The Marathon Route

At the 2026 Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon, runners with follow a city-wide route that showcases many of Belfast’s most well-known areas and landmarks. The marathon begins in Stormont Estate, East Belfast, and finishes in Ormeau Park, South Belfast. The route passes through East, South, West and North Belfast.

The race starts within the grounds of Stormont Estate, with runners exiting onto the Upper Newtownards Road. During the opening miles, participants travel through East Belfast along the Upper Newtownards Road and onto the Castlereagh Road. This section of the route, covering approximately miles 1 to 5, allows runners to settle into the race while passing residential and commercial areas of East Belfast.

From East Belfast, runners head towards South Belfast, joining the Ormeau Road around miles 6 to 8. The route then continues into the city centre, where runners pass Belfast City Hall at approximately mile 9. This is one of the busiest and most recognisable sections of the route, attracting significant spectator support. Shortly after, the course moves through the Donegall Road area at around mile 10, continuing the journey south and west.

At approximately mile 11, runners pass the Rise Sculpture at Broadway, a well-known landmark in the city. The route then continues along the Lisburn Road between miles 12 and 13, before entering West Belfast. From miles 14 to 16, runners travel through the Andersonstown Road, Falls Road and Springfield Road, passing through well-established residential areas.

The course then moves into North Belfast, with runners passing along the Shankill Road at around mile 17, followed by the Crumlin Road and Alliance Avenue between miles 18 and 19. At approximately mile 20, the route reaches Waterworks Park, which is a significant milestone in the race and a key location along the route.

After Waterworks, runners make their way towards the city’s docklands, entering the Titanic Quarter and surrounding dockside roads between miles 21 and 22. Around mile 22, participants pass The Big Fish sculpture on Donegall Quay, one of Belfast’s most iconic waterfront landmarks, before turning back towards the city and South Belfast.

In the final stages of the race, runners return to the Ormeau Road at approximately mile 23, passing through the area for a second time. The route then leads into Ormeau Park, where the final miles take place. The marathon finishes within the park at mile 26.2, where medical, welfare and recovery facilities are in place for all participants.