Allow extra time
Journeys through Belfast may take longer than usual, particularly during the morning.
BELFAST TRAFFIC & TRAVEL
Belfast City Half Marathon Road Closures
Route map, road restrictions and travel information for Sunday 20 September 2026.
SUN
20
SEP
Race starts
9:00am
Sunday morning
Start / Finish
Ormeau Embankment
Ormeau Park area
Distance
13.1 miles
Across Belfast
Restrictions
4am – 3pm
Times vary by road
Expect traffic disruption across Belfast
Roads will reopen progressively as the race moves through the city. Not every road will remain closed for the full 4am to 3pm period.
OFFICIAL 2026 COURSE
Open Full Map
Belfast City Half Marathon Route Map
The official route travels through south, east, north and west Belfast before returning to the Ormeau Park area.
Official 2026 Half Marathon map
Tap or click the map to open the full-size version.
Source: Belfast City Marathon
Route map versus road closures:
The map shows the race course. It does not mean every road shown will
remain completely closed throughout the event.
TRAVELLING THROUGH BELFAST?
Plan your journey before setting off
Check your route
Your normal route may cross the race course or one of the associated traffic-management areas.
Watch for diversions
Follow temporary road signs and directions from event marshals and traffic-management staff.
ROAD RESTRICTIONS
Roads affected on Sunday
Open the sections below to view the roads affected by closures, controlled access and lane restrictions.
Main road closures Closures and controlled access
- Ormeau Embankment
- Ravenhill Road
- Mays Meadow
- Laganbank Road
- Lower Newtownards Road
- Park Avenue
- Brandon Parade
- Connsbrook Avenue
- Parkgate Avenue
- Mersey Street
- A2 Sydenham Bypass off-slip to Dee Street roundabout
- M3 Middlepath off-slip to Sydenham Road
- Donegall Quay
- Queen's Square
- Cornmarket
- Arthur Street
- Upper Arthur Street
- Montgomery Street
- Chichester Street
- Donegall Square North
- Tomb Street
- Corporation Street
- Dunbar Link
- Castle Street
- Divis Street
- A12 Divis off-slip West
- Falls Road
- Bedford Street
- Dublin Road
- Ormeau Road
Lane restrictions Traffic controls and partial restrictions
- Ormeau Road
- East Bridge Street
- Albertbridge Road
- Holywood Road
- Queen's Quay
- Station Street flyover
- Queen's Bridge
- Sydenham Road
- High Street
- Wellington Place
- Queen Street
- Victoria Street
- College Avenue
- Millfield
- Divis Street
- A12 Grosvenor Road off-slip
- Grosvenor Road
- Great Victoria Street
- Bruce Street
- Bankmore Street
- Botanic Avenue
- University Street
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Extra early services for the Half Marathon
Translink is providing additional early services for people travelling to Belfast.
Coleraine
6:35am
Newry
7:00am
Larne Harbour
7:03am
Bangor
7:20am
Travelling from Derry/Londonderry?
Check Translink
Due to the Derry/Londonderry–Coleraine railway line closure, passengers should check Translink's special travel arrangements. Translink has advised passengers about the 6am 212 service from Foyle Street Buscentre.
Motorists are being advised to plan ahead as the Belfast City Half Marathon road closures will affect roads across Belfast on Sunday, 20 September.
Road closures and lane restrictions are scheduled between 4am and 3pm, although individual roads will reopen at different stages.
The Phoenix Energy Belfast City Half Marathon starts and finishes at Ormeau Park, with the route travelling through south, east, north and west Belfast.
Belfast City Half Marathon takes place on Sunday
Thousands of runners will take to the streets for the 2026 Phoenix Energy Belfast City Half Marathon on Sunday, 20 September.
The event is Northern Ireland’s biggest half marathon and has sold out year after year.
The race starts and finishes at Ormeau Park, with runners travelling through all four areas of Belfast.
As a result, a substantial traffic management operation will be in place across the city.
Motorists travelling through Belfast on Sunday morning should allow additional time and check their route before setting off.
[Insert Link: Northern Ireland Traffic & Travel Hub]
Belfast City Half Marathon road closures
Belfast City Council lists road closures for the event between 4am and 3pm on Sunday, 20 September.
The roads affected by closures include:
- Ormeau Embankment
- Ravenhill Road
- Mays Meadow
- Laganbank Road
- Lower Newtownards Road
- Park Avenue
- Brandon Parade
- Connsbrook Avenue
- Parkgate Avenue
- Mersey Street
- A2 Sydenham Bypass off-slip to Dee Street roundabout
- M3 Middlepath off-slip to Sydenham Road
- Donegall Quay
- Queen’s Square
- Cornmarket
- Arthur Street
- Upper Arthur Street
- Montgomery Street
- Chichester Street
- Donegall Square North
- Tomb Street
- Corporation Street
- Dunbar Link
- Castle Street
- Divis Street
- A12 Divis off-slip West
- Falls Road
- Bedford Street
- Dublin Road
- Ormeau Road
Controlled local and event access will operate on parts of Ormeau Embankment, while local access on Ormeau Road will be managed.
Lane closures across Belfast
A further series of roads will be affected by lane restrictions.
These include:
- Ormeau Road
- East Bridge Street
- Albertbridge Road
- Holywood Road
- Queen’s Quay
- Station Street flyover
- Queen’s Bridge
- Sydenham Road
- High Street
- Wellington Place
- Queen Street
- Victoria Street
- College Avenue
- Millfield
- Divis Street
- A12 Grosvenor Road off-slip
- Grosvenor Road
- Great Victoria Street
- Bruce Street
- Bankmore Street
- Botanic Avenue
- University Street
Traffic-controlled vehicle movements will also operate at the multi-junction around the A12 Divis eastbound off-slip.
Drivers should remember that these are the overall traffic-management hours. Individual restrictions may be removed as the race progresses and roads become safe to reopen.
Travelling through Belfast on Sunday?
Major road closures and lane restrictions will be in place for the Belfast City Half Marathon. Allow extra time and check your route before travelling.
Check NI Traffic & TravelExtra trains for Belfast City Half Marathon
Translink is providing additional early-morning rail services to help people travelling to the event.
Special early services are scheduled from:
The Coleraine service is scheduled to call at Ballymoney, Cullybackey, Ballymena, Antrim and Mossley West before reaching Belfast Lanyon Place.
The Larne service includes stops at Whitehead, Carrickfergus, Greenisland, Jordanstown and Whiteabbey.
Passengers should check the latest timetable before travelling.
Check Belfast City Half Marathon travel information with Translink
Derry rail passengers advised to use bus service
There is an additional issue for anyone travelling from Derry/Londonderry.
A rail line closure is in place between Derry/Londonderry and Coleraine.
Passengers travelling from Derry to the Belfast City Half Marathon are being advised to use the 6am 212 service from Foyle Street Buscentre.
Translink says the service is scheduled to reach Belfast at around 8am.
What time does the Belfast City Half Marathon start?
The 2026 Phoenix Energy Belfast City Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, 20 September 2026, starting and finishing in the Ormeau Park area.
The 13.1-mile course takes runners through the north, south, east and west of Belfast. Participants must complete the event within three hours.
Belfast City Half Marathon official event information
Plan ahead if travelling through Belfast
Anyone who does not need to travel through affected areas during the event may want to consider an alternative route.
Those who do need to travel should:
- Allow additional journey time.
- Expect diversions and temporary restrictions.
- Check public transport before leaving.
- Avoid relying on your normal Sunday route through Belfast.
- Follow instructions from event marshals and traffic management staff.
Roads will reopen at different times as the event progresses.
For the latest traffic information across Northern Ireland, visit our NI Traffic & Travel Hub.
[Insert Link: NI Traffic & Travel Hub]
Useful information
Event: Phoenix Energy Belfast City Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026
Location: Belfast
Start/finish: Ormeau Park area
Road restrictions: Approximately 4am–3pm, depending on location
Distance: 13.1 miles
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