Poznan hosts 25th jubilee marathon as race course returns to Old Market Square

Course route and city sites

The 25th edition of the LOTTO Poznan Marathon begins at 9:00 on Sunday, 4 October 2026, starting on Grunwaldzka street near the Poznan International Fair grounds. Runners follow a route along Roosevelta and Pulaskiego streets, continue down Aleja Wielkopolska toward Solacz, and make a turn near Solacki Park before heading along Pulaskiego toward Aleja Armii Poznan and Garbary. The route then leads through Polnocna and Kutrzeby streets to Aleje Niepodleglosci, turning at Libelta into the city centre. Participants pass Plac Wolnosci and enter the Old Market Square, which returns to the marathon route after an 18-year absence. The field then crosses the Warta river via Most Swietego Rocha toward Lake Malta, loops through Rataje residential districts, and passes Rondo Staroleka before returning to the left bank toward Lazarz, Gorczyn, Raszyn, Junikowo, and Lawica. Runners pass through Enea Stadion, home of the Polish football champions, before finishing at Plac Marka on the fairgrounds.

Street closures and emergency access

Traffic restrictions begin early in the morning across Poznan, with Grunwaldzka street closed between Szylinga and Roosevelta starting at 06:00. The full marathon route is closed to vehicular traffic from 08:00 until approximately 16:00, with sections reopening sequentially behind the final participants. The Poznan Municipal Road Administration outlined the operational schedule for city streets.

The race route will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8:00 to 16:00, and in addition, Grunwaldzka street between Szylinga and Roosevelta will be closed from 6:00. On individual sections, the route will be opened to drivers, and its complete opening will occur after the last marathon participant has passed.

Special traffic sluices allow managed vehicle crossings when intervals between runners permit, while collision-free crossings remain open throughout the race under Hetmanska on Dolna Wilda and Droga Debinska, as well as over Inflancka via Krzywoustego. Dedicated corridors maintain access to city medical facilities. University Clinical Hospital emergency department traffic is redirected to an alternative entrance on Przybyszewskiego street, while J. Strus Municipal Hospital maintains two-way access via Szwedzka and Szwajcarska streets.

Public transport reorganisations

City transit operators introduced schedule adjustments across all weekend tram lines. Because trams shift routes at different times during the race, municipal authorities added ten supplementary shuttle tram routes to maintain connections between primary interchanges.

Changes to tram lines will be introduced in stages, which is why trams on the same line will run on different routes at different times. To facilitate movement by tram between important hubs, 10 additional shuttle tram lines will be launched.

The shuttle network includes line 54 between Baraniaka and Rondo Srodka, alongside line 50 running between Rondo Zegrze and Rondo Staroleka. Bus services face widespread adjustments, with 30 lines modified, shortened, or suspended. Line 159, which normally serves the airport, is redirected to Sobieskiego, while four supplementary bus lines numbered 113 to 116 cover shortened sections.

Accompanying events and expo schedule

The marathon weekend includes several accompanying events hosted at the Poznan International Fair. The Poznan Run Expo operates in Halls 3 and 3A, offering free public admission for equipment purchasing and specialist consultations until 20:00 on Saturday and from 07:15 to 16:00 on Sunday. Youth runners participated in the Phoenix Kids races on Saturday at 14:00 at Plac Marka. Marathon festivities conclude on Sunday evening with an official gathering scheduled for 19:00 at Slodownia Club.