The ALTRA Brighton Half Marathon and Yeomans Toyota Wheelchair Race takes place on Sunday, March 1 – and we have all you need to know about the big day and the previous day’s youth races.
The 36th Altra Brighton Half Marathon, organised by Laine8 Events, will take place on Sunday, March 1.
The Sussex Beacon Hospice, a Brighton based charity providing specialist support and care for people living with HIV, is the main beneficiary of the race. The event is the single biggest annual fundraiser for the charity.
Overall the race raises over £1m (including gift aid) for many charities across Sussex and the UK each year. Other charity partners include Grassroots Suicide Prevention, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Society, Alcohol Change UK, Taylor-Made Dreams, Venkat Memorial Trust and local charity Rockinghorse.
Action in the Brighton Marathon in 2025 - picture by Steven Farleyplaceholder image
Action in the Brighton Marathon in 2025 - picture by Steven Farley
The Wheelchair Race starts at 9:28am on Kingsway/Hove Lawns with 11 wheelchair athletes competing.
The main race follows, starting at 9.30am on Hove Lawns before winding its way around some of Brighton’s most iconic sites including the Brighton Palace Pier, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, the Royal Pavilion, the West Pier, i360, Brighton Marina and the colourful Hove Beach Huts.
Over 10,000 runners, both beginners to the distance and seasoned half marathoners, will be taking to the streets of Brighton and Hove and absorbing the unique atmosphere of the race.
The Youth Races will take place the day before the main race, on Saturday, with hundreds of junior runners aged 7-17 expected to take on the mile challenge on Hove Lawns. The chip-timed race is open to all abilities and participants will receive a technical t-shirt and medal, plus prizes for the first three runners in each age category.
The race village mapplaceholder image
The race village map
Altra is the headline sponsor signing a three-year deal to support the race. During race weekend Altra will have several activations and will also have a retail space in the race village working with Brighton’s legendary Jog Shop.
A new expanded race village format for 2026 will also see activations from Yeomans Toyota, HIGH5, Bagelman, Lancing College, One Percent Supplements, Boundless Snacks, Roedean, Swiftall, Octopus Energy, Red Bull and Strive 25 with additional food and drink offerings from Howie’s Coffee & Co, Oatopia and Halo Pizza.
The Altra Brighton Half Marathon is supported by a range of high-profile sponsors and partners including Altra Running, Yeomans Toyota, Runna, Bagelman, HIGH5, RunBrighton, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, Lancing College and Prep, JustGiving, Roedean, Boundless Snacking and media partner BBC Sussex. The Youth Race is sponsored by Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and Brighton Girls.
Youth Race Timings – Saturday, February 28
The road closures mapplaceholder image
The road closures map
11:00 Youth Race Helpdesk opens for race pack collections
12:00 Youth Race Marquee opens on Hove Lawns
12:30 Youth Races starts - Race starter Amanda Collier from Season 4 of The Traitors
16:30 Race Village closes
Brighton Half Marathon Timings – Sunday, March 1
07:00 Road closures start
07:30 Race site and help desk opens. Baggage facility opens for runners
08:45 Half marathon runners proceed to start pens
09:28 Wheelchair Race starts
09:30 Brighton Half Marathon starts - Race starter Olly Alexander, actor & singer/songwriter
11:15 Wheelchair and main race winners’ presentations on Hove Lawns
14:30 Race site closes
The elite field
A new winner is guaranteed in the women's race this year with last year’s winner Christa Cain (Best Athletics) unavailable.
The women’s race is once again likely to be close and very hard to call with four of last year’s top 5 finishers returning. Rachel Laurie (Chichester AC), Ruby Whyte-Wilding (Lewes AC) and Imogen Matthews (HY AC) are probably the ones to watch.
In the men’s race Seyfu Jamaal (London Heathside), the winner from last year and current course record holder is set to return. With Hugh Sadler (Bristol & West AC) last year's third place finisher, John Fielding (Ealing, Southall & Middlesex AC) and Adedeji Oluwatsin (Newham & Essex Beagles) ensuring it will be a very competitive race.
A record number of entries in the wheelchair race sees last year’s winner Josh Hickinbottom (Coventry Godiva Harriers) joined by clubmates and previous winners Rob Smith and Gary Cooper in the men’s race. Previous winner Claudia Burrough makes her first return to Brighton in two years following a lengthy lay-off due to injury.
Race starters and interesting runners
The main race will be started by BAFTA-nominated actor and award-winning singer/songwriter, Olly Alexander.
Olly said: “It’s an honour to be asked to officially start the Altra Brighton Half Marathon! Then I’ll be jumping straight into the race to join Team Beacon! I can't wait! I’ve fallen in love with the charity and the work they do, which is so important and vital for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV.”
Saturday’s Youth Race will be started by Amanda Collier from Season 4 of The Traitors. Well-known faces running the Altra Brighton Half Marathon for Team Beacon include Chris Oliver (SAS Who Dares Wins) and Zoe Lyons (Comedian and TV Presenter).
Miles 1 - 3
Starting at Hove Lawns on Kingsway, you will head east towards the Brighton Palace Pier, turning left into the Old Steine past the grandeur of the Royal Pavilion towards the majesty of St Peter’s Church. Look out for entertainment by Silver Sounds on St Peter’s Place. Carrying on you’ll loop through the trees around The Level before you head south back down Grand Parade to the Old Steine, onto Aquarium roundabout – look out for Yeomans Toyota entertainment point welcoming you - before turning left onto Marine Parade.
Miles 3 - 7
You will continue on Marine Parade, towards Ovingdean, passing regal Royal and Lewes Crescent architecture on your left. Saltdean Jazz will be playing for you as you run past Legends Terrace. Continuing on Marine Drive and the bracing cliff tops, the race will head towards Roedean, where you will turn at Roedean Café bringing you back west, once again towards Aquarium Roundabout, enjoying wonderful cliff top and panoramic city views.
Miles 8 - 11
At Aquarium Roundabout, you will turn left at the SeaLife Centre along Madeira Drive, with a sea view alongside you. Turning just beyond Dukes Mound, you will head west past the Brighton Palace Pier along Brighton Seafront. Picking up the pace as you run past the iconic blue railings, enjoy the seaside views and be sure to spot the West Pier and the Bandstand on your left and the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole on your right.
Once past the two piers, you will head into Hove along the Kingsway with the majestic cream regency architecture on your right and the sea on your left. Past the King Alfred Leisure Centre, you will run to Hove Lagoon before turning left onto the seafront.
Miles 11 - 13.1 - The finish stretch
A great two mile run heading east, past the colourful beach huts will bring you back along the Hove Promenade, with crowds cheering you on to the Finish Line!
Entertainment on course
Altra at The Bandstand (mile 1 & 9) - Altra bring the noise with their DJ truck - expect sign making, games and a lot of fun!
DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole (mile 1 & 9) - pull up a ringside seat for music in the Fan Zone on the outside terrace.
Yeomans Toyota at Aquarium Junction (mile 1, 3 & 7) - Yeomans Toyota’s own MC will be bringing the atmosphere.
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus on Hove Lawns (mile 1 & 9) - BrightonGMC will be entertaining with a vast repertoire covering pop, musical, classic and classical scores.
Buskerteers Choir outside Queens Hotel (mile 1 & 7) - catch the award-winning community choir on a mission to raise £1 million for charity by busking and supporting charity events.
Silver Sounds at The Level (mile 2 & 3) - the samba band will be playing a variety of Brazilian rhythms bringing a carnival atmosphere to the race.
Saltdean Jazz Band outside Legends / Aquarium roundabout (mile 3 & 6) - the community jazz band will be performing a variety of foot tapping numbers.
Drum and Blaze at Marine Parade (mile 4 & 5) - the drumming group will be bringing noise, positive vibes and energy to the course on race day.
Wild Earth Drummers at Roedean Turn (mile 5) - an all-inclusive collection of bass, tom and snare drummers will be providing the noise!
Brighton School of Samba at Madeira Drive (mile 6) - the city’s original Rio samba school will be offering a taste of the Rio carnival.
About The Sussex Beacon
Brighton-based charity The Sussex Beacon is the owner of the race. The event is the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser and is essential to help fund the charity’s services. This year they have a record number of runners and are aiming to beat 2025’s fundraising total of over £120,000.
The Sussex Beacon challenges stigma and tackles health inequalities by providing inclusive palliative and end-of-life care, alongside vital emotional and social support for people living with HIV.
For more than 30 years they have supported people who have experienced stigma and marginalisation. They are proud of their legacy and are building on it by extending their hospice care to additionally include LGBTQ+ communities across Sussex. Find out more about the Sussex Beacon on the charity’s website here.
Youth Races (Saturday 28 February)
The Brighton Half Marathon Youth Races start at 12:30pm on Hove Lawns. Open to all abilities, the young runners (7 - 17) will run or jog one mile along Hove Promenade, running along part of the main route before the half marathon runners take to the course on Sunday.
The event gives youngsters a unique opportunity to experience the buzz of race day. The Youth Races are sponsored by Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and supported by Brighton Girls School who will be leading the warm-up and have provided 60 bursaries for young children across Sussex.
Yeomans Toyota Wheelchair Race (Sunday 1 March)
The Wheelchair Race in association with Yeomans Toyota returns for the eight time this year. Starting just ahead of the main half marathon event at 09:28am, the Wheelchair Race is a highlight for spectators throughout the 13.1 mile course.
The Sussex Beacon Charity Relay (Sunday 1 March)
Teams of four runners complete just over 5k each by passing a baton between their teammates. Teams will battle it out to complete the course in the quickest time, with the top three teams winning an award and prize. The Charity Relay raises funds for the Sussex Beacon.
2027 event opening for entry soon
The 2027 event will be held on Sunday 28 February and registration will be opening over race weekend. Runners will be able to register on the website brightonhalfmarathon.com.
Road closures
In order for the Altra Brighton Half Marathon to be safe for everyone involved we need to close some roads. We work closely with Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove City Council and The AA to ensure that there is minimum disruption across the city.
The following roads will be closed (timings are approximations only):
03:00 - 14:00 Kings Road – Grand Avenue to West Street (Eastbound and Westbound)
06:30 - 14:00 Kingsway – Wharf Road to Grand Avenue (Westbound only)
08:00 - 12:15 Marlborough Place, Grand Parade, Pavilion Parade, Richmond Terrace (St James Street to Union Road)
08:00 - 12:30 Marine Parade, Marine Drive (Lower Rock Gardens to Roedean Way)
07:00 - 14:00 Kings Road / Palace Pier Area / Madeira Drive (West Street to Lower Rock and St James Street)
Wherever possible, alternate routes will be advised and signed on the day of the event. All the road closures will be staffed by event stewards. Other roads adjacent to these roads may be affected. All closure points will be marshalled. If you require more information please email [email protected]
Continue Reading