Road closures and parking restrictions will hit East Lothian this weekend as the Edinburgh Marathon 2026 sends thousands of runners on a 26.2-mile route through the area. The race sold out months ago, and the first closures will begin at 5am on Sunday.
Most parking restrictions will start on Saturday evening, with all restrictions due to be lifted by 6.30pm on Sunday. The marathon will take runners from Potterrow in Edinburgh to Portobello, then through Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, and Longniddry before they turn at Gosford House and head back to Musselburgh for the finish at Pinkie Playing Fields.
The route has been split into seven zones, and sections three to seven affect residents in East Lothian. Among the closures, the A199 Edinburgh Road will be shut eastbound from its boundaries with City of Edinburgh Council to New Street. New Street will be closed between Edinburgh Road and the unnamed entrance to No. 204 New Street, and between Links View and Eskside West, while Harbour Road will be closed at its junction with New Street.
Eastside East will be closed between the River Esk footbridge and Shorthope Street, including Millhill Car Park, and between its junction at James Street and Goosegreen Crescent. Eskside West, Links View, Shorthope Street, James Street, Goosegreen Crescent, Balcarres Road, the unnamed entrance west of New Street, Downie Place, Ladywell, Eskdale Mews, Mountjoy Terrace and Mountjoy Court will be closed in their entirety. Bush Street, Caird’s Row, Beach Lane and Links Street will be closed at their junction with Promenade, while Links Avenue will be closed at its junction with Links View.
Gracefield Car Park will be closed at its entrance and exit onto New Street, and Goose Green Road will be closed at its junction with Goose Green Crescent and Balcarres Road. Goose Green Court, Goose Green Avenue and Goose Green Place will be closed at their junction with Goose Green Crescent. For residents and drivers in the affected areas, the key issue is not the marathon itself but the narrow window in which the road network around it shuts down and then reopens the same day.
