Malaga Marathon 2026 road closures: affected streets and times this Sunday

Malaga will host one of its largest sporting events of the year this Sunday. The Generali Malaga Marathon 2026 will bring together approximately 17,000 athletes for its 42-kilometre and 21-kilometre races, beginning at 8.30am on Sunday, 8 November.

The event will affect numerous neighbourhoods and major roads across the city. Closures will extend through the historic centre, the Port, La Malagueta, El Palo, Martiricos, Huelin and Carretera de Cádiz.

Restrictions will begin on Saturday evening and will be lifted gradually after the runners pass. Residents and visitors are advised to use the outer ring roads, check EMT bus changes and avoid driving through the route.

Paseo del Parque closes at 8pm on Saturday

The first major closure will begin at 8pm on Saturday, 7 November.

Paseo del Parque will close to allow organisers to install the start and finish areas. The restriction will remain in place throughout the race and during dismantling work, which is expected to finish at approximately 6pm on Sunday.

Bus services that normally travel through Parque de Málaga will also begin using alternative routes on Saturday evening.

What time does the Malaga Marathon start?

The 42K marathon and 21K half marathon will begin from 8.30am at Paseo del Parque, opposite the University of Malaga Rectorate.

Participants will start in separate waves to improve the flow of the race.

The 42.195-kilometre marathon will finish at Paseo del Parque. The 21-kilometre event will have its finish line near Plaza del General Torrijos.

Runners will have a maximum of five hours and 30 minutes from the final official start to complete the full marathon.

Closures in central Malaga

Between 8.15am and 12.30pm, restrictions will affect many streets and access routes around the city centre:

• Alameda Principal.
• Tetuán Bridge.
• Avenida de Andalucía.
• Calle Armengual de la Mota.
• Calle Mármoles.
• Calle Hilera.
• Avenida de la Aurora.
• Aurora Bridge.
• Pasillo de Santa Isabel.
• Misericordia Bridge.
• Avenida de las Américas.
• Alameda de Colón.
• Avenida Manuel Agustín Heredia.
• Paseo de los Curas.
• Sections of Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado.

Roads will reopen progressively after the runners have passed and the authorities determine that normal traffic can return safely.

Port and La Malagueta restrictions

Between 8.15am and 11.45am, the race will have a significant impact on Malaga Port and La Malagueta.

Closures will include:

• Paseo de la Farola.
• Levante Quay.
• Cruise terminal.
• Paseo de los Curas.
• Plaza de la Marina.
• Alameda Principal.

Access to Muelle Uno and some port facilities may be modified during the morning.

Road closures in eastern Malaga and El Palo

The route will continue along the seafront and through neighbourhoods in eastern Malaga.

Between 8.45am and 11.45am, traffic will be restricted on:

• Paseo Marítimo Ciudad de Melilla.
• Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
• Calle Bolivia.
• Calle Almería.
• Avenida Salvador Allende.
• Avenida Juan Sebastián Elcano.
• Avenida Pintor Joaquín Sorolla.
• Avenida Cánovas del Castillo.

Anyone travelling between the city centre and El Palo should allow additional time and consider an alternative route.

Restrictions around Martiricos and La Palmilla

Between 9.15am and 12.45pm, runners will pass through northern areas of Malaga.

Affected roads include:

• Calle Mazarredo.
• Avenida Doctor Marañón.
• Avenida de La Palmilla.
• Mediterráneo Bridge.
• Avenida Jorge Silvela.
• Avenida Luis Buñuel.
• Paseo de Martiricos.
• Avenida de Fátima.
• Pasillo de Santo Domingo.

Access around La Rosaleda stadium and Martiricos will be heavily restricted while the race passes through the area.

Closures in Huelin and Carretera de Cádiz

Some of the longest restrictions will occur along the western coastline.

Between 9.30am and 2.15pm, closures will affect sections of:

• Calle Pacífico.
• Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado.
• Avenida Imperio Argentina.
• Avenida Alicia de Larrocha.
• Calle Marilyn Monroe.
• Calle Miguel Mérida Nicolich.

Between 9.45am and 1.45pm, restrictions will also affect Calle Villanueva del Rosario, Calle Montejaque, Calle Periodista Paco Rengel and Avenida Manuel Alvar.

Final city-centre closures

The final section of the route will return to Malaga’s historic centre.

Between 10.15am and 2.30pm, restrictions will affect:

• Calle Alemania.
• Avenida del Comandante Benítez.
• Pasillo de Atocha.
• Pasillo de Santa Isabel.
• Calle Cisneros.
• Calle Especerías.
• Plaza de la Constitución.
• Calle Marqués de Larios.
• Plaza de la Marina.
• Paseo del Parque.

Pedestrians will not be allowed to cross sections protected by barriers while the race is in progress. In other areas, they must follow instructions from the local police and race officials.

EMT bus diversions

Changes to EMT bus routes will begin at 8pm on Saturday and may remain in place until 6pm on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, buses heading towards eastern Malaga will be diverted through Alameda Principal, Cortina del Muelle and Avenida de Cervantes.

Services travelling west will use alternative routes through Paseo de los Curas, Muelle Heredia, Calle Córdoba and Alameda Principal.

On Sunday, individual services will change their routes as closures are introduced and removed. Timetables and frequencies may also be affected.

Passengers should check the EMT website or mobile application immediately before travelling.

Municipal car parks affected

Several municipal car parks will have restrictions on their entrances and exits between 8.30am and 3pm on Sunday.

The affected car parks include:

• La Marina.
• Camas.
• Andalucía.
• El Palo.
• Pío Baroja.

Parking will also be prohibited in areas reserved for race organisers, emergency services and refreshment points.

Drivers with vehicles parked close to the route should check the temporary signs installed in the area.

Best alternatives for travelling around Malaga

Drivers are advised to use the MA-20 and AP-7 to avoid the centre and affected neighbourhoods.

For local journeys, the Metro, Cercanías railway and bus services that do not cross the route will be preferable.

Anyone who needs to reach the city centre should travel early and expect to complete part of the journey on foot.

Where to watch the Malaga Marathon

The route offers numerous locations from which spectators can support the runners:

• Paseo del Parque.
• Alameda Principal.
• Muelle Uno and La Farola.
• Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
• El Palo.
• La Rosaleda area.
• Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado.
• Calle Larios and Plaza de la Constitución.

Spectators must remain off the road and respect the areas reserved for runners, organisers and emergency services.