Manila Marathon set to take over EDSA as traffic adjustments rolled out

Metro Manila’s busiest artery is about to trade traffic for tempo. In a bold reimagining of urban space, EDSA will serve as the centerpiece of the Galaxy Manila Marathon 2026, turning the country’s most iconic highway into a sprawling racecourse for tens of thousands of runners. 

Scheduled from late June 12 to the morning of June 13 more than 25,000 participants are expected to flood the streets in pursuit of personal bests across four distances—5K, 10K, half marathon, and the full 42-kilometer race. 

At the heart of it all is a route that stretches from SM Mall of Asia to SM City North EDSA, utilizing the EDSA bus carousel lane in a rare reversal of its usual purpose.

For organizers, the vision goes beyond staging a race—it’s about reframing how the capital is experienced.

“EDSA is very historic for us as Filipinos. And other than that, we really want to attract international runners, not only to visit Metro Manila, but also our other beautiful places here in our country,” said Rio dela Cruz, running coach and founder of RUNRIO.

The marathon’s timing is deliberate. Beginning at 11 p.m. on Independence Day and running until 8 a.m. Runners will traverse a route that loops through key landmarks, with the full marathon weaving northbound and southbound along EDSA before returning to the MOA complex.

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𝐌𝐌𝐃𝐀 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐑𝐈𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝟏𝟐

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority ensures smooth and orderly vehicular traffic flow as Runrio Manila Marathon is set to conduct its 42… pic.twitter.com/WySTnMFwGj

— Official MMDA (@MMDA) April 14, 2026

But while the race promises a spectacle, it also demands careful coordination in one of Southeast Asia’s most congested corridors.

Authorities have opted for partial, rather than full, road closures. The bus carousel lane will be dedicated to runners, while the outermost lane will temporarily accommodate buses. Two lanes will remain open for private vehicles, and alternate routes, including Mabuhay Lanes and service roads—will help ease the flow of traffic.

“Pipilitin namin na minimal ‘yong effect sa traffic. Hindi naman total closure ang gagawin natin — ang affected lang ay bus carrousel at isang lane,” said MMDA chairman Romando Artes.

Still, certain choke points, such as flyovers and tunnels—will be briefly closed as runners pass, underscoring the scale and complexity of staging an event of this magnitude.

Now in its third year, the Manila Marathon is positioning itself as more than just a local race. Organizers are eyeing long-term inclusion among globally recognized marathon circuits, with a broader calendar of races across the country supporting that ambition. 

Stops in Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Clark, and Cagayan de Oro form part of a nationwide push to elevate the Philippines as a destination for sports tourism.

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