Guide to 2026 Columbus Marathon: Race Weekend Schedule, Road Closures and Transit Detours
More than 15,000 participants and 100,000 spectators are expected across central Ohio for Sunday's marathon and half marathon.
More than 15,000 athletes and an estimated 100,000 spectators will fill central Ohio on Sunday, Oct. 18, for the 46th running of the Columbus Marathon and the 20th edition of the half marathon 46th running. The annual race weekend brings participants from across the globe to benefit Nationwide Children's Hospital while altering traffic across Columbus global field.
Runners fill the street at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon near North Bank Park, framed by the downtown Columbus skyline.
Credit: Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon Image source
Weekend Schedule
Race festivities open at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with the Health & Fitness Expo in Hall D at 400 N. High St. Expo location. The expo runs Friday, Oct. 16, from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for runner packet pickup Friday expo hours. Organizers anticipate approximately 60,000 visitors across both days of the expo expo attendance.
Outdoor events move to North Bank Park, at 311 W. Long St., on Saturday, Oct. 17, with short-distance packet pickup starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday packet pickup. The Jesse Owens 5K and 1-Mile races begin at 9 a.m., followed by the Kids Run at 11 a.m. Saturday race starts.
On Sunday, Oct. 18, start corrals open at North Bank Park at 6 a.m. corrals open. The wheelchair division starts at 7:25 a.m., followed by the full marathon and half marathon at 7:30 a.m. Sunday race starts.
Road Closures and Parking Navigation
Downtown closures center on North Bank Park. Long Street will close between High Street and Hocking Street Long Street closure. Spring Street will close between West Street and Hocking Street, and Neil Avenue will close from Nationwide Boulevard south to the start and finish line Spring Street closure Neil Avenue closure. Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Avenue will reopen to traffic by 6 p.m. Sunday reopening time.
The 26.2-mile course will see rolling street closures timed to participant pace rolling closures. Organizers advise arriving well before corrals open at 6 a.m. Motorists can exit interstates at Neil Avenue, Fourth Street or Third Street toward Arena District parking Arena District parking. Officials also encourage carpooling, ridesharing or using CoGo bike share stations near the park to reduce downtown traffic alternative transit.
COTA Bus Reroutes
The Central Ohio Transit Authority expects major delays and will reroute approximately 17 transit lines through Sunday afternoon COTA delays. Detours affect Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 31, 102, CMAX and the Zoo Bus rerouted lines.
Nearly all downtown stops close at 5 a.m. Sunday, with more than 800 stops closing systemwide across Downtown, German Village, Bexley, the Arena District, the Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington closed stops.
COTA will establish temporary downtown transfer points at Spring and Long streets near Fourth Street downtown transfer points. Transit street supervisors will be on duty to assist riders with navigation street supervisors. Reroutes will end Sunday mid-afternoon reroute conclusion.
Where to Watch & Patient Champions
The course features 26 dedicated miles celebrating Nationwide Children's Hospital 26 course miles. Twenty-four miles honor patient champions, one honors children taken too soon, and one alumni mile honors past champions. Nearly 100 musical acts and entertainers will perform along the route course entertainers.
Spectator sites along the route include:
- Bexley: Drexel and Main streets, featuring tree-lined residential views Bexley vantage point.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital: 18th Street and Livingston Avenue, where fans gather at the park at Livingston and Parsons avenues with cheer squads and bands hospital viewing.
- German Village: Schiller Park, bordered by Reinhard, Jaeger and Deshler streets, celebrating its 153rd year Schiller Park.
- Upper Arlington: The stretch between Ohio State University and King Avenue Upper Arlington.
- Victorian Village: Neil Avenue near Goodale Park along the downtown approach Victorian Village.
- Celebration Village: The finish area featuring race merchandise, information at Spring Street and McConnell Boulevard, and the White Castle PR Gong Celebration Village.
Charitable Impact
Since partnering with Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2012, the Columbus Marathon has raised more than $15 million for pediatric care and research charitable total.
First run in 1980, the event added the half marathon in 2006 race history. The course allows up to six hours and 30 minutes for the full marathon and four hours for the half marathon, welcoming both runners and walkers course limits. The race relies on more than 3,000 volunteers each race weekend volunteers.
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How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Columbus Marathon to raise funds for children's hospital
Supporting evidence (2)
More than 15,000 athletes and an estimated 100,000 spectators will fill central Ohio on Sunday, Oct. 18, for the 46th running of the Columbus Marathon and the 20th edition of the half marathon 46th running.
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This weekend will mark the 46th running of the Columbus Marathon and the 20th edition of the half marathon.
Since partnering with Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2012, the Columbus Marathon has raised more than $15 million for pediatric care and research charitable total.
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The Columbus Marathon has raised more than $15 million for Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 2012
2026 Columbus Marathon: What to know about the route, closures and schedule
Supporting evidence (1)
The annual race weekend brings participants from across the globe to benefit Nationwide Children's Hospital while altering traffic across Columbus global field.
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The marathon weekend brings together more than 15,000 athletes from across the globe for a cause that goes beyond the finish line.
https://www.columbusmarathon.com/faq
Supporting evidence (7)
Expo location.
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The Health & Fitness Expo will be held in Hall D of the Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street.
The expo runs Friday, Oct. 16, from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for runner packet pickup Friday expo hours.
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Friday, October 16 from Noon - 7 pm
Organizers anticipate approximately 60,000 visitors across both days of the expo expo attendance.
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Approximately 60,000 people attend the Health & Fitness Expo
Nearly 100 musical acts and entertainers will perform along the route course entertainers.
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Nearly 100 bands and entertainers add extra cheer
First run in 1980, the event added the half marathon in 2006 race history.
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The Columbus Marathon began in 1980; the 1/2 Marathon was added in 2006.
The course allows up to six hours and 30 minutes for the full marathon and four hours for the half marathon, welcoming both runners and walkers course limits.
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The course limit for our 1/2 Marathon is 4:00 (18:20 minute/mile pace). The course limit for our full marathon is 6:30 (14:53 minute/mile pace). Walking is encouraged and welcome!
The race relies on more than 3,000 volunteers each race weekend volunteers.
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3,000 volunteers making this marathon possible
https://www.columbusmarathon.com/race-day-details
Supporting evidence (9)
Saturday packet pickup.
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7:30 am On-Site Packet Pickup for the Jesse Owens 5K, 1 mile, and kids run begins
Saturday race starts.
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9:00 am 5K and 1 Mile races
On Sunday, Oct. 18, start corrals open at North Bank Park at 6 a.m. corrals open.
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6:00 am Corrals open
Sunday race starts.
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7:25 am Wheelchair Division start
Long Street will close between High Street and Hocking Street Long Street closure.
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Long St. will be closed between High St. to the East and Hocking St. to the West.
Spring Street will close between West Street and Hocking Street, and Neil Avenue will close from Nationwide Boulevard south to the start and finish line Spring Street closure Neil Avenue closure.
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Spring St. will be closed from West St. to the East, and Hocking St. to the West.
Spring Street will close between West Street and Hocking Street, and Neil Avenue will close from Nationwide Boulevard south to the start and finish line Spring Street closure Neil Avenue closure.
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Neil Ave. will be closed from Nationwide Blvd. on the North to the combined Start/Finish Line to the South.
Motorists can exit interstates at Neil Avenue, Fourth Street or Third Street toward Arena District parking Arena District parking.
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Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.
Officials also encourage carpooling, ridesharing or using CoGo bike share stations near the park to reduce downtown traffic alternative transit.
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Check out CoGo Bike Sharing (there are several bike stations within walking distance of the start/finish) or Uber or Lyft for an alternative to driving downtown.
https://www.columbusmarathon.com/post/tip-23-road-closings-in-columbus-on-race-day
Supporting evidence (2)
Sunday reopening time.
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Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Avenue will re-open to traffic at 6 p.m.
The 26.2-mile course will see rolling street closures timed to participant pace rolling closures.
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On Race Day, the 26.2 miles that comprise our course will be subject to rolling street closures, based upon the expected time the first and last athlete passes each mile of the course
Supporting evidence (6)
The Central Ohio Transit Authority expects major delays and will reroute approximately 17 transit lines through Sunday afternoon COTA delays.
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The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) expects major delays and reroutes this Sunday as thousands of runners participate in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and Half-Marathon.
Detours affect Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 31, 102, CMAX and the Zoo Bus rerouted lines.
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Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 31,102, CMAX, and Zoo Bus will be impacted.
Sunday, with more than 800 stops closing systemwide across Downtown, German Village, Bexley, the Arena District, the Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington closed stops.
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This means that nearly all downtown transit stops will be closed beginning at 5:00 a.m. Sunday. More than 800 transit stops will be closed at some point Sunday in Downtown Columbus, German Village, Bexley, North Bank, Arena District, Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington.
COTA will establish temporary downtown transfer points at Spring and Long streets near Fourth Street downtown transfer points.
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Downtown transit transfer points will be located at Spring and Long Streets near the intersection of Fourth Street.
Transit street supervisors will be on duty to assist riders with navigation street supervisors.
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Additional Transportation Street Supervisors will be on duty during the marathon to assist customers.
Reroutes will end Sunday mid-afternoon reroute conclusion.
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All reroutes will end in the mid-afternoon on Sunday, following the conclusion of the marathon.
https://www.columbusmarathon.com/spectate
Supporting evidence (7)
The course features 26 dedicated miles celebrating Nationwide Children's Hospital 26 course miles.
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26 Miles of Marathon Mile Champions: 24 miles are represented by a patient at Nationwide Children’s, one is an inspirational mile for the special children who have been taken too soon, and one is an “alumni mile” for Marathon Mile Champions from past years.
Bexley: Drexel and Main streets, featuring tree-lined residential views Bexley vantage point.
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Drexel and Main Streets in Bexley: A perfect place to take in the fall colors and amazing homes as the runners pass by.
Nationwide Children's Hospital: 18th Street and Livingston Avenue, where fans gather at the park at Livingston and Parsons avenues with cheer squads and bands hospital viewing.
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The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will run past two sides of Nationwide Children’s Hospital on 18th St. and Livingston Ave. and there will be great viewing opportunities for spectators at the park at Livingston and Parsons Avenues.
German Village: Schiller Park, bordered by Reinhard, Jaeger and Deshler streets, celebrating its 153rd year Schiller Park.
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Schiller Park: This German Village treasure is bordered by Reinhard, Jaeger and Deshler Streets. This year marks the 153rd birthday of this beloved and scenic park
Upper Arlington: The stretch between Ohio State University and King Avenue Upper Arlington.
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Upper Arlington: Upper Arlington is the stretch of course between The Ohio State University and King Avenue.
Victorian Village: Neil Avenue near Goodale Park along the downtown approach Victorian Village.
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Victorian Village: Neil Avenue with its gorgeous Victorian style homes and beautiful trees will be a welcome reprieve for athletes and spectators as they head toward the finish line. Buttles Avenue and Park Street borders Goodale Park, another historic park in Columbus.
Celebration Village: The finish area featuring race merchandise, information at Spring Street and McConnell Boulevard, and the White Castle PR Gong Celebration Village.
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Celebration Village: Featuring the Columbus Marathon store, PR Gong presented by White Castle, and more.