Liverpool Half Marathon 2026: Road Closures and Travel Guide
The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon returns next Sunday, 15 March 2026, with a record-breaking field of 15,000 runners, to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, organisers have released comprehensive details regarding road closures and travel restrictions across the city centre.
With a new start line at Hill Dickinson Stadium and a revised 13.1-mile course, residents and visitors are advised to plan their journeys in advance to avoid significant delays.
“The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon returns for 2026 with lots of new things to inform people about, not just our eager runners and their keen supporters, but also local residents and visitors to the city centre,” said Alan Rothwell, BTR Founder.
“We are gearing up to welcome an inspiring 15,000 runners to run the half marathon or 10 miler.
“This is the biggest race the city has seen.
“An event of this scale, with this many participants and thousands of spectators, takes a huge amount of work and planning.”
Rothwell emphasized the necessity of the restrictions, adding:
“We’re working closely with Liverpool City Council, emergency services, partner agencies, and public transport operators to ensure our runners and visitors have the best possible experience.
“To make the course safe we must close roads and have restricted access in places, but these will be lifted as soon as it is safe to do so. We thank you for your support.”
Key Road Closures and Timings Across the City
Extensive road closures will be in effect between 4:00 am and 3:00 pm on Sunday for the Liverpool half-marathon.
Initial closures begin in the early hours around the Hill Dickinson Stadium start area and the Pier Head finish line.
The full race route will be implemented from 8:30 am, with roads reopening on a rolling basis as the last runners pass through.
Due to the expanded route, major arteries including the waterfront, The Strand, and Upper Parliament Street North-bound will remain closed longer than in previous years, with a projected reopening time of 1:30 pm.
The revised course takes in major landmarks including Liverpool Town Hall, the Chinese Arch, and Liverpool Cathedral.
Because the latter part of the race now utilizes Princes Road and Upper Parliament Street rather than Otterspool Promenade, motorists should expect restricted movement in the areas surrounding Sefton Park and Princes Park throughout the morning.
An interactive map is available here to provide real-time updates on specific junction closures.
Public Transport and Shuttle Services for Race Day
With the roads expected to be busier than usual until at least 2:00 pm, organisers are strongly encouraging the use of public transport.
To assist with the move to the new stadium start line, Arriva North West will operate dedicated shuttle buses from Liverpool ONE bus station to Great Howard Street and Blackstone Street.
These services commence at 6:30 am, with the final departure at 9:00 am for a fare of £2 per person.
Merseyrail has also confirmed earlier train services on both the Northern and Wirral lines, with increased frequency to stations including Sandhills, Moorfields, and Liverpool Central.
For those who must travel by car, it is recommended to delay journeys until after 2:00 pm or use the official traffic restriction poster to identify alternative routes.
BTR Liverpool continues to work with multi-agency planning groups to ensure a smooth transition for the city during its largest-ever running event.
