The hugely popular AJ Bell Great Manchester Run returns for its 2026 edition this weekend, and with runners and spectators gearing up for a bumper year, there’s plenty to think about in the run-up. Tens of thousands of runners, spectators and visitors will arrive in the city-region for the race, taking place on Sunday, 31 May.
Runners will either take on a 10K route through Salford, Trafford and Manchester city centre or a half marathon stretching further east while passing some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks. From the route and best places for spectators, to travelling to and from the city and discounts for runners, we’ve got everything you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2026.
Great Manchester Run route
Both the half marathon and 10K start on Portland Street, near the junction with Oxford Street, and finish on Manchester’s iconic Deansgate. As in previous years, the half marathon will see runners follow the Mancunian Way to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, then back towards town where the remainder of the route will also be followed by the 10K runners.
Here, the course follows Chester Road southwest through White City and past Old Trafford, Salford Quays and MediaCityUK, coming back up to the finish line back on Deansgate, in the shadow of the iconic Beetham Tower.
Hydration stations & toilets
There will be Aqua Pura hydration and recycling stations throughout the route, with toilets available at similar points.
Entertainment
There’s plenty going on for spectators around the route, which will in turn spur on runners as the vibes are lifted. There’ll be a grand total of 11 charity cheering zones, including the likes of MIND, Manchester Uni and British Heart Foundation, with on-course music keeping things groovy throughout.
Activations include Pump It Up, Beats Boost, U-turn Tunes, Karaoke Kicks and Heart Radio, ensuring the atmosphere is pure party from start to end. There’ll also be several entertainment opportunities courtesy of race sponsor AJ Bell, including a free photo point, and the opportunity to send messages of support via the huge support screen opposite the Detroit Swing Bridge (AKA Big Red) on Trafford Road.
Where is best for spectators to stand?
It goes without saying, the areas around the start and finish lines will be particularly busy, so staying away from Deansgate and Portland Street may be for the best. You’ll get a clear shot at the runners by standing on one of the straight runs like Ashton Old Road, Chester Road or Wharfside Way, plus a few of these will be covered twice by runners, as they loop around and come back.
If you opt for one of the ends of the route, like the Etihad Stadium or Salford Quays, if you position yourself right, you’ll be able to catch runners multiple times as they loop round, especially somewhere around Victoria Warehouse where the route passes several times.
You can also keep track of your runners with the free Great Run event day app. Use the accurate tracking feature to help spot family, friends and elites, view official photos and get event updates.
Runner waves & start times
Those who signed up early doors should now have their race number and bib colour. Those who have not received this should visit the official information point on race weekend.
Half marathon timetable
- 07:00 – Information Point Opens at St Peter’s Square
- 07:15 – Assembly Opens
- 07:45 – Warm Up
- 07:57 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
- 08:00 – Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
- 08:09 – Green Wave Start
- 08:34 – Pink Wave Start
10K timetable
- 07:55 – Elite Wheelchair Athletes Start
- 11:00 – Assembly Opens – Fast Paced, Orange and Green Waves
- 11:30 – Elite Women Start
- 11:32 – Warm Up
- 11:40 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
- 11:45 – Elite Men, Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
- 12:05 – Green Wave Start
- 12:25 – Assembly Opens – Purple and Pink Waves
- 12:40 – Warm Up
- 12:50 – Purple Wave Starts
- 13:10 – Pink Wave Starts
Travel advice
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is advising anyone travelling on the day to allow extra time for their journeys and to check before they travel, as there will be a significant number of road closures and extensive bus diversions in place throughout race day.
Road users are particularly encouraged to check the route and closures in advance, while bus passengers should check whether their services are impacted or diverted.
Trams will be the best way to travel on the day, with many stops close to the start line and key spectating points along the route. Using contactless ‘tap and go’ makes it simple to travel across bus and tram services, while the Bee Network app and website offer up-to-date travel information to help people plan their journeys.
The event will see high demand across the Bee Network, with large numbers of runners, supporters and visitors travelling into Manchester city centre throughout the day.
To keep everyone moving TfGM and partners will be:
- Putting extra staff on the network, particularly at busiest stops to help people get on/off tram services
- Running more double-trams
- Working alongside partners, including GMP and our bus and tram operators, to monitor and respond to situations as they happen
- Working with local authority highways teams to get road restrictions lifted as soon as possible to minimise delays
- Move cycle hire bikes to key locations for people to use
- The Great Manchester Run is one of the UK’s biggest mass-participation sporting events and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, live entertainment and strong local support along the route.
Key travel advice includes:
- Plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys
- Check for road closures and bus diversions before travelling
- Use public transport where possible
- Consider trams as the best way to get around on the day
- Use contactless ‘tap and go’ for quick and easy travel across bus and tram
- Check the Bee Network app or website for the latest updates
Further information and full travel advice can be found here.
Road closures
On race day (Sunday 31 May)
- A5083 Trafford Road: 6.30am – 6pm
- A5083 White City Circle: 6.30am – 6pm
- A58 Bridgewater Way: 6.30am – 6pm
- A58 Chester Road: 6.30am – 6pm
- A5801 Wharfside Way: 5am – 6pm
- Abingdon Street: 6.30am – 4pm
- Alan Turing Way: 7am – 11.30am
- Albion Street: 7.30am – 2.45pm
- Ashton New Road: 8am – 11am
- Ashton Old Road: 7am – 1pm
- Atkinson Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Bloom Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Bootle Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Bridgewater Viaduct: 6.30am – 6pm
- Byrom Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Central Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Chepstow Street: 4am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Chester Road: 6.30am – 6pm
- Chorlton Road: 6.30am – 1pm
- Chorlton Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- City Road East: 7am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Cross Street: 6.30am – 4pm
- Deansgate: 2am – 7pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Dickinson Street: 4am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Elevator Road: 5am – 6pm
- Ellesmere Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Fairfield Street: 6.30am – 1pm
- Garwood Street: 7am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Great Bridgewater Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Great Jackson Street: 7am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Hardman Street: 6.30am – 6pm
- Hulme Hall Road: 6.30am – 6pm
- Jacksons Row: 4am – 6pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Liverpool Road: 6am – 9pm (includes parking restrictions, closed from Saturday 17 May)
- Lloyd Street: 4am – 6pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Major Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Mancunian Way East & West: 6.30am – 1pm
- Manor Street: 6.30am – 1pm
- Medlock Street: 7am – 2.45pm
- Minshul Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Oxford Street: 6.30am – 4pm
- Parker Street: 4am – 4pm
- Peter Street: 4am – 6pm
- Pin Mill Brow: 5.30am – 1pm
- Portland Street: 4am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Princess Street: 6.30am – 4pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Quay Street: 4am – 6pm
- River Street: 7am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Sackville Street: 6.30am – 4pm
- Silver Street: 6.30am – 4pm
- Sir Alex Ferguson Way: 5am – 6pm
- Southmill Street: 4am – 6pm
- St John Street: 4am – 6pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Tonman Street: 6am – 11pm (includes parking restrictions)
- Trafford Road: 6.30am – 6pm
- Trafford Wharf Road: 5am – 6pm
- Victoria Place: 5am – 6pm
- Warren Bruce Road: 5am – 6pm
- Waterside: 5am – 6pm
- Whitworth Street West: 6.30am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
Metrolink tram
Spectating or just going about your day in the area, travelling by tram will be the best choice on race day. This means that you avoid delays to your journey as a result of road closures and bus diversions.
There are 99 stops on the network with many close to the event start and finish lines and along the race route.
The nearest stops to the start line on Portland Street are:
All lines – in particular the Eccles, Altrincham to Etihad Campus and Trafford Park Lines – are expected to be much busier than normal throughout the day. There will be a 15-minute service on all lines, and stops with more than one service running through them will have trams arriving more frequently.
Bee Network buses & diversions
Several road closures will be implemented, which will cause disruption throughout the day. Diversions will be implemented from the first bus (on Sunday 31 May) until the roads have been reopened in the early evening.
Services affected: 8, 15, 18, 30, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 42B, 43, 50, 53, 79, 85, 86, 101, 102, 103, 111, 142, 143, 197, 216, 219, 230, 231, 250, 255, 256, 263, FB1, FB2, RHS1, V1, V2, X41, X43.
There will also be a closure of Liverpool Road on Saturday 30 May for the setup of the race.
The 30, 33 and Free Bus 1 will be diverted during this time.
View the full bus diversion information.
Trains
Trains will not be affected by the event, but as it’s a Sunday, usual Sunday train times will apply. TfGM recommends travelling to Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Piccadilly stations.
Manchester Oxford Road train station is the closest to the start line on Portland Street (10-minute walk). From Piccadilly, you can walk or connect with Metrolink trams to take you to the start line.
Discounts & freebies for runners
After all that hard work, runners deserve all the freebies and discounts they can muster. Luckily, the businesses of Manchester agree, and we’ve got the lowdown on the deals runners can get by flashing their finishers medal.
Free drinks & special breakfast at Electric Shuffle
In celebration of the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run, Electric Shuffle Manchester on Deansgate is preparing for a day of epic energy, delicious eats, and well-deserved toasts for runners and race-day supporters alike. On Sunday, 31st May, the beautiful bar with an electric atmosphere will be opening its doors early, from 9am, offering a load of race day specials designed to fuel the fun before and after the run.
Whether you’re chasing a personal best or cheering from the sidelines, start the day strong with Electric Shuffle’s full breakfast menu. Enjoy flavour-packed breakfast baps, there’s something for every appetite – and it’s all served in the buzzing surrounds of one of Manchester’s most unique venues.
Crossing the finish line calls for a celebration, and Electric Shuffle is raising a glass to every participant. All marathon runners can enjoy a complimentary drink on the house – choose from a pint of beer, a 175ml glass of house wine, a 125ml glass of prosecco, or a soft drink. Simply show your race number or medal to redeem.
Free drinks at Motley
For all the saintly souls who complete the Great Manchester Run on 31 May 2026, a free pint or Nojito awaits them when dining at Motley on Deansgate.
For anyone enjoying a post-run meal, they simply need to show their medal at the bar and choose whether to celebrate like a sinner with a free pint of Motley Brew, or a saint with a non-alcoholic Nojito!
Free Aperol at Courts Club
Manchester’s go-to destination for outdoor food, drink and sport, Courts Club, is raising a glass to this year’s Great Manchester Run, offering every finisher a complimentary Aperol Spritz when they show their medal at the bar, while stocks lasts.
Finishers and supporters alike are invited to swap their trainers and race numbers for something a little more celebratory, by soaking up the summer vibes in what many consider Manchester’s best beer garden.