Hackney Half Marathon 2026 Road Closures: Full List of Streets Shut in East London

Hackney will face a busy Sunday on May 17 as the Hackney Half Marathon 2026 brings thousands of runners, spectators, road closures and parking restrictions across East London. The 13.1-mile race is part of the wider Hackney Moves weekend and will start and finish at Hackney Marshes, with the route passing through some of the borough’s most active neighbourhoods.

More than 27,000 runners are expected to take part, making it one of London’s largest half marathon events. The first wave is due to start at 9am, but the biggest disruption for residents and drivers will begin much earlier. Roads along the course will close from 6.30am and are expected to reopen in stages from 12.45pm, with all affected roads scheduled to reopen by 4pm.

The official Hackney Moves road closure page has advised residents, businesses and visitors to check travel plans before race day. The closures will affect areas around Hackney Marshes, Hackney Downs, London Fields, Victoria Park, Hackney Wick, Homerton, Dalston and Mare Street.

Parking suspensions will also apply on several roads from midnight until 4pm. Drivers who normally park near the race route should look for temporary signs and move vehicles before restrictions begin, especially if they need to travel on Sunday morning.

Hackney Half Marathon 2026 road closures and parking suspensions

The following roads will be closed or partly closed for the Hackney Half Marathon 2026:

Amhurst Road, Andrews Road, Bayford Street, Berkshire Road, Brooksby’s Walk, Cadogan Terrace, Cecilia Road, Colvestone Crescent, Cricketfield Road, Dalston Lane, Downs Road, Downs Park Road, Eastway, Goldsmiths Row, Gore Road, Graham Road, Gransden Avenue, Grove Road, Haggerston Road, Helmsley Place, Hepscott Road, Homerton High Street, Homerton Road, Kay Street, Kenworthy Road, Lamb Lane, Lauriston Road, Lee Conservancy Road, London Lane, Lower Clapton Road, Mare Street, Marsh Hill, Mentmore Terrace, Middleton Road, Monier Road, Morning Lane, Osborne Road, Paragon Road, Pembury Road, Ponsford Street, Pritchard’s Road, Queensbridge Road, Queensdown Road, Rectory Road, Rothbury Road, Sandringham Road, Scriven Street, Semley Gate, Shacklewell Lane, Sheep Lane, Sidworth Street, St Mark’s Rise, Teale Street, Urswick Road, Valette Street, Victoria Park Road, Wallis Road, Wansbeck Road, Warburton Road, Westgate Street, Whiston Road, White Post Lane and Wick Lane.

Several of these roads will also have parking suspensions, including Amhurst Road, Bayford Street, Berkshire Road, Cadogan Terrace, Cricketfield Road, Dalston Lane, Downs Road, Downs Park Road, Goldsmiths Row, Gore Road, Graham Road, Gransden Avenue, Haggerston Road, Helmsley Place, Hepscott Road, Homerton High Street, Homerton Road, Kay Street, Lamb Lane, Lauriston Road, Lee Conservancy Road, London Lane, Lower Clapton Road, Marsh Hill, Mentmore Terrace, Middleton Road, Morning Lane, Osborne Road, Pembury Road, Pritchard’s Road, Queensdown Road, Rectory Road, Shacklewell Lane, Sheep Lane, St Mark’s Rise, Teale Street, Urswick Road, Valette Street, Victoria Park Road, Wallis Road, Warburton Road, Westgate Street, Whiston Road and White Post Lane.

The closures will not all lift at the same time. Roads closest to the start, finish and high-footfall areas may remain restricted for longer while runners clear the course and stewards manage crowds. Anyone planning to drive through Hackney on Sunday should avoid assuming that a road will reopen immediately after the race leaders pass.

Start time, route and areas most likely to be busy

The Hackney Half Marathon starts at 9am from Hackney Marshes. The course runs through key parts of the borough before returning to the same area for the finish. Runners will pass through or near Homerton, Dalston, London Fields, Hackney Downs, Victoria Park and Hackney Wick.

London Fields, Victoria Park and Hackney Wick are expected to be among the busiest spectator areas. Mare Street, Dalston Lane, Queensbridge Road, Homerton High Street and Victoria Park Road are also likely to see heavy crowd movement and traffic restrictions during the morning.

Organisers expect the event itself to be largely finished by midday, but local disruption will continue into the afternoon because of road reopening, crowd dispersal, clean-up operations and parking enforcement.

Train disruption and public transport advice

Homerton station will be closed to eastbound trains from 7am until 11am on race day. Passengers travelling in that direction have been advised to use Hackney Wick station instead.

Bus passengers should also prepare for delays or diversions around the race route. Roads such as Mare Street, Dalston Lane, Homerton Road, Queensbridge Road and Victoria Park Road are important local transport corridors, so route changes may affect journeys beyond the immediate race area.

For spectators, public transport, walking and cycling will usually be easier than driving. Those travelling from outside Hackney should check live TfL updates before leaving, as crowd levels can change quickly around stations close to the course.

Best places to watch the race

The Hackney Half is known for its lively race-day atmosphere, and this year’s route includes several entertainment points. Spectators looking for the strongest atmosphere can head near the music zones, where runners will be supported by DJs, brass bands, choirs and live performers.

Entertainment points listed for the event include Tune Trucks at miles 1 and 4.6, Hosen Brass Band at mile 1.6, DJ G at miles 2.1 and 4.2, La MixTrax Band at mile 3.1, Hackney Empire Choir at mile 5.3, Pop Choir at mile 6.2, Pantonic Orchestra at mile 6.9 and Brass Bound at mile 8.

Families planning to watch should arrive early, carry water and choose a spot that gives them a simple route home after the race. Areas close to stations may become crowded, while some pedestrian crossing points may be controlled by stewards during peak runner flow.

Why the 2026 route has become a talking point

This year’s event has also drawn attention because of concerns from some Broadway Market businesses. The Hackney Half previously passed through Broadway Market, but the route was changed in 2025 to allow the Sunday market to continue trading.

Some permanent businesses on the street say the old route gave them one of their strongest trading days of the year because spectators gathered in large numbers. Traders have asked Hackney Council to review how future events are managed so the economic benefit is spread more fairly across local shops, cafés, restaurants and market traders.

Hackney Council has said the revised route is intended to balance the needs of the race with the Sunday market and wider local economy. The council has also encouraged racegoers to support independent businesses across the borough during the event weekend.

For residents, the practical message is clear: check the closure list, move parked vehicles before restrictions begin, avoid driving near the course during the morning and allow extra time if travelling through Hackney before 4pm.