Gold Coast Marathon 2026: Road Closures, Getting There, Race Start Times
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
Gold Coasters lace up to pound the pavement every day of the week. It's kind of our thing. And for those chasing down the runner's high in the most extreme way, the calendar highlight is certainly the Gold Coast Marathon.
Back for its 46th year, 4 and 5 July, The Gold Coast Marathon 2026 is set to takeover Gold Coast streets with quick sprints to endurance races that stretch right across the Coast. If you're still keen to join in on the action, there are spots to enter the marathon, but you'll want to head here quick. The Gold Coast Marathon has technically sold out, though there are still spaces for wheelchair and junior dashes. There's also plenty to do for spectators, right across the marathon course.
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Road Closures For The Gold Coast Marathon
Roads between Paradise Point and Miami will be closed from 3.30am, until latest 1.30pm Saturday 4 July, and until latest 2.30pm Sunday 5 July.
Saturday 4 July
Paradise Point
Roads closed 3.30 to 8.45am
The Esplanade: Elder Ave to Falkinder Ave
Bayview Street: Falkinder Ave to Matthew Flinders Drive
Hollywell
Roads closed 3.30am to 8.45am
Bayview Street: Matthew Flinders Drive to Holly Ave
Runaway Bay
Roads closed 3.30am to 7.30am
Lae Drive: Bayview Street to Morala Ave
Roads closed 3.30am to 9am
Bayview Street: Holly Ave to Lae Drive
Roads closed 3.30am to 9.15am
Bayview Street: Lae Drive to Jennifer Ave
Bayview Street: Jennifer Ave to Ocean Street
Biggera Waters
Roads closed 3.30am to 9.30am
Marine Parade: Ocean Street to Brisbane Road
Labrador
Roads closed 3.30am to 11.15am
Brisbane Road: Turpin Road to Marine Parade (Eastbound lanes)
Marine Parade: Brisbane Rd to Broad Street
Marine Parade: Broad Street to Imperial Parade
Roads closed 3.30am to 1.15pm
Frank Street: Robert Street to Broad Street (Roadway open but changed traffic conditions apply. Full closure: 9:00am – 11:15am)
Marine Parade: Imperial Parade to Frank Street
Southport
Roads closed 3.30am to 1.30pm
Marine Parade: Frank Street to North Street
North Street: High Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes)
Marine Parade: North Street to Ada Bell Way
Roads closed 8.45am to 10.15am
Queen Street: Scarborough Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes)
Gold Coast Hwy: Ada Bell Way to Waterways Drive
Southport Bridge Full Closure
Sunday 5 July
Biggera Waters
Roads closed 3.30am to 1pm
Bayview Street: Madang Cres (North) to Ocean Street
Roads closed 3.30am to 1.30pm
Marine Parade: Ocean Street to Brisbane Road
Labrador
Roads closed 3.30am to 12.45pm
Frank Street
Roads closed 3.30am to 1.30pm
Brisbane Road: Turpin Road to Marine Parade (Eastbound lanes)
Roads closed 3.30am to 2.15pm
Marine Parade: Brisbane Road to Broad Street
Marine Parade: Broad Street to Frank Street
Southport
Roads closed 3.30am to 2.30pm
Marine Parade: Frank Street to North Street
North Street: High Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes)
Marine Parade: North Street to Ada Bell Way
Roads closed 3.30am to 12pm
Gold Coast Hwy: Ada Bell Way to Waterways Drive (Southbound Lanes)
Roads closed 5.30am to 7.15am
Southport Bridge Full Closure, Gold Coast Hwy: Ada Bell Way to Tedder Ave
Roads closed 5.45am to 7.15am
Queen Street: Scarborough Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes)
Main Beach
Roads closed 3.30am to 8am
Seaworld Dr: Full closure (Northbound lanes will open at 7:35am under Queensland Police direction and changed traffic conditions)
Roads closed 3.30am to 11am
Old Burleigh Road: Fern St to First Ave
Roads closed 3.30am to 11.45am
Main Beach Parade: Waterways Drive to MacArthur Parade
Main Beach Parade: MacArthur Parade to Ferny Ave
Roads closed 3.30am to 12pm
Waterways Drive: Gold Coast Hwy to MacArthur Parade
Surfers Paradise
Roads closed 3.30am to 11am
Roads closed 3.30am to 11.30am
Clifford St: Esplanade to Surfers Paradise Blvd
Gold Coast Highway: Surfers Paradise Blvd to Fern St
Surfers Paradise Blvd: Clifford St to Gold Coast Highway
Northcliffe Terrace: Clifford St to Fern St
Fern St: Gold Coast Highway to Old Burleigh Rd
Roads closed 3.30am to 11.45am
Esplanade: Ferny Ave to Clifford St
Broadbeach
Roads closed 3.30am to 11am
Mermaid Beach
Roads closed 3.30am to 10.30am
Roads closed 3.30am to 10.45am
Alexandra Ave: Old Burleigh Rd to Gold Coast Highway
Gold Coast Highway (Southbound Lanes): Hooker Blvd to Seashell Ave
Hedges Ave: Alexandra Ave to Seashell Ave
Miami
Roads closed 3.30am to 10.15am
Marine Parade: Chairlift Ave to Riviera Rd
Getting to The Gold Coast Marathon
The Gold Coast Marathon's main precinct is Broadwater Parklands. It's set to transform into the runners headquarters where start and finish lines take prime position. It's a shining star on the Gold Coast's events locations and between the rolling fields, lapping shores and boating views, it's seriously stunning.
The best part is, there are plenty of ways to get here. For starters, it is located right by the G:Link tram line. The tram now has permanent 50 cent fares, and on race weekend is offering free travel between 4am and 2.30pm on Saturday and 4am to 3.30pm on Sunday for registered participants. just show your race number when boarding to redeem.
Get off at the Southport, Southport South or Broadwater Parklands stops for an easy walk over to the action. Plan your journey on Translink.
If you're heading in by car, we recommend parking at Australia Fair Shopping Centre (east side), which offers up to 3 hours parking free from 4am all weekend long. The Broadwater Parklands Car Park itself will be closed, though there's a drop off zone on Davenport Street via Nerang Street if you're travelling in style with someone dropping you off.
Extra busses are on the road with shuttle services running from Broadbeach South Tram Station, Cavill Avenue and Cypress Avenue in Surfers Paradise. See the shuttle route here.
Race Start Times
Eight races will take place across the Gold Coast Marathon weekend:
Saturday 4 July
- The China Airlines Half Marathon kick off at 6.15am, cut off is 3 hours 20 minutes
- The Wheelchair 10km starts at 9.15am, cut off is 1 hour 50 minutes
- Southern Cross University 10km Run starts at 9.25am, cut off is 1 hour 40 minutes
- The Australia Fair 2km Junior Dash starts at 11.10am, cut off is 20 minutes
- The Wheelchair 5km starts at 11.30am, cut off is 50 minutes
- Gold Coast Airport 5km Run starts at 11.45am and cut off is 1 hour 10 minutes
Sunday 5 July
- The Wheelchair Marathon starts at 6.05am, cut off is 6 hours 40 minutes
- The Gold Coast Marathon starts at 6.15am, cut off is 6 hours 40 minutes, from last wave start
There's an undeniable community buzz across the Gold Coast Marathon weekend. Holding up signs of encouragement, cheek and kooky sayings is all part of it. This year, ASICS are giving you the chance to win Shokz Headphones. Just create a sign that supports runners or brings a smile to their face, tag @goldcoastmarathon in your photo on Instagram, with the hashtag #GCM26supporters to enter.
For more information, head to the official Gold Coast Marathon website here.