first experience wearing a race bib or a way to share an active morning.

The reference to a 26th edition places the event within a long-running tradition, although the available information does not provide past winners, participation figures or changes to the course over the years. The event’s continuity should not be turned into unsupported claims about its size or competitive level. What is confirmed is that Ávila will hold the Christmas event again in 2026, with a program for participants of different ages.

The name Antonio Jiménez is part of the event’s official memorial title. The supplied details do not explain the personal story behind the tribute, so it would not be appropriate to invent a biography or a specific connection with the club. The name distinguishes the race from other Christmas events and ties the event to a remembrance that forms part of its identity.

At a popular race, the atmosphere around the start can matter as much as the result: brief conversations, warm layers, bibs pinned to shirts and families following the children’s races. That is a possibility inherent in the format, not a confirmed description of conditions at this edition. The organizers will determine the setup, services and specific arrangements for the start area.

Practical planning for race morning

The start is set for 11 a.m., but arriving early helps avoid last-minute travel and makes it easier to get oriented. Anyone collecting a bib on Sunday will need to do so from 9 a.m. and before 10:30 a.m., according to the published schedule. Add the time needed to travel between Carlos Soria sports hall, in the Ciudad Deportiva, and the start if they are not in the same place.

It is also sensible to prepare the bib and clothes the night before. The instruction to wear the bib visibly on the chest and not fold it sounds simple, but can be overlooked in the rush. Adult runners should position the chip according to the pickup instructions. A quick check of the bib and chip before setting off helps prevent avoidable mistakes and leaves more time to focus on the race.

Clothing should be chosen according to the actual temperature, not just the date on the calendar. In December, conditions can vary considerably between the wait before the start, the effort of running and the time after finishing. A layer that can be removed before running and put back on afterward may be useful, as long as it does not interfere with the bib or movement. The event information does not specify a dress code.

For families, the lack of detailed start times by category makes it advisable to check the full schedule when it becomes available. Knowing when each group is called helps plan arrival and keeps children from spending too long outside in the cold. Free entry for these races does not remove the need to register or follow participation rules: the complete regulations form part of the event conditions.

Rules and details still to be confirmed

Taking part means accepting the complete regulations, available in the event’s documents section. Those rules are the reference for race conduct, participation conditions and any requirements not included in the short event summary. If a brief listing differs from the regulations, the official, more complete version should be followed.

The supplied details do not explain changes or refunds, capacity, age categories, children’s distances or access arrangements for spectators. They also do not describe the course, elevation, medical services, water stations or timing beyond the mandatory chip for the adult race. Confirmed information should not be mistaken for a complete technical guide: further details may appear in the regulations or be updated before race day.

Club Puente Romanillos is listed as the organizer. No other partners, sponsors or entities responsible for specific services have been identified, so no additional responsibilities should be attributed to them. For questions about registration, documents or logistics, the appropriate reference is the official event information and any instructions published by the organizing club.

Registration is scheduled to run from Oct. 1 through Dec. 17, 2026. Since that period may coincide with updates to the rules or schedule, checking the details again before traveling helps ensure that the latest version is being used. This does not change the announced information—date, start, price periods and pickup hours—but may reveal changes not included in the initial listing.

Ávila gets ready to run in December

The 26th Carrera de Navidad Memorial Antonio Jiménez now has a set date: Dec. 20, 2026, with an 11 a.m. start on Avenida de la Juventud. A 5K distance has been published for the adult race, with entry priced at 10 euros through the end of November and 12 euros in December; youth categories are free. Registration closes Dec. 17 at 11:59 p.m.

Bib pickup is centered on Saturday at Carlos Soria indoor sports hall and continues on Sunday morning until half an hour before the start. With more detailed information about the course and children’s races still unavailable, the regulations will be essential to completing plans. The event offers the ingredients for a winter morning of sport, but final details, as with any scheduled race, depend on the organizers’ current instructions.

For runners treating the race as a personal challenge, the known distance provides an initial reference; for families, free entry for children opens the door to a shared event. The Christmas setting provides the backdrop, while the bib, timing chip and schedule make the morning an organized race. The most useful information is also the most specific: arrive on time, follow the rules and confirm any detail not included in the published information.