Oxford Half Marathon 2026: the road closures and traffic restrictions you need to know about

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04 October 2026

Thousands of runners will take to Oxford’s streets on Sunday 11 October, with roads across the city and surrounding neighbourhoods closed for much of the morning and into the afternoon.

Oxford will see extensive road closures on Sunday 11 October when the Oxford Half Marathon returns, with restrictions beginning as early as 6.00am and some roads remaining closed until 4.00pm.

The 13.1-mile race, organised by Motiv Sports UK, is expected to attract a record 15,000 runners, alongside thousands of spectators. The fully closed-road route starts and finishes on Mansfield Road and passes through the city centre, north Oxford and Marston.

The race begins at 9.30am, following an 8.30am Schools Challenge Race. The council’s special event traffic order provides for road closures, parking restrictions and temporary changes to traffic restrictions to allow the event to take place.

Where roads will be closed

The earliest closures will affect the start area around Mansfield Road, Saville Road, Holywell Street and Jowett Walk.

These roads will be closed from 9.00am on Saturday 10 October until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 October, with no waiting, loading or unloading permitted during the restriction.

On race day, extensive closures will then be introduced along the route.

In central Oxford, South Parks Road, St Cross Road, Longwall Street, Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street will be closed from 6.00am until 4.00pm.

The High Street between Magdalen Bridge and King Edward Street will be closed from 8.00am until 11.30am, while Magdalen Street East and the southbound carriageway of St Giles will be closed from 7.30am until 11.30am.

Further north, Banbury Road between St Giles and Beech Croft Road, Belbroughton Road, Charlbury Road, Linton Road, Chadlington Road, Bardwell Road, Norham Road, Fyfield Road and Norham Gardens will be affected from 7.30am, with closures continuing until 2.00pm.

The route then extends towards Cutteslowe and Marston. A further section of Banbury Road, between Beech Croft Road and the A40 Elsfield Road, will be closed until 12.15pm.

Wentworth Road, Aldrich Road, Water Eaton Road and Victoria Road will also be closed until 12.15pm.

In the Marston area, closures will affect Marston Ferry Road, Cherwell Drive, Oxford Road and Elsfield Road, as well as the eastbound and westbound A40 off-slips at Marston Junction. These restrictions will generally remain in place until 1.30pm.

Marsh Lane, Elms Drive, part of Mortimer Drive, part of Raymund Road and sections of the cycle paths linking Raymund Road, Oxford Road and Marston Ferry Road will also be affected.

Roads outside the race route

Several roads that are not themselves part of the race route will also be closed to help manage traffic.

Parks Road, Museum Road, Blackhall Road, Keble Road, Turl Street and Magdalen Bridge will be subject to restrictions, with closures generally running from 6.00am until 4.00pm.

Turl Street will also have the prohibition of motor vehicles temporarily suspended from 5.00am until 8.00pm.

Traffic restrictions will also be changed

The traffic order provides for temporary changes designed to help vehicles move around the closure areas.

South Parade, Oakthorpe Road and Thorncliffe Road will temporarily operate in both directions between specified junctions from 7.30am to 12.15pm. Several existing restrictions will also be suspended during the event.

The traffic filter on St Cross Road will be suspended from 6.00am to 4.00pm, while the High Street bus gate restriction will be suspended from 7.30am to 11.30am.

The prohibition of motor vehicles on Oriel Square will also be suspended between 8.00am and 11.30am.

Marshals will be deployed at junctions and elsewhere along the route, with some traffic signals potentially deactivated to allow marshals to control traffic.

Residential access and deliveries will be managed by marshals, although access will be subject to safety considerations.

Emergency services, event vehicles and vehicles involved in emergency works are exempt from the closures under the order.

Expect disruption beyond the race route

The scale of the closures means the effects are likely to extend well beyond the roads used by runners.

Drivers travelling through north Oxford and Marston should expect diversions and delays, particularly during the period between the start of the race and early afternoon.

The council says alternative routes will be signed locally where required.

For residents, businesses and visitors, the most important point is that the restrictions do not all begin or end at the same time. Some central Oxford roads will close from 6.00am, while roads further north will remain affected until 2.00pm and routes around Marston until 1.30pm.

The start and finish area will have the longest restrictions, with Mansfield Road and surrounding roads affected from Saturday morning through to Sunday evening.

A record field for the Oxford Half

The road closures come as the Oxford Half continues to grow.

Organisers say 15,000 runners have signed up for the 2026 event, with general entries selling out in less than three weeks despite capacity being increased by 2,000 places.

The race has now sold out for three consecutive years, while demand for large-scale running events has also increased more broadly.

The route combines Oxford’s historic centre with neighbourhoods to the north of the city, passing landmarks including the Sheldonian Theatre, Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library and Bridge of Sighs before heading towards Summertown, Cutteslowe, University Parks and Old Marston.

The course is promoted as flat and fast, attracting both first-time half-marathon runners and those looking to improve their personal best.

After the race, celebrations will continue at the event village in University Parks, with entertainment, food and drink vendors, merchandise and other race facilities.

For anyone who has not secured a general entry, organisers say places may still be available through the event’s charity partners.