The Yorkshire Marathon festival takes place on Sunday 18 October, with over 10,000 participants set to take part in one of Yorkshire’s most eagerly anticipated sporting occasions. With route guidance now published, the focus is on both the runners and the spectators planning to line the course.
This year’s festival is built around inclusion as much as competition. Participants can wheel, walk, jog or run, making the Yorkshire Marathon festival a broad community event rather than simply a race for elite runners.
What is included in Yorkshire Marathon 2026?
The day features the Altra Yorkshire Marathon and Yorkshire Marathon Relay, which start from the University of York campus at 9:30am on Sunday 18 October. The Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile follows later in the morning, getting under way at 10:15am from the same start point.
That structure gives the festival a full-day feel, with different distances bringing together runners of all abilities across the same event weekend. It also means the University of York campus plays a central role in the start of proceedings.
Where can spectators watch?
Spectator information has been published with recommended viewing points along the route, helping people plan where to watch the action. The course runs through York city centre and surrounding countryside, so there are multiple options for supporters who want to catch the runners in different parts of the day.
With a five-minute walk and a 10-minute walk both noted in the guidance, access to key areas has clearly been considered for those following the event on foot. For thousands of runners and many more spectators, the Yorkshire Marathon 2026 will be a major Sunday fixture for the city and the wider area.
