Lisbon · 12 June 2027 · 21:30

Run Lisbon after dark

Five kilometres from the river to Chiado and back, on closed streets, under the lights. Scroll, and run the course.

Luz Night 5K · 1 h · 5.0 km · 12 landmarks

Landmark 1 · 0.2 km
Praça do Comércio
The great riverside square, open to the Tagus on one side: the start and the finish, under the arch.
Landmark 2 · 0.3 km
Rua Augusta Arch
The triumphal arch between the square and the Baixa grid: the first hundred metres of every race run under it.
Landmark 3 · 0.9 km
Praça da Figueira
The square of the old market, with the bronze king on horseback and the castle above.
Landmark 4 · 1.2 km
Rossio
Lisbon's old main square, its wave-patterned pavement under the column of Pedro IV.
Landmark 5 · 1.6 km
Santa Justa Lift
The iron lift that saves you the climb to Carmo. Runners take the stairs beside it instead.
Landmark 6 · 1.9 km
Largo do Carmo
A quiet square under jacaranda trees beside the roofless convent church.
Landmark 7 · 2.2 km
Chiado
Theatres, bookshops and cafés round Praça Luís de Camões: the loudest kilometre of the course.
Landmark 8 · 2.8 km
Cais do Sodré
The ferry station and the old waterfront, where the course turns back east along the river.
Landmark 9 · 3.3 km
Ribeira das Naus
The old shipyard, now wide lawns and steps down into the Tagus.
Landmark 10 · 4.1 km
Casa dos Bicos
The house with the diamond-point façade, on the way back down to the river.
Landmark 11 · 4.4 km
Lisbon Cathedral
The fortress cathedral of Lisbon, on the steep street the yellow tram climbs.
Landmark 12 · 5.0 km
Praça do Comércio
The great riverside square, open to the Tagus on one side: the start and the finish, under the arch.

Races

Three races, one weekend

A fast 5K at sunset, the 5K under the lights, and a hill race to the castle at sunrise.

The course

Squares, climbs, viewpoints and the river: every landmark on the courses, with what happens there on race night.

Squares · Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake
Praça do Comércio
The great riverside square, open to the Tagus on one side: the start and the finish, under the arch.
Squares · Finished in 1875
Rua Augusta Arch
The triumphal arch between the square and the Baixa grid: the first hundred metres of every race run under it.
Squares · Paved in waves in 1849
Rossio
Lisbon's old main square, its wave-patterned pavement under the column of Pedro IV.
Cheer zones · Rebuilt by Siza after 1988
Chiado
Theatres, bookshops and cafés round Praça Luís de Camões: the loudest kilometre of the course.

The 2026 edition.

Pacers

Four pacers hold the times most people aim for. Find their flag in the start pen and stay with it.

Inês Rocha
5K pacer, club coach
Inês has run the Luz Night 5K every year since the first, and paced it for the last four. She coaches the club's Tuesday intervals on the river.
Holds: 5K in 25:00
Tiago Alves
5K pacer
Tiago ran his first race at forty and his fastest at forty-six. He paces the half-hour 5K, and runs the Family 2K with his twins the hour before.
Holds: 5K in 30:00
Marta Sousa
5K pacer
Marta paces 35 minutes: steady, chatty and never late. If this is your first race, run with her flag.
Holds: 5K in 35:00
Duarte Lima
Hill specialist
Duarte grew up in Graça and trains on its stairs. On the Miradouros Hill Run he tells you when to walk, and when not to.
Holds: Hill Run in 30:00

Journal

May 5, 2027
The 5K, kilometre by kilometre
Where the climbs are, where the water is, and where to save something for the river.
Course
April 10, 2027
What to eat before a night race
A late race changes the day: lunch is your main meal, and dinner is a snack.
Race night
March 2, 2027
Training for a hilly 5K
Six weeks, three runs a week, and why the stairs in Alfama are better than any gym.
Training

Entries open in January and the 5K sells out. One email when they open, one before race night.

Saturday 12 June 2027, 21:30, Praça do Comércio. Bring a head torch for the after-party.