Your Guide to the 2026 AJ Bell Great Manchester Run
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run takes over Manchester this weekend (30-31 May). Here’s your quick guide, so you don’t miss a moment of the action!
The Event Timetable
Saturday 30 May: Junior & Mini Events (Etihad Campus)
- 09:00: Event Starts. See the full timetable in the event guide here.
- Mini Runners (Ages 3–8): 1.6km dash
- Junior Runners (Ages 9–15): 2.5km challenge
- Celebrity Starters: Gladiators Toby Olubi (Phantom) & Quang Luong (Viper) will be ringing the starting bell and heading to the finish line for photos and high-fives!
Sunday 31 May: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run (City Centre)
- Start Line: Portland Street | Finish Line: Deansgate
- From 07:55
- This year is the biggest ever with over 38,000 runners lining up at the start line
- See the full timetable and route maps in the event guide, here.
How to Watch & Track
- Live TV: Tune into BBC Two from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Sunday.
- Live Stream: From our first runner to the very last. Watch the finish line stream live from 8:00 AM on the GreatRunTV YouTube Channel.
- The Official App: Track multiple runners in real-time with live split intervals, average pace, and expected finish times. Download the app here.
Who to Look Out For
Official Race Starters
- Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, returns to the starter’s platform of the 2026 event, to start the elite women’s race.
- Joining her on official starter duties will be actor, writer, producer and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Sally Lindsay MBE.
- Former rugby league star Kevin Sinfield CBE, renowned for his feats of physical endurance in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) research, will start the Elite Men and masses, the biggest start of the day.
Famous Faces on the Course
- Faithfuls Reece Ward, Jessie Roux and finalist Jack Butler from The Traitors series 4
- Race Across the World Winners Kush Burman and Joe Diop, siblings Katie and Harrison Devine, last season’s winner Caroline Bridge and a team of other Racers compiled by Emon Choudhury (series 2) in memory of his fellow racer Sam Gardiner who died last year
- Cast and crew from BBC’s Waterloo Road including Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer), Maisie Robinson (Portis Weaver), Tillie Amartey (Stace Neville) and Cory McClane (Ashton Stone)
- Heading from the cobbles is Corrie star Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow)
- Emmerdale and Heartstopper actor Bradley Riches takes on his first Great Manchester Run
- Manchester music legend Peter Hook returns to run his 14th Great Manchester Run for The Christie
- Actress and Presenter Gemma Atkinson returns, once again running for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, joined by partner Strictly dancer Gorka Marquez.
Elite Field Highlights
It’s set to be an exciting elite field stacked with Olympic gold medallists, European champions, past winners and a defending champion all set to battle it out on the streets of Manchester on Sunday.
- Men’s 10k: Defending champion Selemon Barega (Ethiopia), 2025 runner-up Santiago Catrofe (Uruguay), 2024 winner Vincent Ngetich (Kenya), and GB’s Marc Scott & Andy Butchart.
- Women’s 10k: Great North Run Champion Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya), Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Germany), Weini Kelati (USA), alongside British stars Verity Ockenden, Lily Partridge, Clara Evans, and Jess Piasecki.
- Wheelchair Race: 6-time champion David Weir, Sean Frame, Nathan Maguire, and World Championship bronze medallist Melanie Woods.
Want a Final Warm Up?
Whether you’re due to run the half marathon or 10K on Sunday, or simply inspired by the excitement of the Great Manchester Run weekend, why not join the GMR26 Shakeout run in association with Manchester Run Club and Mitchum on Friday evening? Register here.
Spectator Activity
Start & Finish Giveaways from Title Sponsor AJ Bell
- Keep an eye out for the AJ Bell team and mascot Investabell handing bells to help you cheer for your runner at the start and the finish line. Look out for them to get yours while they last.
AJ Bell Motivation Station (The Final Mile)
- Give your runner an unforgettable boost! You can submit a message or photo to appear on the big screen as they hit the final stretch. It’s the perfect way to lift their spirits and be part of a truly special moment on the course. Submit a messge here, or via the app on the day.
Meeting Runners at the Finish
- The official meeting point is at Peter Street. Look for the large A–Z banners and wait by the letter corresponding to your runner’s surname.
Event Village Fun
The Event Village on St Peter’s Square is open to all and features giveaways, competitions, and booths from Solgar, Mitchum, Liquid I.V.,and SiS, plus a mobile bar from Lucky Saint with cold alcohol-free beers to buy. It’s a great place to meet up with your runner after they have finished or why not head down there at the start of the day to see what on offer before it gets busy.
Charity partners (including Alzheimer’s Society, The Christie, andMacmillan) will be located in the Charity Village on Deansgate.
Travel Information
Our top tip: Use public transport options where possible.
- Journey Planning: Plan your route via train, tram, bus, or bike on the Transport for Greater Manchester Website.
- Tram Users: Check out the specific list of tram stops and distance markers along the route here.
- Live Updates: Follow @OfficialTfGM on X (Twitter) for real-time travel alerts over the weekend.
And, to keep up to date on the latest Great Manchester Run news throughout the weekend, make sure you join the conversation on social media:
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