Belfast City Marathon
2026
On the starting line to Belfast
Belfast, N. Ireland. Sunday May 3rd, 2026
The Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon is Northern Ireland’s flagship 26.2-mile race, starting at Stormont Estate and finishing in Ormeau Park. It takes you through North, South, East and West Belfast, with huge local support right the way round.
Why run Belfast?
This is a proper “home crowd” marathon. The organisers highlight it as an AIMS-certified race and the first (and currently only) marathon in Northern Ireland to be part of the World Athletics Label Road Race Series.
Starting at Stormont gives the day a big-event feel from the first step, and finishing in Ormeau Park is a brilliant moment to share with family and friends.
Date: Sunday 3 May 2026
Start time: 9.00am
Distance: 26.2 miles / 42.2 km
Start: Stormont Estate (Prince of Wales Avenue)
Finish: Ormeau Park
Eligibility: 18+; finish time limit 6 hours
Why Foyle Hospice?
When you run for Foyle Hospice, your miles stay close to home. Foyle Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care, and support for families, across the Western Health and Social Care Trust area.
Your fundraising helps make compassionate care possible, free of charge to patients and families.
Real examples of what support can mean:
• £30 could support one hour of care in our Inpatient Unit
• £35 could support an hour of Healing Hearts counselling for a grieving child or teenager
• £78 could support one home care visit
• £720 is the cost of an Inpatient Unit bed for 24 hours
Already secured your own ballot place?
How to get started
1
Register your interest / get in touch with our Events Fundraiser
2
Tell us you’re doing Dublin and whether you already have your own place
What you’ll get from Team Foyle
You won’t be doing this on your own. Our fundraising team will support you with practical help and encouragement, alongside a fundraising pack and a running vest.
If you would like a bit more structure, we can also provide a tailored training schedule through our Events Fundraiser, Noel McMonagle. Noel has supported Foyle Hospice runners for over 20 years and brings a practical understanding of what helps people get to the start line feeling prepared and confident. He’s also a runner himself, so the guidance is grounded in real experience, with a plan that fits around work, family life, and your current fitness level.
