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If the London Marathon is the Glastonbury of running events, then you could say that the Hackney Half is Reading and Leeds. Since launching in 2014, the annual 13.1 miler through east London has established itself has one of the UK’s most popular and focuses on everyone just having a damn good time.
At every single mile on the HOKA Hackney Half (as it’s officially known this year for sponsorship reasons), runners are spurred on by DJs, live bands and tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators. The race is the headline event of Hackney Moves, which is a whole weekend of fitness classes, food stalls and live entertainment on Hackney Marshes.
Hackney Half 2026 is happening this weekend. So, whether you’re gearing up to run the half or limbering up to cheer people on from sidelines, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big day.
When is the Hackney Half 2026?
This year’s Hackney Half Marathon is happening on Sunday May 17.
When does it start?
The main race will start at 9am with runner setting off in staggered waves (determined by their predicted times). The individual start times haven’t been confirmed yet but we can expect them to be similar to last year. In 2025 they were:
- Start Pen A-B: 9am-9.20am
- Start Pen C-D: 9.20am-9.40am
- Start Pen E-F: 9.40am-10am
- Start Pen G-H: 10am-10.20am
Where does the race start?
The race begins and ends on Hackney Marshes.
Hackney Half route 2026
The route is the same as ever. From Hackney Marshes, runners will head towards Hackney Downs, wrap around it then go towards Hackney Central. Then, they’ll go down Queensbridge Road to Haggerston and Haggerston Park, go by London Fields, around the outskirts of Victoria Park and back into the Marshes.
How do I get to the Hackney Half?
Tube and Overground
You can get the tube to either Stratford (25-min walk to the start line) or Leyton (20-min walk). On the Overground, you can go to Hackney Wick or Clapton.
Car
The event recommends that drivers park up at Westfield Stratford and walk over to Festival Village.
Bike
Bicycle parking (but not e-bike parking) will be available within Festival Village. E-bike parking will be much more strictly regulated than previously, with signposted parking locations at Mabley Green, to the east of Hackney Marshes and to the north.
Are there toilets and water stations on the route?
There’ll be six aid stations dotted along the route with volunteers, toilets and sanitary products. You’ll find them at miles 3.5, 5.7, 7.1, 7.9, 9.3 and 11.5.
The best places to watch runners
Anywhere along the route will give you a great view of the runners. But if you want a particularly energetic atmosphere, the best places to station yourself will be at the mile markers (marked on the map above), where there’ll be DJs, bands and loudspeakers giving participants an extra boost.
How to track runners
If you know their bib number, you’ll be able to track runners with the official Hackney Moves app, available to download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Is the 2026 Hackney Half sold out?
Yep, general entry for the half marathon sold out very, very quickly. There may still be some last minute charity places up for grabs, though. You can find those here.
Where can I drop my bags?
When runners collect their race number, they’ll also get a bag label and collection tab. Further information will be emailed to runners in advance.
Weather forecast
At the time of writing, the weather doesn’t look too bad. The Met Office predicts that Sunday will be mostly cloudy and will be no warmer than 18C.
What else is happening beyond the race? Freebies and afterparties
At Hackney Half, the fun never stops at the finish line. Dozens of venues across east London will be hosting afterparties and giving away free food and drinks to participants. Last year, for example, you could get a pint and a slice of pizza from the Sebright Arms, a free hotdog at Top Cuvée Shoreditch or a pint of Jubel at The Victoria and the likes of All My Friends, Grow, Lardo and Netil360 all threw afterparties.
How to sign up for the Hackney Half Marathon 2027
You can pre-register for next year’s event here. Don’t be dilly dallying – a general sale date hasn’t been confirmed but last year it went live hours after the event and closed within four days.
If you can’t wait until next May for your turn, why not sign up for the brand new Saucony Run Shoreditch Half? It’s run by the same people as the Hackney Half and is happening in September. You can enter for £65 here.
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