Sydney Marathon 2026

Sydney Marathon 2026 participants and volunteers are entitled to travel to and from marathon events on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August on the following public transport services below. Just show your race bib, finishers medal or volunteer t-shirt to transport staff when boarding services.

• Sydney Trains & NSW TrainLink Intercity services * (non-booked services bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations) * NOTE: International and Domestic airport station access fee is not included.
• Sydney Metro services
• Regular route metropolitan and outer metropolitan bus services
• Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle Light Rail services
• Sydney and Newcastle Ferries

Remember to keep your race bib, finishers medal or volunteer t-shirt safe for your return journey home, as these are also your ticket to travel on public transport or you'll need to use a valid Opal card. Your entitlement is valid on public transport services until 4am the next day.

Note: an additional station access fee applies for travel to or from Domestic and International Airport stations and is not covered by 2026 Sydney Marathon travel entitlements. If you're travelling from these stations you'll need to pay the train station access fee.

Volunteers are also entitled to travel on the above mentioned transport services to and from the Sydney Marathon Running Expo on Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 August 2026 at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Spectator Sites

Families, friends as well as local residents are encouraged to support the thousands of Sydney Marathon  participants by cheering them on from a local spectator hub near you.

More information on spectator live site locations including food and entertainment on offer, will be available at the TCS Sydney Marathon - spectators web page.

Motion Festival – Thu 27 to Sun 30 Aug

Motion Festival, the official race week live site, will take over Customs House at Circular Quay from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August.

Road closures will be in place on sections of Loftus St, Loftus Lane, Young St and Alfred St from 5am Sat 29 Aug until 1am Mon 31 Aug. No road closures will be in place on Thursday 27 or Friday 28 August.

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Sydney’s North West and South West via the city. The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go Metro services in both directions between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham. 

The closest Metro stations to the Marathon start line area are Victoria Cross and Crows Nest. 

Additional early morning Metro services will be running frequently from around 3.30am from Tallawong and 4am from Sydenham to help participants get to the start line. Metro services will run every 4 to 5 minutes until 3pm. 

• Participants in Start Groups Purple and Orange should arrive via Victoria Cross Metro Station.

From Victoria Cross, take the Denison St station exit, turn right onto Berry St then left onto Walker St, then continue up to North Sydney Oval and St Leonards Park. Signage and staff will be available to help you find your way.

• Participants in Start Group Green should arrive via Crows Nest Metro Station. 

From Crows Nest, take the Clarke St exit, continue via Clarke St, Willoughby Rd, Burlington St, West St then continue via Falcon St ​to reach North Sydney Oval and St Leonards Park. Signage and staff will be available to help you find your way.

From the finish lines, the closest Metro station is Martin Place, alternatively catch a train from Circular Quay to connect with other train lines to complete your trip home. 

For Metro service disruption information, check travel alerts and trackwork or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Trains will be running regularly on Sunday with additional early morning services to help you to get to and from the iconic Sydney Marathon.

Getting there: 

• The closest train station to the start line area for the 42km Marathon and 10km course is North Sydney on the T1 North Shore Line and T9 Northern Line.
• Participants in Start Groups Purple and Orange should arrive via North Sydney Train Station, or Victoria Cross Metro Station. Participants in Start Group Green should arrive via Crows Nest Metro Station. 
• Extra early-morning trains will be running to arrive at North Sydney from 4am to help you get to the start line. Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip. Timetable data will be available 2 weeks prior to the event.
• If you’re arriving before 6am exit North Sydney Station via Blue St, turn right then cross Pacific Hwy to Walker St, continue up Walker St to reach the event start area at North Sydney Oval and St Leonards Park. Signage and staff will be onsite to help you find your way.
• After 6am, from North Sydney Station continue through Greenwood Plaza towards the Pacific Hwy overpass Pedestrian Bridge to reach Denison St. From Denison St continue up and turn right onto Berry St, then left onto Walker St, continue up Walker St to reach the event start area at North Sydney Oval and St Leonards Park. Look for signage and staff on-site to help you find your way.

Getting home: 

• From the finish line at the Opera House the closest station is Circular Quay, or within short walking distance are Wynyard and Martin Place stations. 
• Trains leave regularly from Circular Quay where you can change at Central, Wynyard or Town Hall stations for services on other lines to continue your trip home. 
• For access to T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line trains or Metro services to Tallawong or Sydenham, walk to Martin Place.

Trackwork

• There is no planned trackwork taking place on Sunday 30 August.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. Check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner.

Due to major road closures on Sunday many buses will be terminating trips at different stops and transport hubs. Limited buses make stops right near the start area at St Leonards Park and North Sydney Oval. Additional services will run from as early as 4am on key routes to the city and North Sydney.

Buses from the Northern Beaches will be making stops along Falcon St in North Sydney, outside the park. Many other buses from the North Shore and Northern suburbs will be ending trips in Crows Nest and St Leonards. Be prepared to walk or change for other transport services including trains or metro services to get closer to the start area.

Be aware that significant bus diversions will be in place due to event road closures and many bus routes will be affected so plan your trip ahead of time.

Key bus changes:

• Buses that usually travel across the Sydney Harbour Bridge will end trips in Crows Nest, St Leonards or Macquarie Park, or in the city from 3am to 11am while the bridge is closed. Passengers will need to catch trains or metro services to continue their trip across the harbour.
• Buses between the city and east will start and end trips in Kings Cross and/or Woolloomooloo until mid-afternoon due to closures of Park St.
• Buses between the inner west and east will start and end trips either side of Hyde Park until mid-afternoon due to closures of Park St.

Remember, depending on when you reach the finish line roads along the course may still be closed and some bus services will continue to divert from their regular routes. 

Bus passengers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow plenty of extra travel time on the day and be patient as delays are expected. Check travel alerts for more information and make sure to plan your trip before heading out to check if your bus is affected.

More detailed on bus disruptions and changes on Marathon day will be available closer to the date.

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts.

Sydney Ferries are a great way to get around the city however ferries do not operate early enough for participants on race day. Use alternative transport modes including trains, metro and buses instead.

Additional early-morning ferries will depart from Manly at 6.10am (arriving at Circular Quay at 6.32am) and at 6.40am (arriving at Circular Quay at 7.02am) to help participants and spectators get to the event.

Services can be very popular and may reach capacity on weekends so allow extra travel time and consider the alternative transport options.

From the finish line at Sydney Opera House, you can catch one of the many ferries leaving from nearby Circular Quay wharves. Ferries will run to a regular Sunday timetable.

For ferry service disruption information check travel alerts or use the Trip Planner.

L1 Dulwich Hill Line

L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Station (Grand Concourse) and Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour and the Inner West. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

• Extra early-morning services will run from 3.45am from Dulwich Hill to Central, and from 4.30am from Central Grand Concourse to Dulwich Hill.
• Change at Central to connect with Trains to North Sydney or Metro Services to Victoria Cross or Crows Nest.

L2 Randwick Line

L2 Randwick Line light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly, plan your trip using Trip Planner. 

• Early morning services will commence from 3.45am running every 10 minutes.
• Change at Central to connect with Metro to Victoria Cross or Crows Nest, or for Trains to North Sydney
• From 3.45am until 11.40am L2 services will run between Randwick and Town Hall only. Services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall.
• From 11.40am, full L2 services between Circular Quay and Randwick will resume as normal.

L3 Kingsford Line

L3 Kingsford Line services run between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street).

• Early morning services will commence from 3.45am running every 10 minutes. 
• Change at Central to connect with Metro to Victoria Cross or Crows Nest, or for Trains to North Sydney
• From 3.45am until 5.45am L3 services will run between Juniors Kingsford and Town Hall only. Services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall.
• From 5.45am until 11.40am L3 services will run between Moore Park and Town Hall only. Services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall or between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford.
• From 11.40am until 2pm L3 services will run between Moore Park and Circular Quay only. Services will not run between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford.
• From 2pm services resume as normal operating between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford in both directions.

L2/L3 alternative transport options:

• When L2 and L3 services are partially closed between Circular Quay and Town Hall, use alternative transport including trains or walking if able to.
• When L3 services are partially closed between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford, use alternative transport including L2 Randwick Line services instead, or walking if able to.
• Due to the Sydney Marathon road closures in the Kensington and Kingsford areas, light rail replacement buses will not operate.
• Allow plenty of extra travel time as services will be busy, and plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line light rail services run between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta CBD. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Connect with trains to North Sydney from Parramatta or Westmead stations to get within walking distance of the start line.

For maps and service frequencies see Light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Significant city-wide road closures will be in place between 2am and 4.30pm from North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Moore Park to Kingsford. 

• Key closures include the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Western Distributor from 3am to 11am, Macquarie St and Oxford St from 4am to 4pm/4.30pm, and Anzac Pde from 5am to 2pm. See detailed closure maps and listings below.
• Motorists will be unable to travel east or west across the course on surface roads from the Opera House down to Moore Park until 1.30pm. After 1.30pm Cleveland St/Anzac Parade partially reopens.
• Motorists can use the Cross City Tunnel which will be toll-free in both directions from 5am to 4.30pm on event day however long delays are expected and motorists should avoid non-essential travel. 

Sydneysiders are urged to familiarise themselves with the major road closures and detours. Some suburbs will be impacted for majority of the day, making travel by vehicle difficult and lengthy. Sydney motorists are urged to avoid travel in these areas as significant detours will be in place resulting in extensive travel times. 

Key closure times by suburb area

• North Sydney closures between 2am and 12pm
• Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cahill Expressway and Western Distributor closed 3am to 11am
• Sydney CBD, Circular Quay closures 4am to 12pm (Macquarie St remains closed until 4.30pm)
• Millers Point, King St Wharf, Barangaroo and The Rocks closures between 4am and 11.30am
• Pyrmont closures between 4am and 11am
• Sydney CBD east including Macquarie St & The Domain closures between 4am and 4.30pm
• Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst to Moore Park (Oxford St) closures from 4am to 3.30pm. Flinders St closed from 4am to 3pm
• Moore Park closures from 5am to 3.30pm
• South East, Moore Park to Kingsford (Anzac Pde) closures from 5am to 2pm

Detours

• Motorists will be unable to travel east or west across the course on surface roads from the Opera House down to Moore Park until 1.30pm. After 1.30pm Cleveland St/Anzac Parade partially reopens.
• Motorists can use the Cross City Tunnel which will be toll-free from 5am to 4.30pm on event day however long delays are expected, and motorists should avoid non-essential travel. 
• The Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Victoria Road and the Cross City Tunnel alternative routes remain open however long delays are expected.
• The Eastern Distributor Bondi exit to Moore Park Rd remains open. The Anzac Pde Randwick exit closed from 5am to 2pm.
• Please note due to the closure of the Harbour Bridge motorists from the north needing to access the city centre before 11am will need to travel south via the Harbour Tunnel, take the Kings Cross exit at William St then join Cross City Tunnel (toll-free) westbound to exit at Harbour St. 

Detailed road closures:

• North Sydney – between 2am and 12pm: 
  • 2am to 12pm - Miller St start line area between Falcon St and Pacific Hwy, sections of Ridge St and Carlow St
  • 3am to 10am – sections of Walker St, Miller St, Pacific Hwy northbound and Blue St near the train station
  • 3am to 11am – sections of Pacific Hwy southbound, Berry St, Walker St, McLaren St, Angelo St, and surrounding local streets.
  • 4am to 9am – sections of Clarke St, Willoughby Rd and Burlington St.
     
• Sydney Harbour Bridge & Western Distributor – 3am to 11am: 
  • All lanes of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Cahill Expressway, lanes 7 and 8 and overpass at Circular Quay.
  • The Western Distributor from Pyrmont to the city including King St off ramp, Market St on ramp, Pyrmont St on-ramp will be closed.
  • Detours:
    • No direct access between the Anzac Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge until 11am
    • Southbound traffic approaching the Harbour Bridge will be diverted via the Harbour Tunnel.
    • Citybound traffic from the Anzac Bridge will be diverted via the Bathurst St off-ramp.
    • Motorists can use the Sydney Harbour Tunnel or Victoria Rd/Gladesville Bridge to avoid expected CBD traffic congestion.
    • Note: Drivers west of the city needing to travel to the north side of the Harbour Bridge before 11am should use Victoria Rd/Gladesville Bridge. Access to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel northbound from the west is via the Cross City Tunnel only, no access via the city while major roads are closed. 
       
• Pyrmont and Ultimo between 4am and 11am
  • 4am to 10am: sections of Harris St, Wattle St, Fig St and on-ramp, Allen St and the off-ramp from Western Distributor, Bulwarra Rd, and surrounding local streets.
  • 4am to 10.30am: Harris St, Pyrmont Bridge Rd, John St, Point St and surrounding local streets.
  • 4am to 11am: sections of Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont St, Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Jones Bay Rd, Union St and surrounding local streets.
  • 5am to 11am: Pyrmont Bridge Rd between Bank St and Murray St
     
• Barangaroo, King St Wharf, Millers Point, Walsh Bay, The Rocks
  • 4am to 11am: Hickson Rd from King St to Barton St, Sussex St, Barangaroo Ave, Barton St, Lime St, Shelley St, Erskine St, Napoleon St, Wheat Rd.
  • 4am to 11.30am: Hickson Rd from Barton St to George St, Windmill St, Pottinger St, George St and Essex St. Sections of King St and Phillip Ln in the CBD will also close.
     
• Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, CBD East and The Domain
  • 4am to 4.30pm: Macquarie St closed from the Opera House to Hyde Park, including closures of College St, St Mary’s Rd, Art Gallery Rd and Mrs Macquarie Rd. No access to or from Macquarie St via Cahill Expressway.
  • 4am to 12 midday: roads between George St and Macquarie St in the city centre including sections of Bridge St, Grosvenor St, Pitt St, Phillip St, Bent St, Hunter St, Elizabeth St, Castlereagh St, and surrounding local streets. King St closed between York St and Elizabeth St from 4am to 11.30am.
  • Before 11am motorists from the city travelling north can only access the Harbour Tunnel northbound via the Cross City Tunnel eastbound, then exiting at Rushcutters Bay to return westbound via the Cross City Tunnel and join the Eastern Distributor northbound at Woolloomooloo.
  • Motion Festival, the official race week live site, will take over Customs House at Circular Quay from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August. Road closures will be in place on sections of Loftus St, Loftus Lane, Young St and Alfred St from 5am Sat 29 Aug until 1am Mon 31 Aug. No road closures will be in place on Thursday 27 or Friday 28 August.
     
• Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst to Moore Park between 4am and 4pm
  • 4am to 4pm: Oxford St between College St and Darlinghurst Rd, Flinders St between Oxford St and Moore Park Rd, as well as sections of College St and Liverpool St.
  • 4am to 3.30pm: South Dowling St between Fitzroy St and Oxford St.
  • Sections of Albion St and Flinders St will reopen from 12.30pm – motorists can travel eastbound on Albion St then southbound on South Dowling St.
  • 5am to 3.30pm: Park St and William St closed between Elizabeth St and Crown St.
  • Drivers will be unable to travel east or west across the course on surface roads from the Opera House down to Moore Park. Motorists can use the Cross City Tunnel which will be toll-free in both directions from 5am to 4.30pm on event day. The Eastern Distributor Bondi exit to Moore Park Rd will remain open. The Randwick exit to Anzac Pde will remain closed until 2pm.
     
• South East - Moore Park to Kingsford:
  • 5am to 2pm: Anzac Pde closed from Moore Park to Kingsford including Cleveland St eastbound and High St at Randwick.
    • Dacey Ave, Darley Rd, Cleveland St westbound and Anzac Parade northbound will reopen from 1.30pm.
    • Motorists will be detoured around Anzac Pde via Bunnerong Rd, Maroubra Rd and Avoca St in both directions. 
    • The Eastern Distributor Bondi exit to Moore Park Rd will remain open. The Randwick exit to Anzac Pde will remain closed until 2pm.Heavy traffic is expected in the Eastern Distributor in both directions due to the closures of Dacey Ave and Cleveland St between 5am and 1.30pm.
  • Moore Park - 5am to 3.30pm: Anzac Pde closed southbound from Moore Park Rd to Lang Rd, Moore Park Rd closed westbound from Oxford St to Anzac Pde, Driver Ave closed and Lang Rd closed between Anzac Pde and Cook Rd. Robertson Rd and surrounding local streets also closed. Centennial Parklands closed for a full 24 hour period on Sunday 30 Aug. 
    • No access from east of Anzac Pde to west of Anzac Pde until 1.30pm when Dacey Ave/Alison Rd reopens, or use Cross City Tunnel (free until 4.30pm).

For a detailed list of the road closure locations including downloadable maps and real-time traffic conditions, visit Live Traffic NSW.

Changed Local Access Arrangements

Detailed local access info will be available closer to the date.

​​​​Cycleway closures

Major roads and cycleways will be closed across the city. See our Marathon cyclist detour map (coming soon) and closure listing below.

Sydney CBD

• From 4am to 11am: Sussex St between Napoleon St and Exchange Pl overpass 
• From 4am to 11.30am
  • Castlereagh St between King St and Market St 
  • Hickson Rd between Towns Place and Barton St 
  • King St between Sussex St and Phillip St 
  • Western Distributor Shared Path between Pyrmont Bridge and King St 
• From 4am to 12pm: Pitt St between King St and Alfred St 
• From 4am to 4pm
  • College St between Oxford St and Park St 
  • Liverpool St between Elizabeth St and College S 
  • William St between Yurong St and College St 
• From 4am to 4.30pm:
  • College St between Park St and Macquarie St
  • Macquarie St between St James Rd and Queens Square
• From 5am to 3.30pm
  • Park St between College St and Elizabeth St 
  • William St between Yurong St and College St (eastbound)

Pyrmont - From 4am to 11am: Union St between Edward St and Murray St 

Surry Hills - From 4am to 4pm: Oxford St between College St and Flinders St 

Moore Park - From 5am to 3.30pm: Moore Park Rd between Oatley Rd and Anzac Parade 

Sydney Harbour Bridge: The cycleway on the Sydney Harbour Bridge remains open during the event. Cyclists should however exercise caution around Upper Fort St and Kent St as there may be large numbers of spectators surrounding the course in these areas on event day.

Parking

Car parking options around the start area in North Sydney is very limited as major roads will be closed from 2am restricting access to most car parks.

Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in effect on roads in North Sydney from as early as 12.01am on event day making street parking very limited.

Event participants are strongly encouraged to catch public transport with trains and metro services running frequently to North Sydney, and Victoria Cross, bringing you within walking distance of the start line. Travel on transport is also covered in your event entry.

Special Event Clearways

Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect on major roads along and surrounding the course between 12.01am and 3pm. In North Sydney some clearways remain in effect until 12 midday, in the city some clearways remain in effect until 3pm.

Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. 

If your vehicle is towed it will be relocated to the nearest available legal parking space. You can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator.

For a detailed list of the special event clearway locations including downloadable maps and real-time traffic conditions, visit Live Traffic NSW.

If you are getting dropped off at the start line be aware that road closures will restrict direct vehicle access to the start area in North Sydney Oval and St Leonards Park.

Start line drop off

The closest areas you'll be able to be dropped off will be around Cammeray on Ernest St or local streets in North Sydney/Crows Nest.

Drop off zone: ANZAC Park Public School, Anzac Ave at Ernest St 

Accessible drop off zone: North Sydney Boys High School, entry via Falcon St

Taxi ranks within the road closure area will not operate during the event. Some taxi ranks will operate for local residents and hotel access only.

Finish line pick up

From the finish areas in the city keep in mind that roads will still be closed around Circular Quay until 12pm, and until 4.30pm on Macquarie St so if you are being picked up, catching a taxi or booking a ride-share vehicle prior to this time you will need to walk outside of the closure area west of Bridge St.

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit Transport Operators.

Taxi Fare Hotline: 

If you have recently experienced a taxi driver refusing your fare, not using a meter or overcharging by demanding a set fare, report it by calling the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s 24-hour Taxi Fare Hotline – 1800 500 410.

The Cross City Tunnel will be toll-free from 5am to 4.30pm during the event on Sunday 30 August. The toll should not be added by taxi drivers, if this occurs report it. 

When providing feedback, please have ready as much information as possible including number plate, date, time, location, and taxi company. This will help your call to be referred to the right taxi company for immediate action. For more information, please visit the Point to Point Transport website.

Drop off zone

An accessible drop off zone will be available near the start line area at North Sydney Boys High School, entry via Falcon St.

Pick up zone

An accessible pick up zone will be available on Young St corner Alfred St at Circular Quay.

Transport

North Sydney Train station is a fully accessible station with lifts to street level.

Victoria Cross Metro Station has multiple lifts at the Miller Street North exit to Miller St.

Queues may be experienced at both stations as participants arrive for each event so allow extra travel time and arrive early.

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can select "accessible services only" in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (select the "Accessibility" filter).