New Route For City Half Marathon Will Boost Capacity To 15,000 Runners

The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon in March will be the biggest since it was first staged in 1994.

Just five weeks ago, organisers BTR Liverpool announced the event had sold out in record time at 12,000 entries. This figure included 500 sold out places for the BTR 10 Mile Road Race.

However, event changes being announced today (Monday 26 January) means that participation numbers can now be increased.

BTR Liverpool are unveiling a new route, and a there is also a new start time for race morning on Sunday 15 March 2026.

An additional 3,000 places are now available and will take the overall event capacity to 15,000 runners. The updated course and larger event capacity is great news for runners who missed out on places.

The race follows a trend for BTR events in the last two years, with entry numbers soaring and most events selling out in advance.

Alongside the boost to entry places, another major change is to the race start line which moves for 2026.

The race will now start at the waterfront Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new home ground of Everton Football Club.

Alongside a new start line, the race will now start at a slightly later time of 9.30am due to transport logistics. The new time will support runners with extra time to get to the start line.

Changes to the start line follow the approval of building works, expected to start in February, on Canada Boulevard at Pier Head Liverpool which would affect the race start. BTR Liverpool have been working with Liverpool City Council on this alternative plan, which has now resulted in an increased capacity in runner numbers.

The finish line will remain at Pier Head Liverpool, set against the iconic backdrop of the Three Graces and under the gaze of the world-famous Liver Birds.

The early miles of the route have also been revised to take in more of the city centre and landmarks, including Liverpool Town Hall.

The route now also features the striking Chinese Arch on Nelson Street. Liverpool is home to Europe’s oldest Chinese community, and the largest Chinese Arch outside of mainland China. Runners will also pass Liverpool Cathedral – the largest Anglican cathedral in Britain, and the fifth largest in the world.

The course has also been changed heading towards the latter part of the race. Runners will no longer head through Otterspool Park and onto The Promenade.

Instead, they will make their way back from Sefton Park and Princes Park along Princes Road and Upper Parliament Street, before taking in Queens Wharf and Halftide Wharf, before joining the usual route at King’s Dock for the home straight along the waterfront to the grandstand finish line at Pier Head Liverpool.

When the event sold out in early December, runners were invited to join a waiting list – which attracted huge interest with over 3,000 registrations.

Just last week, BTR Liverpool announced a change to their entry system to allow transfers for the first time. Runners no longer able to take part have already been taking advantage of the change by transferring entries and freeing up places. With hundreds of runners on the waiting list already converting their registration into an event place.

The increased allocation of an extra 3,000 places will be first offered to those on the waiting list. They will be contacted direct with a time-slot for exclusive access to register. If any places remain after this time they will go on general sale.

First staged in 1994, it is one of the longest established premier road races in the region, and is a real highlight in the North West running calendar.

The event also attracts runners from across the country, as well as international runners who combine the race with an opportunity to experience Liverpool.

In 2025, BTR Liverpool and its successful portfolio of events was acquired by Run For All. Mass participation events company Run For All is wholly owned by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, and continues to honour her ongoing legacy.

Alan Rothwell, BTR Race Director, commented:

“The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon is about to race to another level altogether by becoming the biggest ever since it was first staged in 1994.

“We were thrilled when the event sold out last year at 12,000 entries. And this time round we’ve reached that number again but in record time. Now we can announce exciting changes to the course – which means we can also make an extra 3,000 places available.

“Runners will notice the changes from the get-go. They’ll cross the new start line at Everton Football Club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium at a new time. The revised course will then take them past more iconic city centre landmarks as they embark on their 10 mile or half marathon races.

“Being able to increase the overall event capacity to 15,000 is just incredible. This is all part of Run For All’s vision of taking BTR Liverpool events further forward and future-proof. It’s a very exciting time for our runners.

“A big thank you especially to the Merseyside running community, who really throw their support behind this event and have made it a ‘must do’ in the race calendar. Watch this space, there are plenty of inspiring things to come from BTR Liverpool and Run For All.”

The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon 2025 was the biggest ever. It sold out two months before race day at 12,000 places – a massive jump from 9,000 entries in 2024.

The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon event boosts the local economy through hospitality and tourism sectors across race weekend, including bars, restaurants, hotels, retail, and attractions.

BTR Liverpool is the leading organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. The annual calendar of competitive races and fun runs take place between March and December.

The portfolio also includes Liverpool Santa Dash, Mersey Tunnel 10K, Run For The 97, Women’s 10K, Port Sunlight Road Race 10K, and Wirral 10K.

Full details about BTR Liverpool events visit www.btrliverpool.com

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