Toronto drivers and TTC riders should prepare for a difficult travel day as the Toronto Marathon 2026 brings a long list of road closures and transit diversions across the city on Sunday, May 3. The event will move through several busy corridors, starting in North York and continuing south through midtown, downtown and the waterfront.
The race includes the full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K events, with thousands of runners expected on the route. Because the course cuts through major streets including Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, King Street East, Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard, travel delays are expected in several neighbourhoods.
Toronto Marathon 2026 road closures
Closures will begin early Sunday morning, with some routes reopening before noon and others staying restricted into the afternoon. In North York, the first major impact will be around Yonge Street, Park Home Avenue, Elmhurst Avenue, Finch Avenue East, Hollywood Avenue, North York Boulevard, Poyntz Avenue and Sheppard Avenue.
Southbound Yonge Street will be affected in several stages, including sections from Elmhurst Avenue to Highway 401, from Highway 401 to York Mills Road, and from York Mills Road to Eglinton Avenue. This is likely to create pressure on nearby parallel roads, especially for drivers heading toward midtown or downtown.
The marathon route then moves through midtown, where closures will affect Yonge Street near Eglinton Avenue, Chaplin Crescent, Oriole Parkway, Lonsdale Road and Spadina Road. Forest Hill streets including Kilbarry Road, Warren Road and Austin Terrace will also see restrictions as runners move through the area.
Drivers near the Annex and Rosedale should also plan carefully. Streets including Walmer Road, Kendall Avenue, MacPherson Avenue, Davenport Road, Belmont Street, Aylmer Avenue and Rosedale Valley Road are included in the closure plan. These smaller residential streets may be harder to navigate because local access can change depending on race movement and safety conditions.
Downtown closures will affect Bayview Avenue, Lawren Harris Square, Lower River Street, King Street East, Sumach Street, Eastern Avenue, Front Street East and Wellington Street. Southbound Bay Street from Wellington Street to Lake Shore Boulevard will also be closed for part of the day, which could affect anyone travelling toward Union Station, the Financial District or the waterfront.
Some of the longest disruptions will be along Lake Shore Boulevard. Westbound Lake Shore Boulevard from Bay Street to Ontario Drive will be restricted, along with curb lanes near the Humber River and Remembrance Drive. Marine Parade Drive and Waterfront Drive will also be affected, creating delays for residents and visitors around the western waterfront.
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TTC routes affected by the marathon
More than 25 TTC routes are expected to be diverted because of the race. The affected routes include 11 Bayview, 13 Avenue Road, 14 Glencairn, 19 Bay, 26 Dupont, 28 Bayview South, 33 Forest Hill, 34/334 Eglinton, 65 Parliament, 74 Mount Pleasant, 75 Sherbourne, 80 Queensway, 84/384/984 Sheppard West, 85/385 Sheppard East, 94 Wellesley, 96 Wilson, 97/320 Yonge, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 114 Queens Quay East, 121 Esplanade-River, 127 Davenport, 162 Lawrence-Donway, 165 Weston Road North, 185 Sheppard Central, 503 Kingston Road, 504 King, 509 Harbourfront and 512 St Clair.
Riders should expect temporary stop changes, detours and slower travel times, especially on routes that cross the marathon course. Anyone using transit to reach downtown, the waterfront, North York Centre, midtown or the King Street corridor should check service updates before leaving. The latest service information can be found on the Toronto Transit Commission website.
For drivers, the best approach is to avoid the race route entirely where possible. Bloor Street is expected to remain open for east-west travel, and Spadina Avenue will remain available for access toward Billy Bishop Airport and the Queenâs Quay area. However, surrounding streets may still be busy as traffic shifts away from closed roads.
Highway 401 access near Yonge Street will also be affected for part of the morning, with southbound ramps at Yonge Street included in the closure plan. Drivers heading to or from North York should build in extra time and consider alternate routes before approaching the area.
The Toronto Police Service has advised motorists to avoid affected streets and plan ahead. The official road closure advisory is available through the Toronto Police Service Media Centre.
The marathon will go ahead regardless of weather conditions, meaning the traffic plan is expected to remain in place unless officials issue further changes. Residents along the course should also prepare for parking restrictions, limited driveway access and delays for deliveries or rideshare pickups.
Although the closures may be inconvenient, the marathon is one of Torontoâs biggest annual sporting events and brings runners, spectators and volunteers into communities across the city. For anyone not taking part, the safest plan is simple: check your route before travelling, avoid closed corridors, and give yourself extra time if you need to cross the city on Sunday.
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