Associated British Ports (ABP) and ReesLeisure are excited to announce a renewed five-year sponsorship agreement marking a decade-long partnership that will now extend through 2030. As title sponsor ABP will continue to support the newly rebranded Southampton Marathon Festival, providing a more memorable start to this iconic citywide event and elevating the runner experience throughout.
From the launch of this partnership, the event has expanded from three to five races, and the 2026 edition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter - featuring a new name, new date, revised routes and for the first time, a start line at Southampton’s Historic Dock Gate 8, offering participants a distinctive and symbolic start at the heart of the Port.
Set for Sunday May 3rd 2026, the event now falls on the first May Bank Holiday giving runners an extra day to recover and celebrate. The updated name - Southampton Marathon Festival- better reflects the full spectrum of races on offer: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Fun Run, and emphasises the vibrant, inclusive spirit of the event.
Runners will kick off under the iconic, listed port entrance at Dock Gate 8, before joining the established route at Town Quay. As always, the finish line will be at the lively Guildhall Square, complete with medal ceremonies and the popular charity village.
Chris Rees, Director of ReesLeisure, added: "We’re absolutely thrilled to secure Associated British Ports as our title sponsor for another five incredible years of the ABP Southampton Marathon Festival. For the past decade, ABP has helped us create unforgettable experiences for tens of thousands of runners — and we’re beyond excited to continue that journey together. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of 10,000 runners setting off from Dock Gate 8, right at the heart of Southampton’s historic port. Together, we’ll keep celebrating the stories, strengths, and strides of every participant, from first timers to seasoned marathoners.”
With our aims high and the buzz of a refreshed route we look forward to making 2026 another exciting and memorable year.
All updates to the route will be shared in the coming weeks, be the first to hear about it by joining our mailing list here!
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