The Brighton Marathon Weekend returns to the city on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April with more than 22,000 people expected to take part in a series of events across the weekend.
More than 15,000 are expected to participate in the Brighton Marathon, which is the centrepiece event of the weekend and is being held for the 16th time on Sunday (12 April).
Participants will be set on their way by Sussex’s Jess Breach who won the 2025 England Rugby World Cup with England. Among those taking part is Nuala Smyth, who has run every Brighton Marathon and will be taking on her 228th marathon at the 2026 edition of the event.
Other events that are part of the weekend include an Official Shakeout Run in the city on Friday (10 April) and the ever-popular Brighton Miles which this year will include a Superhero wave where participants are being encouraged to complete the mile dressed as their favourite superhero.
Sunday’s schedule also includes the Brighton & Hove 10K and the brand-new Brighton Trail Marathon, a groundbreaking new event which is the first of its kind in the UK. Organised by Maverick Race, in partnership with the Brighton Marathon Weekend, the event will uniquely combine off and on-road running, with the first 36K taking place on the trails of the South Downs and the final 6K being held on the closing miles of the Brighton Marathon route.
Joe Carter, Event Lead of the Brighton Marathon Weekend, said: “Every year the Brighton Marathon Weekend gets bigger and better and this year is no different. There really is something for everyone, from the family-friendly Brighton Miles through to our world-famous Brighton Marathon and the innovative new Brighton Trail Marathon for those who want to experience a unique combination of trails and city.
“It’s such a fabulous weekend in Brighton’s calendar when communities come together and we look forward to welcoming everyone this weekend.”
What’s happening and when?
Kicking off Brighton’s festival of running is the Official Shakeout Run on Friday 10 April at 6:00pm. Tickets are still available and include entertainment from award-winning drag artist Alfie Ordinary as well as the chance to meet fellow runners and loosen the legs ahead of the 10K or marathon.
On Saturday 11 April, the Brighton Miles, a series of free one-mile waves, takes place in Preston Park, with the first wave, the Junior Parkrun Wave, setting off at 10:30. There are 15 waves throughout the day, including the Superhero Wave at 12:50 and finishing with the Welcome Wave at 13:35, an accessible wave designed to support the needs of neurodiverse and disabled participants.
David Weir CBE, Britain’s most successful wheelchair athlete, will be starting some of the waves at the Miles, as well as handing out medals and cheering on participants.
Sunday 12 April will see the return of the Brighton & Hove 10K and the Brighton Marathon. The sold-out Brighton & Hove 10K starts and finishes at Hove Lawns, with the first participants setting off at 08:45 and the first finishers due to arrive back at the Finish Line shortly after 09:15.
The Brighton Marathon starts at 09:45 in Preston Park, with the first wave of participants expected to finish from 12:15, with thousands more crossing the Finish Line throughout the day. Expected around 20 minutes after the winners of the Brighton Marathon are the first finishers of the Brighton Trail Marathon.
Getting the party started:
From start to finish, the Brighton Marathon Weekend promises a city-wide festival atmosphere, with entertainment planned along the route to lift spirits every step of the way.
One of the standout moments of the route is the brand-new Pride Promenade on Kings Road, a vibrant celebration of Brighton’s LGBTQIA+ community. Positioned just before mile 18, this colourful takeover promises bold music and a powerful crowd boost as marathon participants head into the final stretch.
The Community Cheer Zones at Madeira Drive and Kingsway will also come to life with all-day DJ sets from Queer Run Club, delivering feel-good playlists that keep energy levels high for both participants and spectators. Preston Park will be accessible for participants only on Sunday, so the Community Cheer Zones and Official Fan Zone at St Peter’s Church are the perfect places for spectators to soak up the marathon atmosphere and cheer on their loved ones.
Beyond the music and cheering, sustainability takes centre stage in 2026 with the introduction of the Green Village. Open across the weekend, the Green Village (located in Preston Park on Saturday and Hove Lawns on Sunday) invites participants and spectators to get involved in hands-on activities, showing that Brighton Marathon Weekend can deliver an unforgettable celebration of running while promoting positive environmental change.
Planning ahead
The Brighton Marathon starts in Preston Park and after heading north for the early miles, heads back south through the city centre towards the seafront. It then takes participants out to Ovingdean, back along the coast to Hove and then the Finish Line on Hove Lawns. For the full route, see here.
To ensure the safety of everyone taking part, road closures will be in place around the route. To find out more and to see the full details of road closures click here.
Local transport may also be affected by the road closures, so it’s best to check and plan your bus and rail journeys before setting out.
