When is Brighton Half Marathon 2026 ?
Brighton Half Marathon 2026 will take place on Sunday 1 March, bringing over 10 000 runners to the streets of Brighton and Hove. The 13.1-mile rise, organised Laine8 Events, starts on Hove Lawns and follows an iconic seafront route past Brighton Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion and Hove Promenade.
The Sussex Beacon Hospice, a Brighton based charity providing specialist support and care for people living with HIV, is the main beneficiary of the race. The event is the single biggest annual fundraiser for the charity. Overall the race raises over £1 million (including gift aid) for many charities across Sussex and the UK each year. Other charity partners include Grassroots Suicide Prevention, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Society, Alcohol Change UK, Taylor-Made Dreams, Venkat Memorial Trust and local charity Rockinghorse.
What time does the race start ?
The Wheelchair Race starts at 9:28 on Kingsway/Hove Lawns with 11 wheelchair athletes competing. The main race follows, starting at 9.30am on Hove Lawns before winding its way around some of Brighton’s most iconic sites including the Brighton Palace Pier, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, the Royal Pavilion, the West Pier, i360, Brighton Marina and the colourful Hove Beach Huts. Over 10,000 runners, both beginners to the distance and seasoned half marathoners, will be taking to the streets of Brighton and Hove and absorbing the unique atmosphere of the race.
The Youth Races will take place the day before the main race on Saturday with hundreds of junior runners aged 7 – 17 expected to take on the mile challenge on Hove Lawns. The chip-timed race is open to all abilities and participants will receive a technical t-shirt and medal, plus prizes for the first three runners in each age category. Registration closes on Friday, 20 February – enter here.
Altra is the headline sponsor signing a three-year deal to support the race. During race weekend Altra will have several activations and will also have a retail space in the race village working with Brighton’s legendary Jog Shop. A new expanded race village format for 2026 will also see activations from Yeomans Toyota, HIGH5, Bagelman, Lancing College, One Percent Supplements, Boundless Snacks, Roedean, Swiftall, Octopus Energy, Red Bull and Strive 25 with additional food and drink offerings from Howie’s Coffee & Co, Oatopia and Halo Pizza.
The Altra Brighton Half Marathon is supported by a range of high-profile sponsors and partners including Altra Running, Yeomans Toyota, Runna, Bagelman, HIGH5, RunBrighton, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, Lancing College and Prep, JustGiving, Roedean, Boundless Snacking and media partner BBC Sussex. The Youth Race is sponsored by Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and Brighton Girls.
Youth Race Timings – Saturday 28 February 2026
11:00 Youth Race Helpdesk opens for race pack collections
12:00 Youth Race Marquee opens on Hove Lawns
12:30 Youth Races starts – Race starter Amanda Collier from Season 4 of The Traitors
16:30 Race Village closes
Brighton Half Marathon 2026 Road Closures
Motorists are advised to plan alternative routes, particularly along Kingsway, Marine Parade and Hove Lawns.
Brighton Half Marathon Timings – Sunday 1 March 2026
07:00 Road closures start
07:30 Race site and help desk opens. Baggage facility opens for runners
08:45 Half marathon runners proceed to start pens
09:28 Wheelchair Race starts
09:30 Brighton Half Marathon starts – Race starter Olly Alexander, actor & singer/songwriter
11:15 Wheelchair and main race winners’ presentations on Hove Lawns
14:30 Race site closes
The elite field
A new winner is guaranteed in the women’s race this year with last year’s winner Christa Cain (Best Athletics) unavailable. The women’s race is once again likely to be close and very hard to call with four of last year’s top 5 finishers returning. Rachel Laurie (Chichester AC), Ruby Whyte-Wilding (Lewes AC) and Imogen Matthews (HY AC) are probably the ones to watch.
In the men’s race Seyfu Jamaal (London Heathside), the winner from last year and current course record holder is set to return. With Hugh Sadler (Bristol & West AC) last year’s third place finisher, John Fielding (Ealing, Southall & Middlesex AC) and Adedeji Oluwatsin (Newham & Essex Beagles) ensuring it will be a very competitive race!
A record number of entries in the wheelchair race sees last year’s winner Josh Hickinbottom (Coventry Godiva Harriers) joined by clubmates and previous winners Rob Smith and Gary Cooper in the men’s race. Previous winner Claudia Burrough makes her first return to Brighton in two years following a lengthy lay-off due to injury.
Race starters and interesting runners
The main race will be started by BAFTA-nominated actor and award-winning singer/songwriter, Olly Alexander. Olly said: “It’s an honour to be asked to officially start the Altra Brighton Half Marathon! Then I’ll be jumping straight into the race to join Team Beacon! I can’t wait! I’ve fallen in love with the charity and the work they do, which is so important and vital for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV.”
Saturday’s Youth Race will be started by Amanda Collier from Season 4 of The Traitors. Well-known faces running the Altra Brighton Half Marathon for Team Beacon include Chris Oliver (SAS Who Dares Wins) and Zoe Lyons (Comedian and TV Presenter).
Brighton Half Marathon 2026 Route
Miles 1 – 3
Starting at Hove Lawns on Kingsway, you will head east towards the Brighton Palace Pier, turning left into the Old Steine past the grandeur of the Royal Pavilion towards the majesty of St Peter’s Church. Look out for entertainment by Silver Sounds on St Peter’s Place. Carrying on you’ll loop through the trees around The Level before you head south back down Grand Parade to the Old Steine, onto Aquarium roundabout – look out for Yeomans Toyota entertainment point welcoming you – before turning left onto Marine Parade.
Miles 3 – 7
You will continue on Marine Parade, towards Ovingdean, passing regal Royal and Lewes Crescent architecture on your left. Saltdean Jazz will be playing for you as you run past Legends Terrace. Continuing on Marine Drive and the bracing cliff tops, the race will head towards Roedean, where you will turn at Roedean Café bringing you back west, once again towards Aquarium Roundabout, enjoying wonderful cliff top and panoramic city views.
Miles 8 – 11
At Aquarium Roundabout, you will turn left at the SeaLife Centre along Madeira Drive, with a sea view alongside you. Turning just beyond Dukes Mound, you will head west past the Brighton Palace Pier along Brighton Seafront. Picking up the pace as you run past the iconic blue railings, enjoy the seaside views and be sure to spot the West Pier and the Bandstand on your left and the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole on your right.
Once past the two piers, you will head into Hove along the Kingsway with the majestic cream regency architecture on your right and the sea on your left. Past the King Alfred Leisure Centre, you will run to Hove Lagoon before turning left onto the seafront.
Miles 11 – 13.1 – The finish stretch
A great two mile run heading east, past the colourful beach huts will bring you back along the Hove Promenade, with crowds cheering you on to the Finish Line!
Brighton Half Marathon 2026: Everything You Need to Know.
Brighton Half Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday 1 March, with the main race start time set for 9:30 am on Hove Lawns. The iconic 13.1-mile route runs along Brighton seafront, passing landmarks including the Palace Pier, Royal Pavilion and Hove Promenade. Road closures across Brighton and Hove will begin from 7:00 am, so residents and visitors are advised to plan ahead. Whether you are running or spectacular day on the south coast.
