Great North Run 2026

Great North Run - officially the AJ Bell Great North Run - is one of the world’s best-known half marathons. It is a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) road race that brings together elite athletes, charity runners and tens of thousands of participants. The 2026 edition is particularly special because it marks the event’s 45th year and is expected to have around 63,000 runners.

📍 Location

The main half marathon starts in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, on the Central Motorway/A167 near Claremont Road.

The route then crosses the Tyne Bridge, goes through Gateshead, and continues towards the coast before finishing in South Shields. The final section runs along the South Shields seafront.

So although it is often described as a Newcastle Gates head event, the full race actually runs:

Newcastle → Gateshead → South Tyneside → South Shields

⏰ Timings — Sunday 13 September

• 10:00 - BBC live TV programme begins
• 10:20 - Elite wheelchair athletes start
• 10:25 - Elite women start
• 10:27 - Visually impaired participants start
• 10:35 - Warm-up
• 10:50 - Elite men and mass runners start
• 10:52 - Red Arrows flypast over the Tyne Bridge

Important: individual runners have different arrival and assembly times depending on their wave colour (Special, Orange, Green or Pink), so participants should check their run number/event guide for their specific time.

🏃 What to expect

The route is famous for its huge crowds and atmosphere. You'll cross the Tyne Bridge, pass through Gateshead, encounter a tougher uphill section between roughly miles 8–12, then get the memorable first view of the North Sea around mile 12 before descending towards the South Shields finish.

For spectators, the South Shields Event Village is a major focal point, with a big screen showing the BBC coverage, food and drink, entertainment and the finish-line atmosphere.