Major traffic changes and early MTR service for Hong Kong Marathon 2026 this Sun

Phased road closures will begin across Hong Kong from Saturday night to facilitate the 2026 Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday, with traffic expected to fully resume by around 2pm.

Both the full and half marathon races will start from Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and finish at Victoria Park. Other races, including the 10K, 10K wheelchair race, Wheelchair Trial, and Leaders Cup, will start at various locations on Hong Kong Island, with all finishing at Victoria Park.

Road closures will begin in West Kowloon at 12.45am on race day and will be implemented in phases along the West Kowloon Highway, the southbound Western Harbour Crossing, parts of the Central Kowloon Route, and major roads in Yau Tsim Mong such as Nathan Road and Argyle Street. These roads will reopen gradually throughout the afternoon.

Drivers are reminded that progressive closures will also take effect from 11.30pm on Saturday, affecting routes including Tuen Mun Road, Tsing Long Highway, the Northwest Tsing Yi Interchange, and several roads in Kwai Chung.

Authorities said only lanes heading toward Kowloon will be used for the event, while all lanes leading to Hong Kong International Airport and Lantau Island will remain open.

The Hong Kong-bound tube of the Western Harbour Crossing will be closed from 12.45am until about 1.15pm, and motorists are advised to use the Cross-Harbor Tunnel or Eastern Harbour Crossing instead.

Further closures will extend to the Central–Wan Chai Bypass and roads in Central and North Wan Chai from 1.15am. From 3am, additional streets including Hennessy Road, Lockhart Road, Sugar Street, and Hing Fat Street will be closed, with reopening scheduled in stages from 9am.

Public transport services will also be affected. From 11.15pm on Saturday, 220 daytime bus routes and 34 green minibus routes will be suspended, shortened, or diverted in phases. In addition, 49 overnight bus routes and six overnight minibus routes will be affected, while several bus termini in Tin Hau, Central, and Tsim Sha Tsui will be temporarily suspended.

To facilitate travel for runners, eight MTR lines will begin operating earlier than usual at 3.25am. Meanwhile, 28 special bus routes will run to serve participants traveling to Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.

With heavier traffic expected across multiple districts on Sunday, members of the public are advised to plan their journeys early, stay updated on traffic conditions, and use rail services where possible.

As race day approaches, Dennis Ng Yu-ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates, advised runners to pace themselves in the expected temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Following a disqualification last year involving a bib mix-up, Ng said pre-race identity checks will be conducted to prevent cheating, and participants should verify their personal details, including name, gender, and race category.

HKAAA Chairman Kwan Kee said the organization would enforce competition rules strictly in line with international regulations, adding that volunteer training has been strengthened to ensure smoother race operations after issues at last year’s finish line.