When Is the Detroit Marathon? 2026 Date, Route, Closures

When is the Detroit marathon? The 2026 Detroit Free Press Marathon is on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, with the full marathon starting at 7 a.m. ET on Fort Street downtown and finishing at the foot of Campus Martius. Race weekend runs Oct. 16–18, with a two-day expo and Saturday’s 1-Mile and 5K before Sunday’s main races.

If you’re running, cheering, or just trying to get through downtown that morning, this guide covers the full schedule, where each course goes, which roads close, what happens at the bridge and tunnel, and the easiest ways to get around. One thing to know up front: the marathon, both half-marathons, the relay and the 5K are listed as sold out on the official site, so this year is mostly about planning, not signing up.

Last verified Oct. 12, 2026, against the race’s official pages. Courses and closures are subject to change; check freepmarathon.com before you head out.

When is the Detroit marathon? 2026 race weekend schedule

Everything happens over three days. Packet pickup is only at the expo; organizers say there is no race-day pickup.

Day	Event	Time (ET)	Location
Fri., Oct. 16	Health & Fitness Expo (packet pickup)	1–7 p.m.	Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd.
Sat., Oct. 17	Health & Fitness Expo (packet pickup)	10 a.m.–6 p.m.	Huntington Place
Sat., Oct. 17	1-Mile	8:25 a.m.	Atwater St. between Rivard and Riopelle
Sat., Oct. 17	5K	8:50 a.m.	Atwater St. between Rivard and Riopelle
Sun., Oct. 18	Adaptive Athletes Division	6:58 a.m.	W. Fort St. between the Lodge Service Dr. and Third Ave.
Sun., Oct. 18	Marathon, International Half-Marathon, Marathon Relay	7 a.m. (waves every 3 minutes)	W. Fort St. start
Sun., Oct. 18	Motor City Half-Marathon (U.S.-only)	10:30 a.m.	W. Fort St. start

Saturday also includes the Kids Marathon, the Meijer Little Detroit Dash, and a family fun day. Sunday start corrals open at 6:15 a.m. and close at 6:55 a.m., and the race says no late starts are allowed.

Course cutoffs: the International Half closes at 11:45 a.m., and both the marathon and the Motor City Half close at 2 p.m. Each race uses a “last chance” pacer (6.5 hours for the marathon, four hours for the International Half, 3.5 hours for the Motor City Half); runners who fall behind are moved to a bus back to the finish area.

How many miles is the Detroit Free Press Marathon, and where does it go?

The full marathon is 26.2 miles on a USATF-certified course. Sunday races start on W. Fort Street near Third Avenue, on the western edge of downtown, and finish at Woodward Avenue and Congress Street, next to Campus Martius.

What makes Detroit different is the border. The marathon and the International Half-Marathon cross the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ontario, run through the Canadian side and return to Detroit through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. The race bills that tunnel stretch as an underwater international mile. Back in Detroit, the marathon course takes in neighborhoods and landmarks including historic Woodbridge, the District Detroit, Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut.

The Motor City Half-Marathon stays in the U.S., running through downtown, Midtown, Woodbridge, Eastern Market and Lafayette Park.

Documents for the border races

Because the marathon, International Half, and Relay Leg 1 cross into Canada, runners in those events must pick up their packets in person with an international travel document; the expo page lists a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver’s license for most runners. The official site sends anyone with admissibility questions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency, so check with them early if your situation is unusual.

Detroit marathon road closures on Sunday, Oct. 18

Expect the biggest impact downtown, in Corktown and around the riverfront from early Sunday morning until the 2 p.m. course close. In 2025, roads began closing as early as 4 a.m., so plan to arrive well before your start or before you need to cross downtown. Key closures and restrictions from the organizers’ “Getting Downtown” guide:

• Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: closed to vehicles from 6:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
• Ambassador Bridge: open with restricted traffic. Cars share one side while runners use the other, with a buffer lane between; expect delays.
• Fort Street: closed from W. Grand Blvd. east into downtown.
• Lodge Freeway (M-10) southbound: closes after the Howard Street exit. Grand River, Bagley, and Howard exits stay open.
• I-75 southbound: exit 50 (Grand River) is closed.
• Woodward Avenue: southbound closed at Adelaide.
• E. Lafayette: closed between Iroquois and St. Aubin, plus eastbound Lafayette from St. Aubin into downtown.
• Michigan Avenue eastbound: open until the course closure at Cass Avenue.
• Larned Street: closures limit northbound turns off Jefferson.

What stays open: Gratiot Avenue and westbound Jefferson Avenue remain open all race day, and westbound Jefferson to the northbound Lodge stays open. From the north, east or west, the organizers’ standard advice is I-75 to I-375, then exit at Lafayette (Greektown), Jefferson (Renaissance Center garages via Beaubien) or Madison (Comerica Park and Ford Field area).

The official site also posts a full street-by-street closure list and a 2026 course map PDF on its Getting Downtown page.

Race-day checklist for drivers and spectators

1. Check the official closure list on Saturday night; organizers note courses and closures can change.
2. Cross the border before 6:15 a.m. or after 10:15 a.m. if you need the tunnel, or allow extra time on the restricted Ambassador Bridge.
3. Come in from the east or via I-375 rather than Fort Street or the southbound Lodge, which are cut off by the course.
4. Park once and ride the free People Mover (from 5:30 a.m. Sunday) between the start, the finish, and your car.
5. Leave the backpack at home and meet your runner near the Campus Martius finish after the race.

Getting downtown: People Mover, QLINE, parking and the Tunnel Bus

• Detroit People Mover: free all weekend, with stops near the start, finish, and expo. Hours: Friday 6:30 a.m.–midnight, Saturday 10 a.m.–midnight, Sunday 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
• QLINE: free but limited. On Saturday, service ends at State Street; on Sunday it ends in front of Little Caesars Arena while the race is on.
• Parking: organizers recommend reserving ahead through SpotHero. For expo days, they suggest parking in Midtown, Greektown, or near Campus Martius and riding transit in.
• From Windsor: special Tunnel Bus shuttles leave from Bruce Ave. at Riverside Dr. W. starting at 5:15 a.m., with the last bus at 6:15 a.m. sharp. The fare is $15 (Canadian) one way, card only. Return shuttles leave Mariner’s Church at 12:45, 1:45, 2:45, and 3:45 p.m.

How many people run the Detroit marathon?

The 2025 race weekend had more than 26,000 registered participants across all events, according to Detroit Free Press coverage, and demand keeps rising: the race sold out for the first time in 2024 and reached capacity by early March in 2025. The 2026 Sunday races are again listed as sold out, with waitlists posted on the official site.

The event itself dates to 1978, when Free Press editor Neal Shine organized the first international marathon between Windsor and Detroit. Its course records still belong to Greg Meyer (2:13:07, 1980) for men and Elena Orlova (2:34:16, 2004) for women.

Tips for spectators

• Pack light. Organizers ask spectators not to bring backpacks or duffel bags, and all bags may be searched. Private drones are banned.
• Pick a downtown spot. The finish at Woodward and Congress, by Campus Martius, is the main gathering point and hosts the post-race party.
• Track your runner. Last year, the official Detroit Free Press Marathon app let fans follow runners by name or bib number; check the official site for 2026 tracking details.
• Make a weekend of it. The Lions are on their bye that weekend (see the 2026 Lions schedule), so downtown is all about the race. For food and fun after, browse our best things to do in Detroit and locals’ guide to Detroit nightlife.

Detroit Free Press Marathon FAQ

When is the Detroit marathon in 2026?

Race day is Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. The full race weekend runs Oct. 16–18, with the expo on Friday and Saturday and the 1-Mile and 5K on Saturday, Oct. 17.

What time does the Detroit marathon start?

The marathon, International Half-Marathon, and Marathon Relay start at 7 a.m. ET, in waves, after the Adaptive Athletes Division at 6:58 a.m. The Motor City Half-Marathon starts at 10:30 a.m.

Do I need a passport to run the Detroit marathon?

For the marathon, International Half, and Relay Leg 1, yes, or another accepted document such as a passport card or enhanced driver’s license, because those courses cross into Canada. U.S.-only events need a standard photo ID.

When does the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel reopen on race day?

The tunnel is closed to vehicles from 6:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Ambassador Bridge stays open with restricted traffic.

The bottom line

The Detroit Free Press Marathon takes over downtown on Sunday, Oct. 18, starting at 7 a.m. If you’re driving, avoid Fort Street, the southbound Lodge and the tunnel that morning, and lean on the free People Mover. Planning the rest of your fall weekends? Our weekly guide, like things to do in Detroit this weekend, rounds up what’s on every Friday.

Sources: race schedule, course, expo, and closure details from the official Detroit Free Press Marathon site, including its course maps and expo page, checked Oct. 12, 2026. 2025 participation figures from Detroit Free Press coverage; race history and course records from published race records. We’ll update this page if organizers change times or closures.