There was a nail-biting sprint finish to the 2026 Belfast City Marathon, with the winner pipping his nearest rival to the post by one second.
Abay Alemu, from Ethiopia, crossed the line in a time of 2:16:23 to take this year’s crown ahead of his fellow countryman Teadese Mamo.
The Women’s race was won by Morocco’s Lalla Aziza Alaoui Selsouli in a time of 2:38:00.
The elite runners were among almost 24,000 people who signed up for the city’s 44th marathon which is continuing into Sunday afternoon.
The 26.2 mile route winds around Belfast, passing landmarks including City Hall and Parliament Buildings, before finishing in Ormeau Park.
Many roads closed and there are changes to public transport for much of Sunday while the event takes place.
When time does the Belfast marathon start / likely to finish?
The race got under way at the Stormont estate in east Belfast.
The wheelchair race, won by Jayne Bleakley, started at 08:59 BST.
The elite race started a minute later and all other participants started at 09:01.
Participants started on Prince of Wales Avenue, and are proceeding down the hill, on to the Upper Newtownards Road.
The first of the runners crossed the finish line at about 11:16.
However, the rest of the runners will still be making their way across the city for the next few hours.
Roads will reopen after six hours, and organisers have asked anyone continuing along the route after that time to move onto the footpath and follow road safety laws.
The Team Relay consists of five legs, of varying distance, with changeover points across the route.
The first Belfast City Marathon was held on the same date in 1982, with more than 3,000 participants starting at the former Maysfield Leisure Centre near the city centre.
Tilahun Nigussie broke the record at the 43rd Belfast City Marathon in 2025. The Ethiopian won the marathon with a new event record of 2:13:37.
The view from the starting line
At the scene: Bernie Allen, BBC News NI
It’s slightly grey and dull weatherwise here at Stormont – but there is plenty of cheer and chat amongst the crowd, as thousands gather at the starting point.
As public transport has been affected in the city because of the race, there was some disruption on the roads leading to Stormont.
As well as those competing, many have lined the pavement to cheer on family and friends taking part.
Some have made banners and are holding supportive messages.
As well as solo runners there are plenty of relay race competitors, with many costumes on display.
Bereaved father runs in honour of ‘brave’ son
Graham Rennie from Larne, is taking part in the relay race to fundraise for The Big C Foundation, set up in memory of his three-year-old son Callum.
The child died in 2022 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
“I think about Callum every time I do something like this,” he said.
“Callum was always happy, he was going through the wars, he was always smiling, always cheering… you’d not have realised he was going through anything really.
“His bravery just inspired us all, he gave us so many memories too, happy memories,” he added.
“He taught us that, just to value life, make every day count.”
Running for Ricky Hatton
Former professional boxer Ryan Burnett, who competed from 2013 to 2019, is running with a 9.9 st (63.5kg) weight.
It the same weight as his former coach, Ricky Hatton, when he won his first world title.
Hatton took his own life last September and Burnett wanted to “do something in his honour”.
He is raising money for a foundation set up in Hatton’s name, as well as a mental health charity based in north Belfast.
Speaking ahead of the race, the former unified bantamweight world champion said he’s “good to go”.
“I’ve been fighting my whole life, so I’m just looking at this as the same sort of thing,” Burnett added.
Another runner, Stephen Perry, told BBC News NI he is running for the Irish heart Foundation.
“My mother-in-law and best friend died from heart complications,” he said.
“It would have been my friend’s 40th birthday today.”
Hannah Grey and Oona McClelland are also fundraising for a cardiac charity.
“I’m running for Brave Hearts NI for my brother Gerard. He passed away in August. I’m doing this to keep his memory alive,” Grey said.
For McClelland, this is her first marathon and she is being cautious.
“I’m hoping to take it easy, whatever happens, happens,” she said.
‘It’s harder, I’m feeling it’
Actor Laura Aiken, who is filming the latest series of Line of Duty in the city, said she has been squeezing in her training during “very early mornings”.
The Gavin and Stacey star is running in support of a text message crisis line where she volunteers, and this will be her third marathon.
“I’ve run two before, but I haven’t run one for five years… so, it’s harder, I’m feeling it,” she told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
“I was actually supposed to be running London last weekend, and then the schedule sort of didn’t work out and Belfast City Marathon have been so amazing and gave me a place.
“I’ve got a bit of a dodgy knee so I haven’t run in a week in the hopes that today it won’t give out.”
What is the Belfast Marathon route?
The course traverses the city, starting off in Stormont in east Belfast then heading south.
It takes in the Boucher Road, before going west onto the Falls Road.
From there, it’s north, past the Waterworks, as well as through the city centre, before ending in Ormeau Park.
The route has minor alterations in east Belfast this year.
It will now turn left off Beersbridge Road onto Clara Street, and then left again onto Castlereagh Road.
In north Belfast, this year the route will remain on Oldpark Road and turn right at the roundabout onto Cliftonville Road and continuing on the route.
Which roads are closed for the Belfast Marathon?
For a full list of what roads are closed and when they reopen you can click here.
There will be some disruption for the duration of the marathon, with the Upper Newtownards Road closing at the Comber Road junction from about 06:00 until 11:00.
Roads along the route will open and close on a staggered basis as runners pass, so for example the Boucher Road, from Tates Avenue to Stockmans Lane, will be closed between 08:30 and 13:30 while Duncairn Gardens in north Belfast will be closed between 09:30 and 14:45.
The last road to reopen will be the Ravenhill Road from the Rosetta Roundabout to the Ormeau Embankment (where local access is being maintained) which closes at 09:00 and does not reopen until 15:45.
Is there extra public transport?
To help people going to the marathon there will be special early morning trains from Londonderry, Larne, Bangor, and Newry to Belfast Lanyon Place.
For a list of all special departure times click here.
These additional services cannot be booked in advance and standard fares will apply.
Public transport around the city will be affected due to several road closures.
Ulsterbus, Metro and Glider bus services within Belfast will be subject to delay or disruption.
Shuttle buses will be available from Belfast City Hall and Lanyon Place Station to the starting line from 07:00 BST and 07:30 BST respectively.
A shuttle bus will also take spectators from Massey Avenue to Ormeau Park after the start of the race at Stormont and additional buses will drop off runners off at their designated relay changeover point.
A bus will transport participants from Ormeau Embankment to Belfast City Centre from 11:45 BST to 16:00 BST and every shuttle bus leaving Ormeau Embankment will transport spectators back to Stormont.
Where can I watch the Belfast marathon?
Mark Simpson and Nicola McCarthy will present live coverage from around the course with live coverage of the race on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC NI Sport website or listen on Radio Ulster from 08:45 BST on Sunday.
For those watching at home, you can submit a message of support and good luck here.
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