Parking for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Parking for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is one of the biggest events in the UK's sporting calendar. It brings thousands of runners and spectators to Scotland's capital across a packed two-day weekend. While it is an incredible occasion for participants and fans, it presents significant challenges for drivers. Road closures and parking restrictions cover a wide area of central Edinburgh and the East Lothian coastline across the entire festival weekend — and parking at the finish in Musselburgh is not permitted under any circumstances.

If you are taking part or cheering from the sidelines, planning your journey carefully before you travel is essential.

Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026 Event Information

The festival takes place across Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May 2026, with preparatory closures beginning on Friday 22 May. It is Scotland's biggest running festival and the second largest marathon event in the UK after London, selling out every year since 2008.

The weekend covers a range of distances and abilities:

• Saturday 23 May — 10K, 5K and Junior races (1.5K, 2K and 5K for ages 6–18), all starting in Holyrood Park

• Sunday 24 May — Full marathon, half marathon and team relay, starting at Potterrow in Edinburgh city centre

The full marathon covers the official distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres). The course starts in the heart of Edinburgh, takes in iconic city landmarks, then follows a fast and flat route out along the East Lothian coastline to finish in Musselburgh — voted the fastest marathon course in the UK by Runner's World.

What Edinburgh Drivers Need to Know: Road Closures and Parking Restrictions

Don't Drive to Musselburgh

There is no event parking in Musselburgh. Wallyford Park and Ride will not be available on event weekend. Parking in Musselburgh and all surrounding areas is restricted to residents only and will be actively enforced by marshals, Police Scotland, Edinburgh City Council, East Lothian Council and the Edinburgh Marathon Festival organisers.

• Illegally parked vehicles will be fined

• Vehicles causing obstruction or congestion will be towed

The future of the event depends on community support. Illegal parking in previous years caused serious disruption, including blocked bus routes, inaccessible driveways, and pavements made unusable for wheelchair users and parents with prams. Do not travel to Musselburgh by car.

Lothian Buses and East Coast Buses run services between the finish area and Edinburgh city centre. Use public transport or the official EMF event buses to get back from Musselburgh after the race.

Edinburgh Marathon Road Closures Across the Festival Weekend

Road closures and parking restrictions are divided into seven zones covering Edinburgh city centre and the entire East Lothian course route. The key areas affecting drivers are:

• Holyrood Park and surrounding streets — Closures begin at 15:00 on Friday 22 May and remain in place through to 12:30 on Sunday 24 May. This includes Queen's Drive, Duke's Walk, Holyrood Gait and Horse Wynd. Parking restrictions on adjacent streets including Prestonfield Avenue, Dalkeith Road and Holyrood Park Road begin at 18:30 on Friday evening.

• Edinburgh city centre — A large number of streets in and around the start area are subject to parking restrictions from 22:00 on Saturday 23 May through to 12:30 on Sunday 24 May. Roads affected include Potterrow, George Square, Buccleuch Street, Forrest Road, The Mound, Canongate, Waverley Bridge, Market Street and many surrounding streets. Road closures in this area begin from 05:00 on Sunday morning.

• East Lothian coastal route — The marathon course follows roads through Portobello, Joppa, Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Port Seton, Cockenzie and beyond. Closures and traffic management are in place across Zones 2 through 7 along this route from Sunday morning until early afternoon.

Stress-Free Ways to Book and Park for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Given the scale of the restrictions across central Edinburgh, parking close to the start areas is not a practical option for most visitors arriving on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. The closure zones cover a wide area, and demand for spaces outside those zones rises sharply across the weekend.

The best approach is to park outside the closure zones and use public transport to reach the start. The best way to secure a space is to reserve Edinburgh parking in advance with JustPark. By booking early you avoid last-minute stress and arrive knowing exactly where you are heading.

Where to Park for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

• Parking near Haymarket and the West End — West of the main closure zones and well connected by bus and on foot into the city centre start areas. Roads in this area are largely unaffected by the event-day restrictions, making arrival and departure considerably smoother on both days.

• Parking near Tollcross — Access via Tollcross to the Quartermile and Lauriston area remains available throughout the event weekend. A practical option for those wanting to be within reasonable distance of the start without being inside the closure zones.

• Parking near Leith and the north of the city — Outside the closure zones entirely, with bus connections into the city centre for both days of the festival.

Using Public Transport for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Public transport is an excellent choice for this event, particularly given the split between the Edinburgh start and the Musselburgh finish.

Lothian Buses and East Coast Buses run services between Musselburgh and Edinburgh city centre, making it straightforward for runners and spectators to travel between the two ends of the course. For those travelling from further afield, Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket stations are well connected and sit west of the main Sunday closure zones.

Parking near Haymarket Station and completing the journey by bus or on foot is one of the most practical approaches for the full marathon weekend — keeping you clear of the closure zones on both days and giving you easy access to public transport for the return from Musselburgh.

Rent Out Your Driveway or Parking Space for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

If you have a driveway or private parking space in Edinburgh — particularly near the city centre, Holyrood Park, or along the route — you can make it available to runners and spectators looking for convenient parking across the festival weekend.

Listing your space with JustPark is straightforward and lets you earn extra income while helping visitors enjoy a smoother event day. With thousands of runners, supporters and spectators descending on Edinburgh across both days, demand for nearby parking is high — and spaces close to the start areas command a premium.

Plan Ahead for Edinburgh Marathon 2026

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a brilliant event — but one that requires careful planning if you are travelling by car. The road closure and parking restriction zones are extensive, enforcement is strict, and driving to the finish in Musselburgh is simply not an option.

Park outside the closure zones, use public transport where needed, and book your space in advance. Spaces in the most practical areas fill quickly once the festival weekend approaches.

Reserve your JustPark space early and arrive ready to enjoy the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.