Plan Ahead for Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on May 10

City prepares for major sporting event with road closures and travel changes

Leeds is set to host the fourth Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on Sunday, 10 May 2026, with thousands of runners expected to participate. The event, named in honour of the late rugby league player Rob Burrow, will see athletes running through various local neighbourhoods, drawing large crowds and raising funds for multiple charities.

Event details and route

The marathon will start and finish at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium. The 26.2-mile circular route will initially pass around Woodhouse Moor before continuing through Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale, and Otley. The Leeds Half Marathon, taking place on the same day, will cover much of the same course. Together, the two races have attracted over 13,000 entrants.

Road closures and traffic management

To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, and to manage the impact on residents, visitors, and businesses, a series of temporary road closures and traffic measures will be implemented throughout the day:

• From 4am, parts of St Michael’s Lane and Newport View in Headingley will be closed to vehicles.
• From 6am, additional closures will begin on Cardigan Road, Beechwood Crescent (in the St Annes Drive direction only), Kirkstall Lane/North Lane, and the Cardigan Road-St Michael’s Grove section of St Michael’s Lane.
• Further road closures in Headingley will start at 7.30am.
• Between 8am and 8.30am, the A660 stretch from Headingley to Pool Bank New Road, including Lawnswood Roundabout and Bramhope, will be closed.
• From 9am, closures will extend to areas around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.
• The marathon begins at 9am, with the half marathon starting at 10am from Headingley.
• Roads will reopen on a rolling basis as soon as it is safe to do so, with emergency service access maintained at all times.

Full details on road closures, traffic arrangements, diversions for Leeds Bradford Airport, and vehicle crossing points are available on the official Leeds City Council website.

Travel advice for spectators and participants

People travelling to Headingley on the day are advised to use park and ride services operating from Elland Road and Stourton. Shuttle buses will run between the city centre and Headingley. There will be no dedicated event parking available in Headingley.

Statements from organisers

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said:

“We’re encouraging everyone who might be impacted by the event to familiarise themselves with the temporary road closures and other traffic restrictions that will be required for its safe and smooth delivery. The council and Run For All will be doing everything possible to minimise disruption, and we thank residents, visitors and businesses in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, added:

“For an event of this scale, significant road closures are unavoidable. We are working closely with Leeds City Council, highways teams, emergency services and multi-agency partners to ensure the event is delivered safely and securely. We would like to thank residents and businesses in advance for their understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused. Every effort will be made to reopen roads as quickly as possible.”

Charitable causes and additional events

The marathon honours Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019 and worked to raise awareness and improve care for those affected. Funds raised will support the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity, among others.

Partner charities for the event include:

• Jane Tomlinson Appeal
• Candlelighters
• Happy Days Children’s Charity
• Leeds North & West Foodbank
• Leeds Rhinos Foundation
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• St Gemma’s Hospice

On the same day, the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay, in partnership with Clarion, will feature teams of seven running different legs of the full route. Additionally, on 9 May, Leeds Beckett University’s Headingley campus will host the MND Mile, an inclusive Run For All event for participants of all ages and abilities.